I was talking to a very good friend of mine recently.  She and I are soul sisters and often are at similar places at the same time in our lives.  We were discussing religion.  She has recently found a fit in Gnostic Christianity like I have found my fit with Wicca.  I asked questions of her cause I had not heard of Gnostic Christianity.  You would think that it would be polar opposite of where I am - yet surprisingly is not.

Both were big on living life in a way that does not hurt others.  They agreed on being accepting of other.  I called them both pacifistic.

It made me think about the term "God" and how it equates to religion.  I believe, that God in most religions is pretty similar.  I believe God is loving.  He/she is there to support and help us grow.  In many ways God is like the proverbial parent - guiding force.  Specifics may be different how ever.  To some God is in heaven over seeing all.  Others may see God as energy and a state of consciousness.  And then there are those like me that see the whole higher power being made of both feminine and masculine sides - call it yin/yang - God and Goddess - two parts of the whole. 

What saddens me is when people, of any denomination take their religion and use it as an excuse to be ugly, intimidating or just mean.  I do not understand the religions that say believe as I believe or you will burn.  Why would God make so many choices if there was only one right causing most people to burn in hell?  Does not make sense to me.

I think anyone who is true to their religion, what ever it may be is inspirational.  I think true devotion is a beautiful thing.  And I think the different ways people can be and the diversity of religion is quite amazing.  As much as I am finding myself in Wicca - I am reading just about everything about religion in general that I can get my hands on.

One of the wonderful things I am really liking about Wicca is the expression "What ever works!"  Basically as long as you follow the Wiccan Rede - "An Ye Harm None, Do What You Will."  This being said, I doubt there are many Wiccans exactly alike anywhere, lol.  That works for me being I like to ask questions.  It also lets me incorporate the things I find close to my heart from both my Jewish and Catholic upbringing.

I recently read in one friends blog - this blogger is a pretty devote Christan, altho I am not sure of what denomination - that she tries to hate the sin and the person. I take that to mean, that even when she does not agree with a choice or a belief that someone has, she still tries to keep an open mind and heart to the person and may like them anyway.  It's the old concept that friends can agree to disagree.

For me, I like the way I am feeling.  I am connected to the earth.  I find strength and power in seeing the magic and wonder in nature.  The cycle of life makes sense to me, like the changing of the seasons.  A higher power that consists of a mother and father, a Goddess and God, feminine and masculine - that makes sense to me. 

Ben is so amazingly on the same page as me.  This in itself is such a gift.  When we tried belonging to the Temple, I know he always felt like a fish out of water.  He did it for me - but it was forced.  The day I said we were done, he cheered.  With his Celtic background, this is so up his ally in how he was raised.  With the kids, I will share this with them, but we will teach them about lots of things.  They will know about all the religions that there family comes from and then probably some.  When they are old enough to know their heart, they will be able to decide for themselves what they believe.

Well, that is enough ramblings.