Thursday, December 4, 2008

Losing My Religion

It's funny how things work out. I started composing this post a couple of days ago, but decided not to bother finishing it. But then, I've been hearing/reading alot of things that are more or less relevant to the post, so something's telling me I should continue.

Although I consider myself a spiritual person, I've never been a big fan of organized religion. I hate the labels, hypocrisy, intolerance, and enigma of it all. I prefer the much more base belief that the universe is governed by various metaphysical laws and moral codes. However, just like it's healthy for one to question his or her religion, I sometimes question the my own beliefs. Keep in mind that, I'm playing devil's advocate here.

Karma: The Cosmic Justice System

Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others. What goes around comes around. You reap what you sew. Treat others the way you want to be treated. We've known about these concepts since childhood. We've been taught that, if we are good people, good things will happen. And if we are bad people, bad things would happen. Most of us go through life holding firm to this belief, doing our best to be "good" people so that only "good" things would happen to us.

But sometimes it doesn't matter. Bad things indeed happen to good people, and vice versa. Sometimes we live the most virtuous life we possibly can, and it seems as if the slightest mistake causes misfortune. Like a less than perfect lifestyle means we're in for a slew of bad karma. Because, really, what constitutes being a 'good person'?

The Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction says people's thoughts (both conscious and unconscious) dictate the reality of their lives, whether or not they're aware of it. Essentially "if you really want something and truly believe it's possible, you'll get it." I've been interested in this theory since before The Secret made it a mainstream phenomenon. I love the idea that you are ultimately in control of what happens in your life. I

The downside to the Law of Attraction is that by putting a lot of attention and thought onto something you don't want means you'll probably get that too. Which would explain why I seem to run into Ex and/or New Boo everywhere I go. Because I'm constantly hoping that it won't happen, it always does. What if I can't help it that I'm a obsessive compulsive thinker or a natural pessimist? Does that mean that, because I'm in constant fear of a loved one passing, it will actually happen?

Serendipity



...Guess it wasn't meant to be, huh?


The definition of serendipity is actually: the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely. But the word embodies much more. It is the idea that everything happens for a reason. Everyone we meet, every action we make, and everything that happens to us is no coincidence. There is always a reason.

The expression 'everything happens for a reason' is commonly used to comfort someone who's dealing with trauma. A lost loved one. A broken heart. An eviction notice. It's like saying, "I know things are tough right now, but it will get better. Something good will come out of this." But then this raises: Why did this happen? What was the reason? And most importantly, when will things get better?

During Thanksgiving break, I got an email that the Residential Advisor on the floor beneath mine had hung himself in his room. I was stunned; I actually knew this guy. We weren't by any means friends, but we were friendly acquaintances. And now he's gone...Really? Everything happens for a reason?


***********************************************************************************

Lately all of my belief systems have been rocked, along with many others, for various reasons. These are trying times we're living in, and I'm not just talking about the economy. It's easy to lose your faith in the Universe, The Force,Mother Nature, God, Buddha, a Higher Power, the Greater Good--whatever it is you believe in. But what we all have to remember is, while it's okay and perfectly natural to question our values, it's important not to give up on what you believe in.

One belief that always holds true for me?

This too shall pass.

What do you believe in?

12 comments:

kit von b. said...

i just wanna share some knowledge with you, if that's ok?

karma, or the half assed definition ppl talk about is NOT what karma is..."what goes around comes around"...

nope. it's more than that.

karma is really a scale to be balanced...

example: let's take you and the ex boo, for instance. he's HURT YOU BADLY in this lifetime, right? we will assume that YOU YOURSELF hurt him in your previous incarnation.

the ENLIGHTENED you knows this, so will make the CONCSCIOUS decision to NOT be the channel for his karmic retribution...

what does this mean?

by making that choice, you balanced the karma scales between you two. once he realizes that you no longer want to play the game of get-back, he will stop what he's doing to hurt you, immediately...

if not, you two will continue to hurt eachother in your future incarnations...but that wont happen! you are now enlightened.

another example...

a woman can't bear children in this lifetime? she can assume that MAYBE she's hurt a child in her previous incarnation, or made the selfish choice NOT to.

she balances her karma scales by adopting. 80 something percent of women who cannot bare children go on to find that when they adopt, they get pregnant!

and you KNOW there are no coincidences...

if she still cant have children, after she adopts, she can assume that maybe she severely abused a child in her previous life, and has to figure out other ways to balance the karma...

make sense?

i hope it helps dear!

-kb

1/3 said...

wow i really liked how well thought out this post was.

I'm a believer in the trinity but its like...i really do get why we all are at this stage when we question our faith. alot of things arent adding up. talk of karma, reaping what you sew, being a virtous person...its like the world seems unbalanced at times.

I just say try to make sense of the world you live in. you questioning why things are happening is a sign of growing up. your developing what woman u want to be in the future.

dont know what im trying to say really. ill just say as time goes on things will make sense. questions from long ago will be answered. u just have to have faith that the obstacles u face today will lead to ur successful future.

ok im done lol:-)

Anonymous said...

Can I take a stab at this?

To call karma "good" or "bad" does it a disservice. Karma just is. It's how you interpret your situation that makes it good or bad.

ex. Lord knows I didn't do anything to warrant being mentally ill and suicidal. BUT that situation turned into the best thing that ever happened to me because it forced me to change my life for the better.
So it wasn't what happened that made it good or bad, but how I responded to it.

Attraction -

Let's break this down. When you think about not wanting to see your ex, you're moreso rejecting the pain of seeing him than you're actuality rejecting HIM. So instead, think, "I wanna be at peace with my pain, whether I see them or not." Then it won't matter how often you see him, because your thoughts are attracting peace of mind.

Serendipity -

That's like questioning God. The order of life/universe/God's Will is divine. It's not always our place to understand why things happen as much as it is to figure out what we can learn from it.

Did any of that help?

Bloggal said...

@ my ladies: wow, i appreciate this feedback! like i was saying in the beginning, i was kind of playing devil's advocate. i'm not quite "losing my religion", i'm just a sucker for song titles as post titles nowadays lol (R.E.M. "Losing My Religion") thanks for all the input though!

@ kb: wow, i really love your examples. alot of people do mistake karma as simply being'what goes around comes around', and i think your explanation right here would really help clarify it for alot of people. you should consider posting it on your blog.

i realize karma IS so much deeper than the generic "you reap what you sew" but is that not still part of the concept, even though it spans lifetimes? tell me everything you know! lol...

i knew i could can never thoroughly explain such a theory in one paragraph though . it's all just too deep to tackle in one post, which was why i wasn't gonna write it at first.

@ 1/3: i know--i so feel you. like i said, it's just a weird time for all of us right now. a really low, depressing time. the point i was making was that my belief systems are being rocked, but they are still steadfast. all the be a thing of the past.

@ skinny: omg, i don't even know which part of your comment to address first. you're so insightful robin.

i guess i just wanted to again make it clear that i'm not having one of those questioning my faith moments. i believe in what i believe, and i always will. but everyone has their moments when we wonder, why is this happening? we deal with those feelings while they last, and we rebuild our faith in our beliefs.

my favorite point you made was abou the law of attraction. you're so right, it is MUCH better to focus my energy on being happy rather than not seeing him/them. because ultimately, that IS what i want; i want to not be affected by their presence.

thanks again guys for commenting!

Anonymous said...

Loved the post! Karma and trying to Be honorable and not going out there with the purpose of intentionally hurting others as well as being grateful, thankful and prayerful to God (or the higher being of your choice and love) is mostly what I stick by

Jaded said...

I don't really have anything deep to add. But I will say that serendipity is my favorite word. I read a book in the second grade and it was about this little girl who was looking for one thing but finding another.

I was fascinated.

Thats all I got.

Anonymous said...

I don't have anything profound to add to this either, as everyone really bought the heat.

Especially you, hawt-stuff KB.

I believe in a higher power, and the do unto others motto. I don't have fellowship with any church, nor do I "choose" any specific religion. I just have God in my heart, and the Universe on my mind.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

i belive in faith and creating ones own reality - i really think u good folk have a great weekend and happy 21st amendment day

kit von b. said...

heyyy glowy glo ;-)


@ bloggal: mannnnnnnn, i WISH i could tell you everything i learned, but we're friends now, so i have all the time in the world to share with you as much as i can...

and yes, you reap what you sew IS the concept, but...only part of it. karma is all about setting things right, so to speak. you can't kill someone, and then decide "well hey, karma's gonna come back to me in the form of killing someone close to me..."

it ain't like that.

you have to make up for the negative karma you caused...

but then there's what ppl call "good karma"...

say for instance, i GIVE (not lend) you 500 bucks....you can assume that in our past incarnation you did me a huge favor. i'm balancing our karma by paying a favor back to you...

karma is situational. it's SOOOO complicated to explain :-/

i had a post some months back with this same exact post title. funny the way words put themselves together...

-kb

p.s. have a great weekend...

Amber Steez said...

i JUST had a talk lastnite with my bestfriend Black Barbie about religion. i was raised as a Christian but im faaaaar from religious. when i got older and started asking questions that no one could answer without saying have faith. i did the opposite and lost faith. im a virgo. and saying that i mean i need to know answers to believe anything anyone is saying. if you cant provide the info then i can careless. i do think its a high life force.

lol @ Jaded. i think i read that book too.

good post bloggal.

Video Vix[o]n said...

I never thought of karma they way KB put it. deepness.

I'm more of the "serendipity" guy. though some things that happen seem to have no reason, but everything that happens in life is trying to teach you something; its left to the individual to decide what that is.

I also believe there is something higher than us, whether its God, Allah, etc. is left up for interpretation. religion and beliefs are confusing sometimes.

Muze said...

i really love Skinny's comment. so i'm gonna roll with that.

lol.

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