Crazy Bear
New Member
Hey there!
I'm a religious studies major in university and I'm attempting to embark on a late-blooming spiritual path that I think would like to begin now.
I was baptised Christian as a child but my parents were very liberal about religion. My dad is more of an animistic pagan than anything, gettin' all close with nature and waving at trees as if they were old chums. He and I have some Native American roots, which we both identify strongly with and admire the culture/religion. Religion ultimately escaped the growing stage of my life, though, and for all of high school and a fair deal of elementary school I was nothing. Agnostic. In this period of time I can count my religious interactions on one hand. The Mormon fellows who came to my house often and tried to give me homework. The Jehovah's Witness who thought I was a lost soul and always asked for me by name at my door. And I read the Dao of Pooh and had the occasional talks with my dad.
Then I moved out and long story short I decided to do my second major in religious studies. In my first year of university I learned a lot about Dharmic religions and next semester I am registered for advanced classes on Daoism and 'Contemporary Alternative Spirituality'.
Through all the essays and academic studies I find myself craving these kinds of divine connections I learn about in my classes. I find myself wanting to be religious. And so I come to you ladies and gentlemen in hope that you might provide some help.
I've read the Daodejing, the Bible, and the Koran (English translation ) as a start. Reading is all well and good, but it's not the philosophies and the stories, it's the practice that I want. The practice that I've always felt distant from.
Thank you for listening,
Eric
I'm a religious studies major in university and I'm attempting to embark on a late-blooming spiritual path that I think would like to begin now.
I was baptised Christian as a child but my parents were very liberal about religion. My dad is more of an animistic pagan than anything, gettin' all close with nature and waving at trees as if they were old chums. He and I have some Native American roots, which we both identify strongly with and admire the culture/religion. Religion ultimately escaped the growing stage of my life, though, and for all of high school and a fair deal of elementary school I was nothing. Agnostic. In this period of time I can count my religious interactions on one hand. The Mormon fellows who came to my house often and tried to give me homework. The Jehovah's Witness who thought I was a lost soul and always asked for me by name at my door. And I read the Dao of Pooh and had the occasional talks with my dad.
Then I moved out and long story short I decided to do my second major in religious studies. In my first year of university I learned a lot about Dharmic religions and next semester I am registered for advanced classes on Daoism and 'Contemporary Alternative Spirituality'.
Through all the essays and academic studies I find myself craving these kinds of divine connections I learn about in my classes. I find myself wanting to be religious. And so I come to you ladies and gentlemen in hope that you might provide some help.
I've read the Daodejing, the Bible, and the Koran (English translation ) as a start. Reading is all well and good, but it's not the philosophies and the stories, it's the practice that I want. The practice that I've always felt distant from.
Thank you for listening,
Eric