Preface to the Journey

I am nearly twenty three years old. Though it seems like I have just started to live, I have experienced a lot in these past two decades. Everyone of those experiences has led me to this point.

There is much I don't understand, and I will never pretend otherwise. I know that facts are not as solid as we like them to be, and that they are only as good as their interpretation. I know that our truths are founded on which interpretation we choose, and all the facts that follow will either help our truths or be discarded as false.

I am an agnostic, that is my truth as it stands today. There is no religion that I devoutly believe, but I cannot disbelieve in a higher power or higher understanding.

I do not believe that higher power is anything like the vengeful and manlike gods of any monotheistic or polytheistic religion. It is neither man nor woman, nor does it resemble mankind in any form.

I believe it is an energy that surrounds us entirely, one that does not demonstrate phenomenal cosmic powers over nature to inspire awe and fear, yet it is one that can be tapped into when we need inner strength and guidance.

I believe in prayer, and that it can bring you inner peace. I also believe that under the right circumstances it can work miracles. I do not know if it is a great force of willpower on our part that directs the energy for whatever purpose we pray for, or if the higher power listens and grants our wishes.

I believe that when we are born, our essence is taken from this energy and makes us the individuals that we are. Likewise, when we die I believe that energy is returned into the whole. The more at peace we are, the easier we go back into this energy.

I believe in ghosts and phantoms. It is my opinion that they are the 'souls' of the dead who could not find peace with their death. It could be 'unfinished business' or just a failure to accept that they are dead.

While I do not believe in religion, I believe that everyone can learn something from it. Be it Christianity, Islam, or any other. I know in my heart that no one of them is more right or less wrong.

That is what I hope to accomplish with this blog, to perhaps teach those who will listen. But more importantly to learn myself, the things I don't understand.

It is my hope that those who read will have an open mind. I also hope that if I offend any with these entries they will come to me directly and explain why so I might be able to fix any error on my part and perhaps gain a better understanding.

I will post a new entry every Thursday starting on January 1st, 2010. Please do not mistake any of them as an attack on theism or atheism. Instead look at these entries as questions I pose to you, because I am very open to opposing points of view.

All I ask is that if I do write something that is against your beliefs, please be respectful in your replies. Remember your argument is better served by kindness and honesty rather than anger and verbal abuse.