javacat | Friday Five, while waiting for 2,500 Natter posts to print

1. Were you raised in a particular religious faith?
Yup, the Covenant Presbyterian Church. My mom is a Christian Scientist but not rabidly so. I was required to attend Sunday School, go through Communicant's class, become a member of the church. Then I quit going.

One of my sisters and I were in a cult for many years that calls itself a church. No more! not for a long, long time.

2. Do you still practice that faith? Why or why not?
Christianity never did anything for me. My theory starting ~10 years ago is that one has to have had IRL a feeling/experience of a loving father or parent for Christianity to mean something personal. I experienced this ... thing... once that made me feel like I understood Christianity and the concept of a Heavenly Father (it was lovely), then it went away.

Now? I get high being outdoors. All cathedrals and synagogs IMHO are an adumbration of the majesty, grandeur, beauty, terror of nature. Man-created dwellings and rituals are incredible, and I get it, but I feel like I'm tapping the source by falling down in the grass and paying attention.

3. What do you think happens after death?
I used to really, really, really believe in reincarnation. When I was in my teens and 20's, I was sure I was paying now for a less painful/happier life next lifetime. It kept me going.

Jack Kornfield popped my bubble about reincarnation, darn it. Those Buddist-Jews! It's a metaphor, duh. Now I think you just cease to exist, kind of like going to sleep.

Though once, my heart stopped in a hospital and I WAS out of my body up on the ceiling watching them revive me. Maybe the Tibetan Buddhists got it, and you roam around for X weeks out of your body going through horrible trials and pain. Dunno.

4. What is your favorite religious ritual (participating in or just observing)?
I used to be very involved in (and led) ritual circle work, drumming and sweat lodges and stuff. Also, Hindu-trapping'ed guru-yoga practices. Also, vipassa Buddhist practices. I crash a Catholic service now and then (they are SO incredibly pagan!!). I like(d) them all alot. But now, just getting out on a trail or on the water.

5. Do you believe people are basically good?
Yes.