I have no time to blog for real today as my life has taken a complicated path (by association) and I find myself thrust into the center of a storm I must weather. Just think good thoughts - think DEB GOOD THOUGHTS.
I did however just reply to a discussion thread at school as part of an introductory assignment, I was supposed to post a comment on our reading - BOY are they in for it. Ha!!!
I thought, because I have no time to for my own thoughts (that are not academically related), I would just post that thread for you here to read and that way you won't miss me. AS IF you miss me - silly girl/old woman.
So welcome to my education - World Religion.
Hi everyone!
I am a habitual blogger in my personal time, writing/communicating is my thing and so....I am warning you all, this "discussion thread thing" could get dangerous for me :)
My thoughts... They are so varied and expanse on this subject to begin with, where oh where will I be in my head by the time May rolls around??? I am super excited by the prospect of expanding within the academic setting, being forty and in college provides a real appreciation for learning opportunities. BUT, in truth, I am even more excited by the possibility that this class may help me in some way define my own opinions and maybe even beliefs. I have found that my philosophy classes from the last three semesters awakened a very specific question in my personal life, What do I believe? Education, the expansion and well rounded-ness of my knowledge, only serves to provide more relevant and new/unknown variables to consider as I attempt to answer the big questions in my own middle-aged life. I am afraid (very) of my own death, and acknowledge I am certainly closer to it now than I was yesterday....Sigh, I want to explore the concept of religion some more before I am either meeting a maker at the pearly gates, thrust into my new body and life or, just plain done....
To comment specifically on the reading, I found it all quite fascinating and in my view the common thread is this - most humans require something aside from themselves and their own conscience to look/refer to for answers and control, regarding those things which we cannot.
In particular, I found the reading on the Indigenous people of our Native Americans the most thought provoking but this is simply because I have just studied Rene Descartes "God Proofs", along with his opinion of animals. Although I find there are aspects I agree with and disagree with in his philosophies, I am mostly torn about his opinion on the state of animal consciousness. I giggled a lot imagining what points he and a Native American what have debated in reference to the animal kingdom and the role it plays or doesn't play in our spiritual life. I find the Native American connection to the animals fascinating. Are they on to something, learning from and being guided (in simplified terms) by instincts that seem to provide a pretty reasonable order of things??? (Did that make sense?) Are there answers to our big questions by observing the natural world, the animals, the landscape, the seasons - natural death and rebirth? I wonder if it is just that simple? I think we are way too clogged up emotionally and spiritually these days - rules, regulations, possessions.... Maybe the order is in simplicity and maybe then my dog isn't being a bad boy by chasing the deer through the woods and leaving me standing there pissed off holding his leash.
And side note - the "trickster" deities - love this concept, kind of like the bad luck gods who throw you a curve ball to see if you duck, get popped, or smack it clean out of the park. Tricksters are everywhere, they are called CHANGE. I like the concept of worshiping the trickster, embracing your bad luck instead of bemoaning it. But....I say this believing I was an awful person in my past life and am karma screwed in this one - I could just be comforting myself here with a bright side only I see....
See you all in class :)
Only you old folks will get the life of Brian reference...
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