Challenging "The Devil"

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

A modern view of the Christian devil as a ruler of evil is reflects several various beliefs also found in other religions.  References in the Bible can be viewed as describing separate characters, rather than each reference describing one and the same embodiment.  Passages that are attributed to one being include characters such as the famous serpent in the story of the Garden of Eden, satan (Hebrew for accuser/adversary), and a devil (from the Greek word for slanderer), among a few others.  The term I find the most interesting is "prince of this world".  This could be allegorical for a person that is entirely materialistic, with no regards for spirit.

A religion based on dualism, Zoroastrianism, was one that was going strong during the birth of Christianity, and was still being practiced in some areas of Persia that had not become entirely Muslim in the middle ages.  Zoroastrian scripture holds that gods of good and evil were twins born out of chaos.  The battle between the two is ongoing.  This belief may have been absorbed by ancient Hebrews, and then strengthened in Christianity during the crusades.   

This type of polarity between good and evil is largely a West Asian / European ideal.  From what I have gleaned of the majority of Eastern and indigenous American religion, the idea of good and evil is more neutral akin to the way nature is neutral. 

Good and evil are subjective.  The actions of 'evil' are complex.  We do not know what life a person may be living, what strife and problems they have had to endure.  Just the slightest variation of brain neurons can change a personality.  It can make a person more prone kindness and compassion, or more prone to anger and hatred.  If a very hostile person is given a brain surgery that causes them to become docile, does that mean their spirit has change from evil to good?  Likewise, if a kind and generous person suffers brain trauma and becomes short tempered and hostile, does that mean they have gone from having a spirit of light to a spirit of darkness?  For years, ignorant people attributed mental illness to demonic possession, or to the consequences of devil worship.  Humanity is just now beginning to understand the complexities of our brain and its influence on personality and actions.  Perhaps there is no evil, but improperly developed brains and damaged society.

Within that, however, is the acknowledgement that we do have choice.  While few individuals may not have a great ability to choose their behavior, the majority of people do have that ability.  People have a responsibility to themselves and others to work hard against their own adversaries of positivity.   It is a step by step process to work and gear ourselves to focus on light, rather than get lost in the darkness of negativity.  A prince of our world may be the brain.  Should it be corrupted, it will be difficult to work for good, but not impossible. 

It is the in the dark side of humanity in which evil exists.  Darkness is within and without, just as light.  It is the individual's choice as to where he or she focuses that energy.   Should one maintain focus on negativity, it will grow, just as if one is to maintain focus on positivity, it in turn will grow.  Truly, Hell exists in the living, among people who turn away from the light of positivity and love, and focus on the darkness and shadows of hate.

Who Wears the Pants?

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

I was recently invited to a Facebook event titled: "Wear Pants to Church Day". As of today, the description for the event is as follows:

" LDS Women Unite: Wear pants to church in solidarity for women's equality. If you already wear pants to church (we're talking to you men!), we invite you to show your support by wearing a purple shirt, tie, socks, or ribbon, purple being a color historically associated with the suffrage movement. This is the first act of All Enlisted, a direct action group for Mormon women to advocate for equality within our faith. 

' "The Church has not attempted to indicate just how long women’s or girls’ dresses shoul

d be nor whether they should wear pant suits or other types of clothing." '--LDS Church Presidency (1971)

We are feminists. We do not seek to eradicate the differences between women and men, but we do want the LDS church to acknowledge the similarities. We believe that much of the cultural, structural, and even doctrinal inequality that persists in the LDS church today stems from the church's reliance on – and enforcement of – rigid gender roles that bear no relationship to reality.

We subscribe to the Book of Mormon teaching that ' “all are alike unto God,” ' and hope that our choice to wear pants to our Sunday worship services (a choice sanctioned by our spiritual leaders over 40 years ago!) reminds our families, congregations, and leaders that we have not forgotten this gospel truth."

The comments and their subsequent threads have been a fascinating.  I have decided to share the following on the event page:

First I will preface this with allowing the knowledge that I am not a member of the LDS church.  I was born and have lived most of my life in Salt Lake City.  My in-laws are all members of the LDS church.  My life has been saturated with the culture and beliefs of this religion.  Please take a moment to read what this inside outsider has to say on this subject.

I have seen that the idea of women coming to church in pants as a form of protest for equality  is causing quite a stir among many members.  My first thought is that it is gravely unfortunate that a members' choice of clothing should be of any importance to other members.  I have read several members cite that their reasoning is respect, or that a person should dress in a manner that they would like to present themselves to their Savior.  Personally I feel that the Lord would not pay any attention to the clothing worn by a person when they are in the Presence.  Clothing and fashions are from the material world.  We are born naked.  Adam and Eve were in the Garden with God, naked and unclothed until coerced by snake in a tree.  I believe that shows that God does not judge us based off of what we wear.  Only humans judge humans based on the superficial.

That said, what purpose does it then serve to dress nicely for service?  Many psychological studies have demonstrated that what we wear can affect our mood and perception of ourselves.  If we are wearing something that we set aside for something special, which is typically a very nice garment, we will perceive the event we are attending as special.  For this purpose, it is a universally accepted habit to wear special garments for ritual worship.  Preparing for ritual with special clothing is the beginning of preparation for the proper mental state for the forthcoming rite. 

Are weekly or daily church meetings sacred enough to dress in designated clothing?  For some it is, and for some it isn't.  Some people are comfortable worshiping in their every day clothes.  Others are more comfortable dressing in special clothing, or dressing in nicer clothes than every day wear.  This may depend on an individual, a congregation, and cultural influence.

When I was young, I had many friends that tried to bring me to church with them.  I remember one day, when I was 11, a girl  told me that I could still go to church and not have to wear a dress.  She had made the assumption that I didn't go to her church because of their perceived dress code.   I found this comment to be interesting.  While it appeared a kind sentiment that they would accept me as I was, I knew in my heart it wasn't true.  If I chose to attend regular meetings, it would only be a manner of time before women and girls would start to make their judgments of my choice of clothing known by seemingly polite comments.  "You would look so pretty in a dress!" 

A separation of dress for genders is nothing new in religious cultures.  Expectations for dress varies between religions and even congregations.   I have been denied entrance to a Buddhist temple because of my clothing.  They didn't allow me in with shorts.  I have been warmly welcomed to a different Buddhist temple wearing the same form of clothes.  This demonstrates that it is not the religion doing the judging, but the people.

There is a pressure in Utah LDS culture for women to present themselves in a certain manner, especially at their church houses.  The women who created this event, and who are attending, are demonstrating their awareness of this issue.  They are also expressing their concern for they ways men and women are treated differently in their church.  It is this aspect of the protest that I believe is bothering other members the most.

The LDS church has operated on a strict difference between men and women since its beginnings.  They have different roles, and are allowed different privileges.  This has been accepted for generations.  However, a slowly growing movement for equality has been making its way through the church, coinciding with the growing movement for equality in the secular world.  As women gained equality from our government, the gains eventually translated to further gains within their church culture. I believe we are witnessing the next step in the process.

I will now address the issue that appears to be the most divisive, and avoided, subject in the comment threads I have read.  That issue is the priesthood.  I would just like to share my experience with blessings.  The first time I ever experienced the power of a blessing I was  attending a Young Womens' camp.  One of the girls had a terribly painful migraine.  A man was called from the neighboring Young Mens' camp to come give a blessing.  Everyone stood in a circle around the girl while the man laid his hands over her and performed his blessing.  The power of Supreme Love was extreme and beautiful.

Since then, I have experienced this same essence many times in my life.  It may surprise some members of the LDS church that this experience came not only from the spiritual strength of men, but also of women.  I have attended religious rituals that were essentially the same set up as the first LDS blessing I experienced.  I have experienced Reiki and Wiccan blessings, which enact similar physical and spiritual manners.  These were sometimes performed by men, but more often my experiences have been done by women.   These moments shared the power of Supreme Love just as strongly and as real as the blessing done by the man in the LDS camp. 

Women are just as spiritually powerful as men.  Their spirits do not lack in anything from a man's spirit.  The light of God's love is within everyone and can be activated by anyone with pure love and intent.

I will finish with what I believe to be a stunningly beautiful testament to the equality of the soul, regardless of gender, which is reflected by clothing. 

The practitioners of Islam are well known for the women being required to dress in an extremely modest manner.  The extremities of this vary from culture to culture.  Women commonly cover up their heads as a sign of respect.  (As an aside: some Muslim women protest this cultural symbol of respect, the head scarf, by not wearing it; just like these LDS women will be protesting the wearing of dresses or skirts by wearing pants) There is a moment in a Muslim's life when this gender enforced modestly is pushed aside.   It is the duty of every devout Muslim to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime.  This is the pilgrimage to Mecca performed during the last month of the year.  During this pilgrimage everyone wears a white robe.  Men, and most women, shave their heads. No one can judge if you are rich or poor, and the physical differences between man and woman become faint.  This is to humbly demonstrate that we are equal in the eyes of God.  Millions of people attend the Hajj in unison yearly.  It is a wonderful testament of ultimate spiritual equality.

The LDS church is an ever-unfolding church that has its growing pains just as any other church.  It is not up to me to dictate what should happen in their religion.  I just wanted to write this in order to illuminate some perceptions and hope that the reader can take away something positive from what may have been gleaned.

In the beginning

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

When it comes to religion, I was raised on a clean slate. My parents never talked with me about religious ideals. I was on my own.

When I was a child I found this extremely difficult, especially since I grew up in a state where 80% of the population belongs to one church. Religion is very surfaced in the culture of Utah. The first thing people asked me when first meeting me was "What ward do you belong in?" (A ward is a designated congregation in the LDS church). The parents of my peers would use me and my family as an example of people who will not get the rewards promised to them by God. The people of this culture related with others upon their religious affiliation. This forced me to try to find some sort of religious identity at a very young age.

I have always had a love within me of God, regardless of how people used God as an excuse to judge me. I remember solemnly revering Jesus on Christmas Eve, though in my family it was simply a secular holiday. The Mormon view of God was my only outside influence for the earliest part of my life.

I was fascinated by Greek mythology when we read the stories in elementary school. It is so much a part of me that the only tattoo I have is of Medusa. I would consider this my first introduction of religious thought other than Christian.

Since then I have read many religious and spiritual writings, been held captive to shows about religion, fascinated by what was historical and current mythology, seeking to know the common strain and to understand the core of those around me. I have learned so much, and continue to have my eyes opened further than I ever expected.

I now realize what I perceived as a difficulty has actually been a great gift. My path has been completely of my own choosing, without any force to go down another road. This clean slate from my family is a gift for which I am grateful. 

My current beliefs are from various sources and eclectic.  They are strong in their foundation, though I am ever curious.  I like to learn spiritual truths within the world's religions.  I find that learning about religious beliefs and practices grows my understanding of both humanity and 'Universal Spirit'.  I also have witnessed that each belief contains parts of the whole of what the Great Spirit is, hence every religion is a Spirit facet.

For years I have wanted to write down what thoughts race through my head. This is that outlet. I also want to share with you experiences of different faiths and paths that I come across. I seek never to convert, only to share what has been shared with me. I hope through this you will gain more to grow in the light of Supreme Love.

Blessed be your eternal Self,
Heather

Days

What a long, strange, hazy year this has been. A part of me cannot believe it is October already, and another part of me wishes it was October 2 months ago.

I have been possessed by an alien life form living in my body for the past 39 1/2 weeks. This year of existence seems to not have belonged to me, but more for this new being. From being sick for so long, to being restricted on physical activity due to an inability to maintain heat very well, I've been in a lull. It has been odd. And every moment my mind is full of thoughts of this new life, and how mine has completely changed.

I am very excited and glad for this change. I know it is going to be just awesome. I am not giving up who I am, but more expanding upon it. I am learning a whole new way of living life. I have yet another meaning for it. There is even more love coming into my life.

Naturally I've been thinking a lot about life, what its meaning is, its cycles. I am becoming even more spiritual. I have even been attending church services, something I thought I would never do; never thought I would be comfortable with it. I have found a wonderful group among the Unitarian Universalists. It fits perfectly along with my spiritual beliefs. It is an organization open to all paths. So be it that you worship God, or Goddess, or anything else, it all applies there. The congregation I attend is mainly Pagan and Buddhist. It is small, yet very friendly. I am happy to have found this.

I am eagerly anticipating the serene moment of the beginning of a life. It is a rare, powerful moment, much in the same as the end of a life. It is all a cycle, and I am so honored to be a part of this. I wonder often of what life lessons she will go through, where she has come from, and where she will go. I have started on even more improvements with my life in the quest to give her the best possible foundation. This includes the mundane, such as having an organized home, to bigger changes, such as looking into school for my career (which I have finally decided on!). Although my mind and body are in a haze, my focus is very strong.

So, here we are, just days away from a momentous change. No more counting trimesters, months, or even weeks. We are down to days. Maybe hours. It will happen.