On the subject of Religious Education..

[adric]

You may tell a new Seeker (or a child) this:

The Universe is a big place full of wonder and mystery. As you Seek
to understand the Universe, you will encounter other Seekers who will
have their own beliefs. These beliefs will be, as is the Universe,
many and varied. The variance of beliefs and the power they hold
is a part of the mystery of the Universe, and so is the spiritual
strength that can be drawn from strong belief.

There is one error in belief that you must avoid, and that you must tolerate
in believers. Many believers believe that they have found the Answer.
This is a wonderous thing, and you should listen to, and respect their
Answers. Unfortunately, many believers also think that their Answer
is the only one, and that all other Answers are wrong.

In this they are tragically mistaken. All Answers are right, except when they
determine that they alone are right.

Another snippet:
We hold Seekers and Seeking (the Search) to be more sacred than any Deity.

Comments

[acheron-hades.livejournal.com]

Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All." (2)

I've got to the troubled part. I'm still waiting for the astonishment :/

my apologies

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

somehow you did not make it to the switch of LJ.

Please add stress_rash

Please also email me with your snail address, so I may send you an invite to the party in April.

I am very sorry I missed the party in February. As you may have noticed, I changed LJs. I thought you were on the list, but I was gravely mistaken. Please accept my deep apologies, extend your forgiveness and email me soon.

Re: my apologies

[adric]

No worries.

Added you. Email.. I don't seem to have one for you. Email me and I'll get you that.

[sophocles.livejournal.com]

I suppose this is an A/answer to a question you've been working on since WH10. What do you teach child about religion? Is it ethical to teach them religion as a basis for morals and ethics with the asumption that they well grow out of it? It seems alittle Brezny-eque for your usual musings.

I'm not sure I agree with the idea that all Answers are right. I think there are definite wrong answers. "It is my sacred duty to kill a virgin every spring while dressed a purple rain coat" etc. (We all know rain coats should be yellow as commanded in the Book of Wet Weather Gear Chapter 8. Verses 9-14. "Yellow shalt the color of the MacIntosh, and the color of the MacIntosh shalt be Yellow. Red, thou shalt not be, neither cover thyselves in blue.... " Incidentally that is why we all wore black trench coats)

I digress.

(roughly 4 hours later)
And now I forgot my aledged point. Interesting post, a bit of a departure I think.

[adric]

It is less important that all Answers are right than that other's Answers are not wrong.

.. lost thread ..

There are not really wrong or right answers. There are consequence to actions, and there is maladaptive behaviour...

[suri.livejournal.com]

Teaching religion to a child is easy. They ask questions and believe nothing you tell them. They learn early to make their own judgments and become excellant Seekers very, very young in life. Having tried to teach some religion to young children, it is very hard to do.

Adults who are seekers are entirely different matter. Your advice is well written and totally appropriate. Having met with a pastor earlier this week as part of my seeking process I find this rather timely and an excellant reminder.

I just tell my guys

[stress-rash.livejournal.com]

(whenever they ask about anyone's religious dogma/teachings)

"It's a nice story..." and proceed to enumerate the things I like about that particular religious view. They don't ask a lot, but then again we go to Quaker meeting and Quakers were originally called "seekers" for a reason. It's all good in the Quaker 'hood.