|
My History |
|
I guess I can say that back
in Jr. High was when I first became disillusioned with my religious
upbringing. Raised as a Lutheran, I found in time that it was too
formalized, too ritualistic, answers were formulated on faith alone. Bible
study was more for memorization than discussions of what was meant by that
or this parable. My doubts were even more so as I believed that the cloak of
beliefs were left at the door upon leaving the church by a lot of the parishioners.
Whether a falsehood on behalf of a pre-adolescents poor perceptions or
not, it lead me to explore other alternatives. |
|
I read the Koran, several
Far East doctrines, Tao, Buddhism, The Bible, even the Satanic Bible (you
have to know your enemy) and
American Indian, in my attempt to find answers I could live with. Over a
long period of time, I formulated my own beliefs, which ended up being a
conglomeration of most of what I had read and studied. |
|
I know, I know, I can just
see some shaking their heads now. But, through everything I read and
researched there are certain grains of consistency. A basic truth does not
change, regardless of who says it, or how it is written, it only changes
in how it is interpreted. |
|
| So, what are these basic
truths I found: |
|
Mankind is meant to be
better than it is! |
|
God has faith in us being
able to be better than we are! |
|
God loves us anyways! |
|
That's it. . . |
|
|
All the rest is trappings,
window-dressings, and interpretations to meet an individual or groups needs
and wants. |
|
Yes, we have great books
declaring the Word of God, they are blueprints and suggestions on how and
why to achieve the above. No matter what language they are written in, nor
religion that follows them, they all say basically the same thing: live
the best life you can to prepare yourself to join God when you pass from
this world. |
|
I am still a Lutheran, but
(hopefully) I am much more than just that. |
|
I have joined the Universal
Life Church to gain my ordination, but, also because many of their basic
precepts ring true with me. As follows: |
|
One world. .
.one people. . .one future!
|
|
All are
ordained in the work of spreading the word (whatever that word is
perceived to be) but for the asking as foretold in the Bible. |
|
 |
STATEMENT OF
TENETS of the UNIVERSAL LIFE CHURCH
The Universal Life
Church has only two basic tenets (beliefs/doctrine) - to promote freedom of
religion and to do that which is right.
It is the responsibility of the
individual to determine what is right as long as it does not infringe on
the rights of others and is within the law. |
| Thus, I have
taken on a mantle to proclaim my beliefs. |
