Let's Talk Religion

    How much of who you think you are has really been put upon you by your life experiences? By your parents? By your culture and society? Most significantly, are your beliefs really yours or have you unwittingly adopted the beliefs of the people who've influenced you? Are you really yourself?     To find ourself we must distance ourself from all external influences. Our religious beliefs perhaps more than anything else about us are usually not our own. My premise here is that God communicates with each of us in the core of our own being but so long as we are what the world has made us we are not in touch with our true self and thus are not in touch with God within. The truth which comes from outside us, from society, is relative and subjective. Absolute truth comes only from within, is revealed to each of us directly if only we are open to receiving it. God is who God tells us God is. We are who we are. Neither God nor ourself is what we are led to believe by other people. So lo

Why I believe in God: Throughout my youth I was an agnostic - I did not know what to think about God. Was there a god or not? I simply did not know. It took a mystical experience - a direct personal encounter with God - to convince me that God is real. I cannot deny that experience even as I continually question the nature of that God which was revealed to me. Why I question the nature of that God (why I do not believe God is a "person"): Initially, I assumed that God is what I had been taught God is: a personal god, a supreme being, sort of a superhuman person with a mind, a conscious awareness, emotions and desires in relation to what people do (i.e., God is often pleased with us or angry with us, God has certain things "he" wants us to do and not do). But, after some time I began to question whether what I had learned from other human beings was actually the true nature of that which we call "God". I gradually began to suspect that God is actual

Being the Ramblings of a Religious Rebel This Blog is a collection of "stray thoughts" about religion and spirituality. Special focus on common themes across religions along with issues related to interfaith relations and dialogue. Please feel free to comment and continue the dialogue amongst yourselves. The author may also respond. Author is a life long student of the world's religions, holding a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies and being a professor of religion at Northern Virginia Community College. Professional website:  https://www.nvcc.edu/home/lshulman/