Religion, It ain't really worth talking about?
Some take a solace in that there will be an afterlife, better than this horrible life.
They won't be disappointed:
"As the emptiness of heaven welcomes your weary soul" (and pain-racked body, tormented mind)?
The problems with religion is the hypocrisy. Worshipping deities but not really living the good teachings of faith. Yet, Jesus, some followers of the man, some aspects of the Bible and Koran teach valuable lessons that could possibly help with easing the torment of the mind, IF PRACTICED, You know, the nine-fold path of the Buddha; right intentions, right knowledge, right mindfulness, right action, right livelihood, etc.
Biggest problem with religions? Holy War!!!
But people who fuel their existence on evil, the immoral (totally non-religious, in fact conscious or subconscious d'evil worshippers) and the amoral all combine with even the impure segments of even the purest serves to completely negate Godwin's Socialist Utopia).
So I'm left with another essay that I enjoyed writing but only brings us full circle to Cynicism. The Calvinist Doctrine of the work ethic is real. If I keep busy, working on the nine-fold path, I am a happy man despite my health problems (I forget about them and how they will probably run their course in these End Times, probably for most, but certainly for me). When I am not busy, I fall into mental depression that leads to mental despair. I have a weakness with right mindfulness and it can cause me torment. To appeal to "Jesus" for forgiveness, only works among the good people of the world, and we can be weak to fear the people who are along for the ride on a planet that is going (has always been going?) to the d'evil. to hell.
Try to cultivate the good in yourself and weed out the bad. To the extent that you meet people with good intentions try to help them along that path, as well. The light of good is potentially within all of us, but the option of right livelihood is available to few. That is problematic, but not insurmountable.
About Me
- Mike Morin
- I am a Friend. BS - Environmental Studies, Graduate and Life-long Study in Planning and Economics, MBA, have worked construction, real estate appraisal, health care cost and util. report systems developer, Director of Managed Care Contracting for hospital,farm work, farm fertilizer delivery, lumber yard/hardware and delivery, Small Business Development Center, taught Computer Methods, etc. fellowship for the last fifteen years studying and developing interests listed (in profile). have lived in Massachusetts (Boston area and Connecticut River Valley), New Hampshire, Vermont, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Connecticut. have lived in Eugene since 2000. Published Book on Cooperative Housing at the UMass Mgmt. Research Center in 1980. Wrote and Self-Published, sold and distributed book entitled Who is George Fox and Why Should I Care? (published 1996). George Fox was the founder of the Society of Friends. The book is not about George Fox but is consistent with his teachings as well as being consistent with other great teachings and discusses those teachings as they relate to the modern world and the future.