Day 227/365 [Year 2]

March is apparently question month. To ask me a question, post a comment here: toddpage.livejournal.com/370916.html [comments are screened]

All questions: Here

Question 3: Is there an afterlife?

From my personal standpoint? Yes. That's the simple answer. I believe in some continuation of being after our own limited survival on this plane. I can not firmly say what role I think that takes. I think it's interesting how that view changes as we grow... for example, when I was very young and ignoring the homily in mass by reading throw my copy of the bible... or... more than likely... some other book. [I seem to have a vivid memory of reading Oliver Twist at mass at some point] I had an image of heaven as the place it is often predicted in movies. A very corporeal realm, where you simply go from your grave to an escalator of sorts, salute Saint Peter, snag your free car, house, and lute, and go on your merry way!

I also went through a brief phase where I very heavily believed in reincarnation. It was, of course, coupled with the most intensely awkward time of my life. That being 6th grade. Technically the time period I'd describe as most awful and awkward is all of middle school, but I only clung to reincarnation for 6th grade... mostly because it was beaten out of me through humiliation and mockery of classmates and teachers. Either way, I was quite certain I had been reincarnated from a dolphin for about 6 months. Why I had settled on a dolphin? God only knows. But apparently that was the animal of choice. I soon realized that not only had I been a prior dolphin... but that I was not into that method. Actually, I started learning about something that I still hold alot of salt in, that being the native American totem system. I'm 1/16 Native American or something like that, and my mom was into the history, so I got into it. I believe strongly in the use of animal symbolism to not only represent oneself and ground oneself with the world around them, but to inspire them into ways they want to be better. [This will get touched on later]

Whoa, holy train of thought. What that second paragraph should've said is something about how now I wonder about the afterlife. Is it more of a philosophical concept, with a continuation of the soul beyond our minds and bodies. Is there interaction or is it just an opposite of the true meaning of hell. Hell itself is in fact not a home of fire and brimstone... by most translations, but is simply the absence of God... and that is supposed to be the misery of all. So is heaven simply you're in God's presence, this granting you all the peace and happiness you could desire? It's interesting to let your mind wander on it. I'm not sure how precisely I define it... but I do believe in it.

I suppose this is that brief segue for my religious beliefs factoid. I believe in an omniscient, omnipresent being. The exact role and nature of that being is complicated for me. I sometimes see it as a more Aristotelian concept, the unmoved mover, and I sometimes see it as a directly involved being. I do believe in Jesus. The specifics of that situation I have some different interpretations on, occasionally. I don't subscribe to a specific church, nor do I feel I need to. I don't judge anyone for what they believe, as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone's God-given right to their life and happiness. [See what I did there? Man, I slay me.] I think that whatever and whomever The God-being is, Flying Spaghetti Monster, The Nothing, or Bearded old man in the sky, he has a pretty amazing sense of humor. I base this on life itself, and on the fact that through all my blasphemous jokes I haven't been struck down yet. *crosses fingers*

You may be wondering why Jesus is on top of a set of Children's beads in this photo? As some of you may know, I used to be a hard, hard core Catholic/Christian. Like... intense. Like listened to Audio Adrenaline, DC Talk, and Newsboys type hard core. Anyway. I went on a retreat for my confirmation sophomore year of high school... and one of the ice breakers involved these beads. I still have the sets from almost all of the 11 times I've gone on it. The first time as a nervous confirmation student, the next 8 as a Peer Minister, giving talks and leading small groups, and the last 2 as an adult chaperone. The retreat is very relaxed, caring, and generic... and honestly, not even that catholic... and it did/does alot for me. Trinita is an amazing place... a-yup. And... thats that, really.


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