Faith
Having been studying religion a lot lately, and talking with different people, and having experienced quite possibly one of the greatest films - "The Passion of Christ" - I've been doing a lot of thinking..... Now the movie itself has not changed my beliefs in anyway - but really it couldn't, because I'm not sure what I believe. A few years ago I would have said I was a faithful Christian, which was true. I did all the things a good Christian should do, besides going to church regularly - but I never felt the need to worship with large groups of people, it almost felt more personal to do my worshiping on my own - it was a one on one relationship that way. But lately, or should I say, for the past one or two years, I've been considering other religions. With so many religions out there, it seems strange to me that only one of these can be true - isn't it possible that they are all true and are simply different ways of reaching different people? After all, all religions, at the core of there teachings, promote the same thing - peace and humanity. They all promote being a better person, showing love and compassion for everyone. So couldn't they all be right then? Or is it possible that they are all wrong - and are mearly ways for people to explain, and make easier the pain of death and suffering?

I have often said that I find much truth in the Buddhist teachings - having been a Christian on my own free will (not being raised as one) - its hard for me to think of this world without a creator, and therefore I'm not sure I could ever truly be a Buddhist myself, but almost all Buddhist teachings, with the exception of there being no creator, I try to follow in my daily life. There is a wisdom to it that seems more practical and realistic then many of the other religions I have studied. The question that I have been "pondering" quite a bit lately is whether or not this world is in fact "cyclic" or if there is a heaven and hell. Do we continuously live and die, taking this journey over and over into infinity....?

In Buddhist belief (simpified of course), how you act in this life will determine how your next life is. How much you strive to learn and better humanity. How much love and compassion you show - it will all affect your next life, hoping that in each life you will advance in these things, and at some point you will reach nirvana - and be free of suffering. But then in the next life - do you start over again? Is there an end to the cycle, is there a place where we will no longer need to focus so much time and effort into overcoming suffering? It seems almost discouraging to say no - this life means nothing in reality. Whatever happens, we will live another one. What is important is that you strive to be better, and in your next life it shall be so. Make memories and meet people, love people, and learn - learning is the entire point of this life. And the next. And the next. For infinity.

That is a concept that, although part of me feels like it is true, is very hard for me to except. There is a comfort in believing that after this life we will go somewhere greater - that this life is a test. This test gives us reason to be great - to have that love and compassion, because what we do in this life will affect our eternity - it will determine whether we spend it in bliss or in the pits of hell. There is a comfort in believing that there is someone somewhere out there that has a plan for us - that created us and loves us and understands us, and would do anything for us - including sacraficing his only son to the most brutal of deaths.

In the end - it seems like no matter how much I learn and debate - I don't know how to make a decision or if I can. My faith is not doubtless - it never was. From the moment I became a Christian and handed my life to Christ I have always doubted and asked questions. Does that make me a bad Christian? It is nearly impossible for me to have blind faith.... but when it comes down to it, when there is a situation of need, I find myself unconscienously praying and asking for help or guidance. Even while doubting my faith and doubting the idea of a creator all together, I still rely on that faith to get me through troubles. So mixed feelings arise. I'm about to start reading a book connecting Buddhism and Christianity - as they are, apparently, very similar religions. I would love to study Ba'hai, it seems like something that makes a lot of sense. But for now - it seems strange not knowing what to believe. When people ask me if I am religious or what I believe in - I'm never quite sure how to respond. Yes - I am.... what do I believe - well, I don't know..... I just am.

I'm not entirely sure that any of that makes sense... but it always interests me to hear what other people believe and how they defend their faith. Religious discussion in probably my favorite thing, I feel like I know so little, despite reading and trying so hard to learn - there is just so much out there. So many people have such strong and blind faith in so many different things and I wish I knew how they could do that. Throw their lives into the belief of something that no one can prove or disprove.

Table of Virues and Vices
Table of Virtues and Vices
- Plato's "The Golden Mean"

Fear and Confidence - in Excess is Rashness, the Mean is Courage, the Deficiency is Cowardice

Pleasure and Pain - in Excess is Licentiousness, the Mean is Temperance, the Deficiency is Insensibility

Getting and Spending(Minor) - in Excess is Prodigality, the Mean is Liberality, the Deficiency is Illiberality

Getting and Spending(Major) - in Excess is Vulgarity, the Mean is Magnificence, the Deficiency is Pettiness

Honour and Dishonour(Major) - in Excess is Vanity, the Mean is Magnanimity, the Deficiency is Pusillanimity

Honour and Dishonour(Minor) - in Excess is Ambition, the Mean is Proper Ambition, the Deficiency is Unambitiousness

Anger - in Excess is Irascibility, the Mean is Patience, the Deficiency is Lack of Spirit

Self-Expression - in Excess is Boastfulness, the Mean is Truthfulness, the Deficiency is Understatement

Conversation - in Excess is Buffoonery, the Mean is Wittiness, the Deficiency is Boorishness

Social Conduct - in Excess is Obsequiousness or Flatter, the Mean is Friendliness, the Deficiency is Cantankerousness

Shame - in Excess is Shyness, the Mean is Modesty, the Deficiency is Shamelessness

Indignation in Excess is Envy, the Mean is Righteous, the Deficiency is Malicious Enjoyment

Goodness and Happiness
"What is the Good for man? It must be the ultimate end or object of human life: something that is in itself completely satisfying. Happiness fits this description. But what is happiness? If we consider what the function of man is, we find that happiness is a virtuous activity of the soul. How is happiness aquired? Is it only when his ife is completed that a man can rightly be called happy?"
- Selections from Plato's "Happiness as the Goal of Human Life"

It has been believed by many philosophers and great thinkers of the world, including Plato and Socrates, that a man cannot be ultimately happy until his life has ended. Although a man may appear happy and wise and have everything going for him, there is always the chance that omething bad may happen, and therefore you cannot say that any man has lived a completely happy life until he has died, and upon his death is happy. Thus being said, a person who has lived a happy life must die a happy death. A peaceful death. "Happiness demands not only complete goodness but a complete life. In the course of life we encounter many reverses and all kinds of vicissitudes, and in old age even the most prosperous of men may be involved in great misfortunes..... Nobody calls happy a man who suffered fortunes like his and met a miserable end."

So how then can anyone be considered happy? Is it wrong to say that a person has attained happiness at any point in his life simply because that person is still living? I should think not. Happiness occurs throughout our lives, but happiness is attained for a moment, and may end in a moment, it is not a continuous attribute. So to say a person has led a life of happiness cannot be said about any living being. "We conclude then, that the happy man will have the required quality, and in fact will be happy throughout his life; because he will spend all his time, or the most time of any man, in virtuous conduct and contemplation. And he will bear his fortunes in the finest spirit and with perfect sureness of touch, as being "good in very truth" and "foursquare without reproach." Even here, when a man bears patiently a number of heavy disasters, not because he does not feel them but because he has a high and generous nature, his nobility shines through. And if, as we said, the quality of a life is determined by its activities, no man who is truly happy can become miserable; because he will never do things that are hateful and mean."

So happiness is, or so it seems, attained through goodness. Goodness not being, as thought by much of Western civilization, power and wealth and health, but by compassion and love and generosity. Only those who seek to better the lives of others can hope to better their own lives. It is doing the right thing above self-preservation.

The Philosopher In Us All
I'm opening up this "blog" as a forum for philisophical discussion, about life, religion, and politics. I know there are lots of people who enjoy discussion of these topics, as do I, but it's often difficult to get around to talking about them. I'm hoping that maybe we can all help each other learn about these extremely important topics. Feel free to post questions or comments that will envoke discussion and debate.