Since Larry is selectively oblivious, it didn't occur to him to open a new, similar topic...

I would have called it "Reincarnated" but that was too many letters to try and squeeze in...

Let there be peace on earth... and let it begin with me.

Of course it occured to me to do so. I am selectively oblivious, not just plain oblivious. I just chose not too.
But, now that you have.....it might be fun! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>
However, one thing I have come to see after inventing my own religion, with a little help from my friends, is that the more you do, the less you have. The more rules the religion has, the more removed it seems to be from God in some way. Because most of the rules seem to be made, abused and enforced by man in too many cases. Ask the people that lived under the taliban, or ask an alter boy that was abused by a priest.
So, our "religion" of Selective Obliviosity is more a philosophy of life and the study of life, than it may be a pure religion. However, we do wish to include in it the only basic rule that any religion needs with respect to interacting with other humans, and that is "The Golden Rule"........unless of course you happen to be a masocist. That's one place where selective obliviosity can fit in very well.
Oh Boy....here we go again!!! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/eek.gif" width=15 height=15>

Hail Homer!

Go, Larry!
For the past year or so I have really been thinking about religion, God, my own faith and trying to figure out what I really believe and where a church (any church) fits into all this. I have seen too many people abused by clergy (and I'm not talking about sexual abuse), who think they are "working for God" by stomping some poor soul. I have also met some wonderful kind, caring priests who do great things.
I have to admit, hearing about Arlo's "bring your own God" church started me thinking about this--I think that is one of the neatest things I've heard in a long time.

I agree with Larry: The Golden Rule/Love is all we need (da-da-da-da-da...all you need is...). Exploring beliefs and the puzzle of existence requires, a priori, an open mind.

Pat R: It is my religion and my church; the only ones I can imagine anyone needing. I think I was a member long before I heard about the Bring Your Own God Church. (Does that mean I owe years' worth of $25's to the Guthrie Center? Yikes!)

Bumper will chime in soon. I can feel him lurking. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

somewhere between, the Sufi and split a piece of wood and I am there, lift a stone and you will find me, the truth is to be found, I am not sure of the wording but the thought is there, find your own God, seek your own truth and allow others to do the same, of course if you find a certain standard, it is important that you follow the sparrow that has been sent to lead you.

of course if that does not work then we can always start the church of Larry.

Exactly, Larry!

Ceashel, I too have been a Bring Your Own Religion person my whole life. Me thinks there are a lot of us.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Larry:
<snip>

So, our "religion" of Selective Obliviosity is more a philosophy of life and the study of life, than it may be a pure religion. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/eek.gif" width=15 height=15><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was checking out a yearly calendar today. It had 'ALL' the holidays, leaving no stone unturned.

*Turns out (and I believe it's Nov 2) is 'Day of the Dead'.

Can someone shed some light on this observerence???? Did Jerry get us a national holiday for some strange reason. After all Woody ended up on a Postage Stamp....<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/confused.gif" width=15 height=22>

It is a Mexican, Aztec holiday, honoring all relatives, ancestors and friends who have died. El Dia de los Muertos. Here's a link to one page that explains: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/muertos.html

and since Jerry's gone, we can certainly honor him!

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Wyldflower on Sep 19, 2002 ---</FONT></center>

Thanks for the link, Wyld. I was a little taken aback that "Day of the Dead" holiday would be celebrated on my birthday! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/dead.gif" width=15 height=15>

Chiming in on the "bring your on god(dess)" form of spiritual renewal.

OK, when I first started contemplating a "Bring Your Own God" church, I wound up with some questions--and I'm not entirely being funny here--I could use some thoughts on the subject:

I've always been told that my God wants to be #1, and he's a jealous God--will he want to be associated with other people's Gods?

Do I know my own God well enough to bring him into a group where He could get mixed up with other people's Gods?

If I bring my own God, will I take the same one home with me when I go?

What if my God doesn't want to play nicely with others?

While I certainly can accept that other people have different Gods, or a different name for the same one, the one I've been using has worked well for me so far--am I turning my back on something here if I acknowledge other Gods, too?

Let me know what you all think on any or all of these questions, I'd appreciate it.

I don't think that anyone can answer those questions for anyone else, but Arlo points out that you're already bringing your own God wherever you go. You're bringing your own mind and heart and that informs your concept of God wherever you are. If you bring home an altered concept of God, that's only because something in you was ready to look at things in a different way.

One day I decided to go into town, I jumped into my car and drove the five miles to get there and then parked in the parking lot. Exiting the car, I observe that there are many other cars in the lot, many in fact of the same make and color, some almost like mine, others which are a lot different but still cars.

Looking around me, I wonder how all these cars ever got here and then it occurs to me, did I bring my car here or did it in fact bring me.

This then is the question when going to a church where one is asked to bring their own God, Who is taking who?


Excellent questions and an excellent answer Pat, I think both reflect our shared journey to find a higher purpose and the truth.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pat Rainey:
...While I certainly can accept that other people have different Gods, or a different name for the same one, the one I've been using has worked well for me so far--am I turning my back on something here if I acknowledge other Gods, too?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think accepting that other people have different gods is all it takes. I wouldn't think anyone at the BYOGC would ask you to convert to theirs, so what would you be turning your back on? IMHO, only a god who requires you to keep a closed mind would object to your exposure to others’ ideas and concepts. Pat's right--really, only you can answer those questions--good ones--for yourself. Although I'm sure you could gets lots of opinions on them, but that's not the same as answers. Which, come to think of it, is an important distinction between our church and other churches. We're long on opinions but short on "answers." I like it that way.