Heathen Thoughts, and Whirled Peas
Mon, January 4, 2016 
I do not subscribe to any particular religion but I am definitely not an atheist. I am more a devout Heathen.
In my book heathen is not a bad word, and heathens are not necessarily bad people, in the same way atheists are not automatically bad people.
Religion does not own the sole rights to morality, but unfortunately many followers of religions think they do.
The Native Americans were called heathens by the early European settlers, but after making friends with several Native Americans, and studying their beliefs, from what I have learned, those heathens were probably closer to their Maker than many of the early white settlers.
I find it very interesting that the spiritual beliefs of the Native American have a common thread with the Australian Aborigine, with the Celtic and ancient British people, and those of primitive tribes that exist today in various parts of the world.
Their beliefs are all closely tied with nature and they all see themselves as a part of nature rather than separate from it, or somehow above it. I find it even more amazing when I consider that these many and various cultures existed at different times in history, in different parts of the globe, and many do not have a written language.
They obviously did not learn their beliefs from other cultures. These beliefs are intuitive rather than learned, in the same way a swallow or a salmon are not taught how to find their way back to the place of their birth, but travel by instinct.
What sold me on intuition was the realization that followed correctly, intuition cannot lie.
I think the problem humankind has, is that he is too intelligent for his own good. He thinks too much and reads too much second hand information, (Please include this.) rather than following his own intuition.
I find there is so much psycho-babble on the whole subject of spirituality, that it has become almost a new religion. (Or perhaps a New Age Religion.) People quote lines from various books, like quoting text from the Bible.
I have never had the desire to convert to a different religion. I look at another country that is predominantly of a different faith, and I ask myself. Do the people of that country have any less day-to-day problems than we do? Are they happier or more content with their lives? I can't see a huge difference, so I ask myself why bother swapping one set of rules to live by, for another.
I believe this much: There is one creative source in this Universe. When I see images from Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries on TV, I see palm trees. They look exactly the same as palm trees right here in South Carolina, so I find it logical to believe they came from the same source. I ask myself why people are killing each other over a different set of religious beliefs.
The atheist will say, “Prove to me there is a God.” I cannot, so will not even try. My intuition tells me to concentrate on things I do know, rather than look for answers to things I will never know. I believe in life. I know there is life, because I have life. I see little squirrels and birds outside my window as I write this. They also have life, along with all the trees and other plants I see.
But what is life? I cannot see it or touch it. Life is anything that dies when you stomp on it. Life is what keeps meat fresh without refrigeration. Because once life leaves a body, it will start to rot and decay, and man with all his cleverness and knowledge cannot reverse that and bring something back to life. So I believe in Life, and whatever It is that sustains life. (Note that “It” is capitalized.)
This heathen will not be in church on Sunday, I will be out riding my bike. My bike is a machine that becomes an extension of my body, and while I am riding, I am definitely connected to the road I am riding on. I am connected to the terrain, the wind and the elements. If everything I can see, smell, and touch came from one creative source, then just maybe I will connect with this same creative source. My Maker if you will.
I am not trying to convert anyone to a different belief for this simple reason. The beliefs I have are what was left when I dropped other beliefs that seemed illogical, and allowed my intuition to take over. Neither I nor anyone else have control over another's intuition, so I cannot convert or teach anyone anything.
So why am I even writing this. It is actually a re-write from something I wrote a few years ago. Writing my thoughts down, causes me to reaffirm and even rethink my beliefs. It keeps me on track. Hopefully it will entertain others, and give them food for their own thoughts, and fire up their own intuition.
A friend recently told me she had marched for Peace in the 1960s and had always dreamed of World Peace in her lifetime. Now she had come to the sad realization that she would not see her dream materialize. In fact the world seemed even further from that dream.
I try to live my life by two simple rules. 1.) I try not to hurt others, by thought, word or deed. 2.) I take responsibility for my own happiness.
This much I know. If the whole world stopped arguing whether there is a God or not. Even worse, fighting and killing over different versions of their God. If everyone lived by those two simple and easy to follow rules, there would be World Peace. No one would ever again get hurt and everyone would be happy.
Utopia maybe, but it is this Heathen’s wish for the New Year and the future even if I will never live to see it.
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Reader Comments (15)
Amen to that! (... coming from an atheist.)
John C.
Another thing that has been bugging me for years, Is when someone is killed by accident or in a crime, There are a steady line of people saying what a fine person they where. What wonderful god fearing law abiding person that was. SO It this person was the fine wonderful God fearing law abiding WHY did they die? WHY do the wicked evil corrupt killers still live TO KILL OTHERS? John C
john crump, life ain't about what your given, it's about what you do with what comes your way. That's the same whether you believe in God or not.
John,
There are bad people because we are free thinking beings, we can think, say and do good or bad things. If we were not free thinking we would be living in the worst kind of bondage.
Dave
I'll try to keep this short. There's simply no such thing as morals apart from God.. Either there is an absolute moral standard(and there is) or each man, culture , society, etc., makes their own. You can't have it both ways. More to the point, you would have no right to inflict your standard on anyone else. Not the murderer, rapist, child molester, not anyone. To say otherwise is not only foolish but intellectually dishonest, oops, another moral vaue, but then everthing is relative, huh?
The DEVIL made me do it? What a load of B/S You and only you are responsible for your actions. Its all about POWER everyone want to be the best and the most powerful. That's why there are BAD GUYS they want the feeling of POWER They then can feel they have power and CONTROL. This is what happened with HITLER he wanted to have the master race, POWER over all. The best and the most powerful.
Very thought provoking column, Dave. I share a lot of your beliefs. I see god expressed mostly in my fellow humans, but I also see god in all of nature, the structure of the universe. The will of god is for me easy to discern and is like you articulated in your two simple rules: treat others as you would be treated and take responsibility for yourself. Religions embody these basics, but always pervert them. Thank you.
Even apart from religion, there are plenty of other sources of conflict and anger that spring from selfish, lustful, jealous, violent human nature to provide plenty of hurt and unhappiness to go around.
please forgive the tone of my remarks, that is, if you are offended by the logic and reason. There are things that can be known and things that cannot be known. If one is to come to conclusions about any of the above I should hope that a rational, reasonable , and logical person should see the clear logic of my previous post.I grant that you must set aside preconceived notions and various nonsensical hypothesis but the logic is irrefutable. All philosophical meanderings mean absolutely nothing apart from an ability to follow ones logic to it's final outcome. Nothing more than mental masturbation. This will be my last word on the subject.
pfff.. GREAT post!
"Hopefully it will entertain others, and give them food for their own thoughts, and fire up their own intuition."
thank you!
best regards,
Mircea
World peace will have to wait until there are no humans
Great quote, thanks. Dave
What is it about a swarm that is unique?
Whether it is a school of fish, a flock of birds, cars upon a roadway, pedestrians on sidewalks, or a peloton of cyclists: a group is protected, has more power and energy, and can do things individuals cannot. What makes it all work?
I never thought about it when racing. I still don’t; maybe that is why a peloton works. We each did our job, took a pull, worked positions out, and rode according to our abilities and personalities. And yes, some of us could start a break, or close one, or block for others. But I don’t remember even the best Pre-Race plans working out. We responded to each situation. Some of the results still bring a smile.
How all this happens cannot be written down, or taught.
But it can be learned, if one doesn’t try to control too much in life.
Interesting premise that "intuition cannot lie" but unfortunately basing ones beliefs on that is basing them on a false premise. If it was true that intuition could not lie and was always correct, then we would never see losers in life. Life itself would look like one very grand string of winning days. Vegas would be out of business! Sadly that belief is untrue. I do agree that confusion reigns here on earth, and with your premise that it causes people to make poor judgements. That's an easy statement to fact check as well. I do think though that even though you claim to believe in a God that is outside your understanding and proof (because hey any God that isn't can't really be a God) but it appears that instead of seeking who that real God is you know is there, you just may have created one instead.
Looking at nature's complexity and recognizing there must be a designer is astute and shows your deep thoughts on the subject, but as we all have only a short spin and then the hard stop, it may be time to dig more deeply. A real God has made himself known to this world. He wrote a book (best seller btw) and does want to get to know you. That of course would take some time and effort (which most many people just wouldn't make the effort). From my perspective though the work in that journey was very interesting, extremely challenging and very rewarding.
Remember that real truth can be tested and the God of the bible cannot lie. As an engineer I like that premise and have tested my way through scripture to a real faith.
Great post,Dave.I consider myself atheist,but "Heathen"sounds so much better :)
The post above me,re:God (of the Bible)cannot lie because I'm an engineer(sorry,Pixelpounder)sounds like something fit for the "Dilbert"cartoon.Oh yes,that's Dogbert!
Cheers everyone,whatever your beliefs or lack thereof!
Joe
Looking at nature's complexity and recognizing there must be a designer is astute and shows your deep thoughts on the subject