thread: 2005-08-09 : The New Open House 2: Religion
On 2005-08-09, Meguey wrote:
My mother was raised a very strict Fundamentalist Baptist. She left the church in her teens. When I was born, she very purposefully read me a ton of other myth-systems, with Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Native American being fore-most, and a fair smattering of Indian/Hindu, North African/Islam, and Asian. Although I didn't learn this until years later, I wasn't allowed to spend time alone with my grandmother until I knew enough other myth-systems, and had heard enough other Bible stories, that I was inoculated against her rabid form of Christianity.
Throughout my young childhood, great attention was paid to the natural world, the turning of the seasons, the patterns of farming, and plant and animal planting/birth and harvest/death and consumption. The world of spirits, fairies, devas, etc., was accepted as part of life, especially for a young child under 7 years old. The meditation and relaxation techniques she used to help me sleep, calm down after an excitement, handle discomfort, or check in to see what I deeply needed are ones I still use and use with my boys.
When I was in 3rd grade, we went to the local Unitarian Universalist church for the first time. I keenly remember her nervous, distracted energy that morning, and when I asked her what was wrong, she said "What if I go and I like it?" I shrugged and said "Then we'll go back?" At this time, I was ready for a broader community to talk about myth, belief, experience, and religion. I found that, plus a congregation spanning many generations, walks of life, passions, and religious backgrounds or outlooks. I studied Sufism briefly, and had my first truly transcendent spiritual experience while taking part in the Dances of Universal Peace. I played outside a lot, and made shrines to Artemis. I read the Bible, the Complete Works of Shakespeare, and the great distopian writers (Brave New World, Animal Farm, 1984, Fahrenheit 451)
In 1983, I moved to California. I was 12. I was just beginning to really feel a part of the youth community at the UU church in upstate NY, and I came to the HUGE UU church in San Diego. I felt really lost, and spent a few years really angry at just about everything. Never God, because God was still not an active part of my lexicon. In 8th grade, I rediscovered the UU youth group, and went on to spend the rest of my school years deeply involved in UU activities, which usually involved worship of some form. The worship was more about connection and respect and community and personal path than anything else. This was when the idea of Divinity began to have any meaning, although still very distant. Also at this time, in my public high school, my friends and I were spending a ton of time talking about metaphysics, chi, ESP, and the like. Remember, this was the mid-80s. We were highly suspect, because we were talking about deeper matters than the school was ready to handle, and we periodically got rounded up and 'talked at' about having a positive attitude, fitting in, etc. Once we even got a big, overblown and under-researched write-up about "Satanic practices in our schools." Which was bunk, but, like in Salem a couple hundred years earlier, the adults were ready to pin their fears on the teens, and not bother to check facts.
September 9, 1990. I met Vincent Baker, this cute Mormon boy. Mormon!?! Fascinating! I don't know very much about that myth-system. Tell me all about it. I want to know. You all know where that got me (and him, I guess.)
So now I have two (and a half) sons, and it matters to me that they grow up with some of the same things, which I find in part in the UU church. So, this is why I'm an Eclectic Pagan Unitarian Universalist:
• I do believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all beings, and in the interconnected web of which we are a part. These are the first two of the UU principals.
• I do find deep value in following the cycle of the seasons, and by this I mean not just the four you may think of, but all the changes of the world around me through the year. A few days back, I noted the first changed leaf on a tree near me, and welcomed it. I love the pagan eight holidays of the Equinoxes, Solstices, and cross-quarters, and I have intentionally brought them into my children's school, showing them the science of the dance of Sun and Earth. And also, it helps bring their important holidays in to the wider school world, that is dominated by Christian theology, even if only by mass culture.
• I do believe in the personal quest for understanding that fuels most religion, and in the notion that there are many, many, many paths to this understanding of the How and Why of one's life and experience. I think people can access parts of their understanding from many paths, and so I value respectful experience of religious and spiritual traditions other than my own.
• I do believe that the Earth, although perhaps not sentient, is a self-correcting organism, and balance will be made, even if that means we get moved aside as the dominate species. I also believe reverence for the Earth, the water and air and land and resources, is a Good Thing, and being in harmony with that local environment will bring deeper happiness.
• I believe there is more to the world, and more to life, than I will ever know. I believe that some portion of us survives death, even if it is only in the minds of those we leave behind.
• I have no fear of Hell, and feel the idea of 'Devil' is misused. I act in accordance with my conscience as best I can, and try to follow my beliefs as above. I am not afraid of death in itself, but have any parent's desire to not leave my children bereft, any lover's desire not to leave the beloved bereft.
• I believe in the pagan creed "And it harm none (including yourself!), do as thou will". None is a lot of people, so I try to be mindful and careful in my actions.
• I believe in karma, and also in being proactive towards my own growth, happiness, and well-being.
I've had a ton of various spiritual and religious experiences, but this has gone on long enough for one post.
This makes Drew go "Sounds like we had similar childhoods!"
My Parents didn't follow any particular religion, although both had issues with organised religion which made them make sure me and my sister grew up learning the myths and spiritual beliefs of many cultures, and equal credence was given to all. The natural world,the changing of the seasons, the rhythm of the natural world all were treated with reverance and a kind of pagan sensibility. I feel very glad that I had an upbringing free from simply one dogmatic belief system.
