Life as a Faith Journey

[coco_artist]

Each and every day is part of the journey and each trial and tribulation that we face is part of our faith journey. Life requires faith. What is faith?
Today, hurtling down the tracks in a box of steel , balanced only on two thin pieces of iron laid on the ground; I was aware of the faith it required to take a train. It's really a scary experience, looked at objectively and the condition of the rails is another reason to have fear, however I trust as much as I can in my fellow man at the front of the thing.(hoping hes not drunk or something)
Faith was not in that we wouldn't crash/derail/hit a car/person/whatever though. The faith was in the optimism that the universe is at least a benign one at it's core and that all faiths lead to the same reality. The faith has more to do with my own core values.
Faith, for you, may be an entirely different experience.
I believe much more that is grounded in my Christian background, but I don't believe in the exclusivity proclaimed by tradional Christianity (yes, I know this puts me at odds with it somewhat) and I lean toward Budhist thought sometimes and have a Roman Catholic background. My theology is a mixture of those things that are familiar. However, I am aware, had I been born somewhere else, my theology might well be a completely different matter. I think that the one thing is that all faiths are just as valid as the other. My last group experience was the Unitarian Fellowship.
My idea of faith is individual but are there set standards on which we can agree?
Is not faith the hope of the outcome of things being good or at least benign? What would be the point, otherwise?
Nihilism is not appealing.

[Elysium]

Very thoughtful coco, I can agree with most of what you wrote except the thought that all faiths are benign and/or equal. No one likes to pass judgement these days I realize, but sometimes distinctions should be made clear (at least in your own mind) or you can run the risk of suffering the blindness of relativism. Which to my mind is just another form of nihilism anyway.

[coco_artist]

Relativism is a problem for sure. It IS difficult to reconcile the idea of all faiths being valid and still adhering to the Christian Faith for the most part. I believe that the scriptures are used for social control and therefore; translation and choice of books becomes an issue. (others may disagree and I am ok with that)
The difficulty with traditional Christianity is the exclusivism, I think. I cannot believe that a good God would condemn little children in Africa who are not Christians. Sure enough, when I studied Theology (at the Masters Level) and found out about the translation difficulties and the social control aspect, I changed my personal theology.

[MystedDni]

I am sure you can totally understand my point of view that coincidences just don't happen? I am at loss of faith for better terminology. your quote

"My idea of faith is individual but are there set standards on which we can agree? Is not faith the hope of the outcome of things being good or at least benign? What would be the point, otherwise?"

That about sums it up for me! In this huge universe of whys and what the hecks going on its way to hard to decide which is up and which is down when it all really depends on your perspective. My perspective that may or may not help you is to honor your own truth and that of your neighbors.

Who the hell is this crazy lady and why is she posting at my post??? Ok so your asking yourself that and I am gonna tell you. I have a very religous background. I was evangelical christian for 8+years. I am still de-programming myself to this day. When my ex-husband told me he was gay, but was afraid to tell me for fear I would take his kid away I knew I had a choice to make. Listen to the church and never let him see her again, or embrace the unconditonallity (way to big of a word for me) of what Jesus was preaching and embrace him. I chose to embrace him. It took us 5 years of solving petty personal differences but to this day I have not once said anything about his sexual preference to our daughter. She looks at it thru eyes of compassion. She has 3 dads now instead of 1. and I have 3 men in my life to love.

Ok I will stop babbling.. Thank you for helping me with some perspective I have been looking for. :-)

[coco_artist]

MystedDni...you sound like the kind of caring and loving individual I would be proud to call my friend. Your very welcome.

[dykster]

Being gay is something you are born with. I hope you can explain to you daughter the difference between being gay and straight. Why are you straight? To you choose that? Hell, my life would be a lot easier if I were straight. If I had a choice, I would be straight. I actually tried to be straight. My poor ex never got any sex. lol
Coco, I always enjoy your post and you help give me the will to continue. Thank you for your kindness.

[MystedDni]

I am letting her figure it out for herself. She is only 9 and dealing with it. To her its normal. Its always been that way. She is pretty much into boys. But if she ever came to me and said, I dont know what to choose, I would talk to her about it. We talk about it all the time.
She is heading to a camp this summer for children of gay and lesbian parents! She is so excited about it, and cannot wait to be herself.

she has so much to worry about right now that sexual preference is something we can talk about in 4-6 years! *tee hee* shes already growing up to fast!

[Calydin]

Hey Dykster! I am the husband of Mysted and view her as my soulmate and that extends to the well being of our daughter. That includes what we perceive as her spirituality and understanding of life. We try and convey it through stories and words of positive reinforcement.

However like many 9 year olds she is going through the stages of life like us all, with no real clue of understanding other than what our parents afforded us. She is a very bright child and one day will come when she blossoms into a young lady.

As for talking to her about being gay or straight as a way we are, or by choice (whatever side anyone stands on), we feel that by encouraging her to have an open dialog with us is the best and most healthy way.

Love has no sex and we will never preach that to her. Too many people have misconceptions of sexual orientation and drag it into the political spectrum when it is really no one else's business who we fall in love with or what sex they are.

That goes for anyone we know, straight or gay, we love unconditionally and without prejudice. But as we will teach her, being careful and responsible is the best advice we can give.

Make love not war!