First blog of the '09 for me, wasn't to sure when this might happen again but as it would appear life has bestowed upon me another bone of contention. I ran into what you might call an old friend last week, (who I'm not going to name), and some how, for some reason, at some point in our conversation we arrived to the subject of religion and faith. It seems that is all anyone wants to talk about anymore.

Long story short he comes from a very religious family, church three or four time a week, reads his bible every morning, but for some reason at this point in his life he doesn't feel the presence of god anymore. He began to ask me what I thought of his situation, and if maybe I had any advice for him. I told him simple and plain, that I was absolutely the wrong person to ask for advice regarding this matter, and that my "spirituality" was not what any religious person in this country would in the least consider spiritual.

However he asked because he saw a similar change in me, and my beliefs, he was not at all familiar with anything I believed but saw the difference. He then asked-out of what I assume must have simply been curiosity-what was it that I believed, and how had I come to believe this, who I thought god was, what role has he played in my life, and those around me if any?
Not at all an easy assembly of questions to face.

I told him i'd like time to sit and think about it so that I could choose my words carefully, in order to understand what I would like to say, so that I can say what I mean. So this is what I wrote him in an email, not at all sure how this might help him with whatever it is he is going through, but let me know what you think.

I looked up the word religion for an exact definition of what it is I am truly trying to describe. The best one I could find said that religion is a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance. Thus regarding the matter of my beliefs, for me personally I think my people are my religion. My prophets and my saints are my writers, their books are my gospels, and my doctrine. With respect to you question who is god, or who I believe he is, that is a question to which I have no answer.

Men have always told me who he is, but I've never met one who's met him or her. They believe that they are created in his image, I believe they create him in theirs. Under my observation throughout my life's journey and experience, however brief, I've come to the understanding that no two men worship the same god even if they respect the same faith. Each will "serve" whomever shall serve his purpose whether good or bad.

They have reduced the role of our great creator to that of a Governor or Mayor that has no jurisdiction on this plane. They've produced us fables and wise tales to answer some of the most profound and mystifying questions of our time. And have used them to commit some of the most heinous acts that history has ever seen, and that my countrymen have endured.

My history, American history, has developed my faith, because it has truly shown me what man, (and my country), is capable of, whether at his best, and often time as it would seem at his worst. If ones faith cannot permit them to love without judgement, learn from there faults, and alter their behavior then it is time, I believe they adopt a new one.