The Many Worlds of Diane Mullen - Religion/Spirituality

The Many Worlds of Diane Mullen

Religion/Spirituality/etc.

My views on religion usually fall into the "somewhat controversial" category, and this is not a subject I tend to discuss willingly. I have no problem with people sharing their views with me, as long as they are not trying to convert me. I also have no problem sharing my views, but when I do so it is not an invitation to an argument. These views, mine and yours, are all based on faith, and faith is fundamentally a personal and deep seated opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and their own faith, without having to be subjected to arguments, berating or attempts at conversion from anyone else. No one's beliefs or faith is wrong. It may not be what you believe, so it isn't right for you, but that doesn't make it wrong. If you can understand, and accept, that basic premise, read on. If not, you may want to go to another of my Worlds, or to someone else's page.

If you want to express your opinion on my beliefs -- go ahead. There is a link to my email in the bar at the bottom. Just don't expect an answer if you write to me only to rant and rave because you don't agree with me. I'll read what you write, but I will not engage in any kind of debate or argument.

OK, moving along . . . I am not a "Christian". I have a very hard time accepting Christianity and all the sects thereof. When you think of all the persecution, executions and wars that have been committed in the name of this religion -- which was founded on the basis of peace, love and brotherhood -- all I can think of is "What a bunch of hypocrits!" Not to mention those who manage to find ways around the Catholic Church's restrictions against divorce and birth control .... Now, this is not meant as a personal slam at anyone who is a Christian. I know many, and they are all good people. It is the religion itself I have a problem with. Christ, who may or may not have been the Mesiah, preached love for all. How then can you condone things like the Spanish Inquisition? The Holy Wars in Jeruselem, and all the abominable behavior committed by the "holy warriors" in those (and other) wars? And what is with all these different sects, each preaching something slightly different, but all proclaiming to be interpreting from the same Holy Bible? Guess what, guys: the bible was written by men, not some supernatural being. It has been copied and translated by different men over the course of 2000 years. How many errors do you think have crept in? How much do you think today's versions differ from the original? How can anyone today really know what was meant by the original authors 2000 years ago? And how much of what they wrote is still applicable today? It's just a book - an interesting book, and an interesting read (except for all those begats in the Old Testament) -- but it is still just a book.

As an example of the hypocracy practiced daily by supposedly devout Christians (I do not vouch for the authenticity of this story, but I've seen people just like this woman ...): An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly the light turned yellow just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, flipped him the bird while screaming in frustration that she missed her chance to get through the intersection because of him. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer.

The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door.

She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping the guy off in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do" bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk.

"Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car."

Having rejected Christianity, I still felt a need for something in my life. Since the religion of my recent forebears (primarily Lutheran and Methodist) doesn't fill the need, I've been looking elsewhere. I have always been fascinated by ancient mythology and have studied the Norse, Roman, Greek and a little of the Incan mythologies. But I just can't buy into any of these - they make for great story telling, and can give great insight into the cultures of the past, but I just can't put my faith in these capricious gods. I really know very little about Judaism and Mohamedism, but what I do know makes these faiths seem too close to Christianity for my comfort. What little I know about Buddhism seems very interesting, but a little too . . . I'm not sure what. I'm just not comfortable with it. So I keep looking.

So, I started looking into Wicca. I've bought several books on the subject, and some that are not quite on the subject but are related. I find myself responding to the concepts I've read. The freedom and naturalness of this belief definitely appeals to me. Each person is free to choose their own symbols and rituals from what is most appropriate for them. An emphasis on nature, on the animals and plants around us, is a definite positive. Wicca is a pagan religion very much like the religion of the ancient druids, or Native Americans.

This basic statement of Wiccan beliefs pretty much sums it up:
Bide the Wiccan law ye must,
In perfect love, in perfect trust.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do what ye will.
What ye send forth comes back to thee,
So ever mind the Rule of Three.
Follow this with mind and heart,
And merry ye meet, and merry ye part.

One of the things I learned about Christianity is that the church (headed by the Pope) 'borrowed' many pagan days of celebration for their 'Holy Days.' This was done deliberately. The Church was trying to convert the pagans, and would get good response, but anytime one of the old celebrations would come around, the new converts would go back to the old ways. The Church (and the Pope in power) decided that a way to keep the new converts would be to have approved Christian celebrations that would coincide with the pagan ones. For example: Easter. I do not know what the actual date for Christ's Crucifixion and subsequent Resurrection may have been, but the Church decided to place it near the Spring Equinox ... a pagan date of celebration. Many pagan symbols were borrowed and survive to this day - baby chicks and rabbits, symbolizing rebirth. Flowers symbolizing the return of the sun to the world and the renewed growth. Eggs, symbolizing birth (or rebirth). Christmas is another. From what I have read, Christ was probably actually born in the late summer. The Christian church put his birth near the date of the pagan ritual of mid-winter ... the longest night of the year, after which the days begin to grow longer, signifying the imminent birth of, or return of, the sun to the world. The Yule log stems from the ancient celebrations, as does the use of holly berries for decorations.

Halloween (or All Hallow's Eve) is one pagan celebration that the Church couldn't quite replace, although they tried. According to the ancient pagans, Nov. 1st is the beginning of the new year. The night before (pagans called it Samhain - pronounced saw-wane) was when the veil between worlds was the thinnest, the most easily crossed. Spirits and other beings came into our world at that time. People would wear masks and dress in costume to try to convice these beings that they were one of them, so the beings wouldn't try to take their body. The ancients would also have a "dumb feast" - a meal at which a place would be set for a loved one who had passed beyond. Food was also offered to apease the wandering spirits and beings. This was the beginning of the costumes and our "trick-or-treat." The Christians attempted to replace this with All Saint's Day, and tried to incorporate the giving of food, etc., but somehow, the Christian celebration failed to take hold. However, the Church was able to surpress the real reasons behind many of the traditions behind Halloween, so even though it isn't really considered a "Holy Day," it isn't remember as the pagan holiday either.

Those who practice Wicca are often called 'witches.' The bit in the Bible about "Thou Shalt not suffer a Witch to live"? It was added by King James when he printed the King James Bible. It was not a part of the original, this was just more propaganda proclaiming a common foe for the King to unite his people against. Much like Hitler and the Jews .... The word 'witch' is believed to have originally meant (or referred to) wise women, healers, and those who used herbs, etc. to help others. (There has been much dispute about the meaning of 'witch' and the origin of the witch phrase in the bible ... someone told me the phrase was there all along, although the original wording referred to sorcerers, not witches. The same person said that he has been unable to trace the meaning of witch to anything like 'wise woman.' I bow to his opinion, while retaining my own. Sorcerer and witch are not the same thing, and even if witch didn't originally mean wise woman, neither did it mean someone who has dealings with the devil or dark magic. Witches, or Wiccans, don't believe in the existance of a supreme evil being such as the devil, nor do we use dark magic. White magic only, or you violate the Wiccan Creed!)

Again, if you wish to express your opinion, or maybe give me more information about your beliefs, please use the link to my email at the bottom.