[Posted late because Cameron's girlfriend couldn't remember how to sign in to Blogger while Cameron's overseas.]
What an adventure today has been! It started with going around town with Randy (the other teacher from Washington State who I've become friends with) and going to KFC (which was a nice break from the usual but of course totally unhealthy) and visiting the classic Chinese park when we walked over to Linggue Temple.
Now for the interesting part. After walking for about fifteen minutes we came upon Linggue Temple, I had remembered correctly where it was! Once there we began walking around and taking in the silence and serenity of the open spaces that made up the Temple squares and walkways around each building that housed a Buddha, Bodhisattva or all of the above.
Most of the building were locked, except for two. We entered that one where a Golden Buddha was. It was here we learned the Chinese way of prayer at the temple full bow on the ground/mat with hands open palm upwards. We did this three times for luck and than rung the lucky gong three times for luck. During this time I talked to a young monk who was a teenager or younger. He was very kind and I told him about my study Buddhism in college. After the ringing and prayers we were asked to make a donation, I made of twenty-yuan and then recieved a booklet.
After we made our way to the back to the City God Temple area. This building is made of grey stone compared to the others that are painted yellow. A man who works at the Temple opened it and showed us around as well as giving us incense to burn to the local deity. After we were asked to make a fifty yuan donation. We got blessed necklaces and another booklet for it but it was there I realized once again the negative of so many organized religions and the disadvantage of organizations in general...
How many poor would be able to make that kind of donation to the Temple and local deity? How it goes is one who is well off is already in a better position to receive many more blessings of wealth, luck and success (the big three emphasis in regards to the supernatural in China). In old Catholicism and probably still in some corrupt parishes money does talk...someone who can give more is likely to be respected more and less likely to be questioned. The only way out of this for someone who is poor is to gain power in the Temple, Church or Institution itself. This I think is one of the greatest cons of organized faith in general (obviously not all faiths are guilty of it, but it does happen).
The pros can best be described in the times of silence bowing where extreme peace experienced, or in the sound of the gong that the monk, man or I rang...the sound can make one fully present in that moment and with it a release of all the anxiety from the day or past moments. There is a space here for people to remember those they've lost, to celebrate a birth or simply to reflect. It was made for people and it clearly shows this.
I plan on returning again and will write about those future visits. But this is what it was like my second time coming where I really had to time truly take it all in and notice the pros and cons present.
Hello readers and welcome to 2012! I haven't been posting entries and there is a reason for that. I've become a English teacher in China and where I'm living doesn't exactly have churches to visit. So most of my experiences of considering religion have been reading, analyzing and reflecting on my experiences thus far.
What do I believe? That it is important to live with virtue and seek to understand what virtue is in order to live it better (which can be by wu-wei, philosophy and critically thinking). I believe in a God, though if I were to define it I would be assuming power I don't have, and my belief is Agnostic (I accept could be wrong and there may not be a God), I think God as first cause and as the incarnation of virtue and where virtue is and comes from (like Plato's true forms) makes sense. What that means in relation to us beyond the standard that we all strive for, I'm not sure. I'm not God.
Because I can't assume supernatural perception of the supernatural (which if it is supernatural must be beyond materialism and the natural world and out of my perception unless nature suddenly does an unexpected change and becomes supernatural). I can't count it out either. It's for this reason I believe in the possibility of miracles, or natures reversed becoming supernature, many things are possible and the future is unknown. I don't think this should be my basis for acting good though, or that it is truly probable (growing back of limbs on a human being for example). Say a supernatural deity does in fact exist does doing good for It's approval any more virtuous than doing good because it helps oneself, other people and is true? What would be virtuous motivation or right thought? Would it not be egoless thought? At least that makes sense to me. Not acting on approval, fame or reward...simply because it is right and matters to the person or people for whom it is being done for.
The ritual of religion and traditions are a mixed bag (as are the history of faiths and the faiths themselves). Most faiths carry some sort of wrong and vice done against another, while many at the same time claim that the faith changes them into more virtuous beings. That is true for some people I think, which is why I then ask, is it God or the people who has the power in those situations? Is it both? What about the problem of evil in religions that claim guidance by a perfect and good, omnipotent, all-powerful God? (Same goes for Holy Books and the words of God). When I read holy books I see the flaws of people and how far they are from the mark of perfect goodness, and in many cases God is justifying or at least being used to justify it (also justifying good...which again, shows humans speaking rather than God).
Religious ritual is also powerful...it brings people together, it's a common language, a way to say we are the same and one family. This idea of solidarity among humanity I think is important (though not with moral relativity - abuse of children and women (and abuse as whole), rape, murder, genital mutilation, "honor" killings, oppression of women and GLBTQ people, stealing, cheating on a spouse, etc.) are clearly wrong beyond thought crime (thought crime should not be prosecuted) and must be stopped.
These are actions that bring trauma and end life. There isn't a moral gray on these issues because of the harm they cause to ones development and how they cause trauma to the one being hurt and unless the person is a complete sadist, to the one doing the action, who is probably acting out on their upbringing and baggage.
If I don't believe in a religion than why continue the blog? Because of people and who knows, I am open to the possibility of the supernatural and religions make the greatest claim to it and miracles. The stories are full of miracles and I always learn from the conversations with others, and the ways that common virtue can but not always touched on in the sermons and stories of others. Maybe me the doubting Thomas can touch the holes in Jesus's (the Risen Christs) hands someday (or the equivalent within another faith)...but I'm not holding my breath. It's an adventure and its a chance to live with integrity and seek truth with others while living with virtue. What more reason do I need?
In the States, and when I can visit places of worship in China or other countries the blog will be updated, but until then...thank you for walking with me.
Eastshore Unitarian Church. I have so many memories in this place. It was here that my the Interfaith (Youth Exploring Spirituality - Unitarian) Organization was made and where I had my first community in Washington. I had my Coming of Age here and traveled to Romania where I made so many friends and have many mentors in the Church. This Church taught me so much. But I didn't sign the book, and don't think I could ever call myself a member. There is so much I agree with in regards to the philosophy and ideals of the Church.
The Church affirms: Love is the doctrine of this church. The quest for truth is its sacrament, And service is its prayer. To dwell together in peace, To seek knowledge in freedom, To serve humanity in fellowship, Thus do we covenant
These are ideals I support.
It took an invitation though, to return and visit the Church. My friend who also used be Mormon like me came with her Mom and it was great catching up with her about college. The sermon was about accountability and how Unitarian Universalism values played into accountability. The reading was a letter that Garrison Kealer had written as character in his radio show in which a man holds himself accountable to his wife for how he wasn't aware of his daughter and his jealousy towards her friend who she had dated at one point. It fit with my theme of virtue being outside a belief in God.
Now, the reason I never joined the Church and don't feel I could. Politics. Even if your Church functions as a Democracy, corruption and jealousy still happen. Hell, we see this in the debate between Republicans and Democrats. There will always be fear and resistance to new ideas and change. Interfaith in Eastshore Unitarian Church was that change. My Mom who founded the Interfaith movement in the Church was isolated by leaders in the Church who saw the movement and the youth visiting different faiths as threatening, as well as Mom's charisma. Even a liberal church can be as close minded in regards to change as a conservative church. It's in those moments that values get forsaken. When a people feel threatened they commit evil...we see this in the Middle East and in conflicts all over the world. It's in times like this that we are given the chance to stand by the values that make us who we are and define us. To stand up for virtue. No leaders in the Church did that, and I never signed the books because of it. This was when I became fully disenfranchised with organized religion. The same essential problems I saw with all the big faiths in their most conservative, traditionalist expressions was expressed in the Eastshore Unitarian Church. The after affects of the Interfaith Movement among the youth died when my Mom left and none of the youth who I went to youth group and YES-U with attend the Church anymore.
I think the Unitarian Universalism Church is a great church for anyone believes in virtue and it's in the Unitarian Universalist faith where Agnostics, Theists, Deists, Atheists and more work side by side for improving the world. The thing to remember though is it's just as open to corruption as any other organization and that like any religion...your experience is what you make of it. I wouldn't trade any of my memories or friendships from the Church, and I will visit it again the future...but I cannot join. Whether you're religious or not, please remember to live with virtue.
