Fun with Memes
This one would get me into much trouble if someone like, say, my mother found it. Sigh. I can't resist. Kismet is truly dangerous when she questions. And I can't resist.
So here's the premise: Kismet posed a few questions about religion and basic beliefs thereof on her blog. Meme-junkies such as I are invited to join along and post answers either in the comment section of her blog or on our own blog. So here are my answers to her questions.
Q1: Do you believe in a higher power?
A: Yep.
Q2a: Do you believe in an afterlife?
A: Yep.
Q2b: If so, what do you think the basic concept is? For example, reincarnation, heaven, etc.
A: I believe that we'll all be sent to a place we deserve based on our Earthly performance. I don't care what it's called; "Heaven" is as good a name as any other, I suppose. Whatever you call it, it's all about learning and growing and moving from one state to another based on how we perform in the previous state.
Q3: What is your take on the Christian atonement (the concept that Jesus' experience in the garden of Gethsemane and subsequent death and resurrection pay the penalty for our sins)?
A: I don't believe that Jesus took the fall for our sins. Where is the justice in that? And what would be the point of judgment by a higher power if we are held blameless for our actions? And does that mean that everyone regardless of their sin is blameless via the atonement? I can't believe that. If I thought that Hitler (or some other such evil) would not be punished for his Earthly actions, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. What would be the point of doing good? What would be the point of living a purposeful life if people living selfish lives were given the same reward (or whatever happens after judgment).
Q4: Is there a particular religion or philosophy you think you most align with?
A: Oy. After my answer for question 3, I hesitate to answer this one. Officially, I'm LDS (that's Mormon to most people). I've been a member all my life. Most recently, I've begun to question everything, including religion. My crisis of self has power-morphed into a crisis of faith. Frankly, I don't know what I believe any more and whether those beliefs are within the LDS religion. In short, as far as religion goes, I am a mass of confusion presently and cannot claim to represent the beliefs of any particular religion, though I suppose I still call myself "Mormon." Most likely, Mormons who follow the LDS religion more, eh, stridently would oppose my using the label on myself. Whatever. Labels don't matter much to me right now. Maybe after I figure myself out, I'll figure out which label to apply.
Q5: And finally, what do you think the purpose of this life is?
A: To find the question. OK, that was an easy out. I don't know. I think that quite possibly, the purpose of life is to figure out that what the purpose of life is. Once you've got that figured out, how hard can the rest be? And if that doesn't bake your noodle, you obviously had more sleep than I last night. This is why I should not take religion seriously (or post my sleep-deprived half-formed thoughts on any topic - but most especially on religion) when I haven't slept in more than 24 hours.
Extra Credit to be completed later... after I've slept. Check back tomorrow, and maybe I'll be awake by then.
So here's the premise: Kismet posed a few questions about religion and basic beliefs thereof on her blog. Meme-junkies such as I are invited to join along and post answers either in the comment section of her blog or on our own blog. So here are my answers to her questions.
Q1: Do you believe in a higher power?
A: Yep.
Q2a: Do you believe in an afterlife?
A: Yep.
Q2b: If so, what do you think the basic concept is? For example, reincarnation, heaven, etc.
A: I believe that we'll all be sent to a place we deserve based on our Earthly performance. I don't care what it's called; "Heaven" is as good a name as any other, I suppose. Whatever you call it, it's all about learning and growing and moving from one state to another based on how we perform in the previous state.
Q3: What is your take on the Christian atonement (the concept that Jesus' experience in the garden of Gethsemane and subsequent death and resurrection pay the penalty for our sins)?
A: I don't believe that Jesus took the fall for our sins. Where is the justice in that? And what would be the point of judgment by a higher power if we are held blameless for our actions? And does that mean that everyone regardless of their sin is blameless via the atonement? I can't believe that. If I thought that Hitler (or some other such evil) would not be punished for his Earthly actions, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. What would be the point of doing good? What would be the point of living a purposeful life if people living selfish lives were given the same reward (or whatever happens after judgment).
Q4: Is there a particular religion or philosophy you think you most align with?
A: Oy. After my answer for question 3, I hesitate to answer this one. Officially, I'm LDS (that's Mormon to most people). I've been a member all my life. Most recently, I've begun to question everything, including religion. My crisis of self has power-morphed into a crisis of faith. Frankly, I don't know what I believe any more and whether those beliefs are within the LDS religion. In short, as far as religion goes, I am a mass of confusion presently and cannot claim to represent the beliefs of any particular religion, though I suppose I still call myself "Mormon." Most likely, Mormons who follow the LDS religion more, eh, stridently would oppose my using the label on myself. Whatever. Labels don't matter much to me right now. Maybe after I figure myself out, I'll figure out which label to apply.
Q5: And finally, what do you think the purpose of this life is?
A: To find the question. OK, that was an easy out. I don't know. I think that quite possibly, the purpose of life is to figure out that what the purpose of life is. Once you've got that figured out, how hard can the rest be? And if that doesn't bake your noodle, you obviously had more sleep than I last night. This is why I should not take religion seriously (or post my sleep-deprived half-formed thoughts on any topic - but most especially on religion) when I haven't slept in more than 24 hours.
Extra Credit to be completed later... after I've slept. Check back tomorrow, and maybe I'll be awake by then.
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