Where to start? How about with my own faith journey. I have attended the same Lutheran church my entire life (which I suppose isn't saying much considering I'm only 16) and the spiritual seed was planted quite young. I basically just took my faith for granted. Then for a year at the end of middle school and going into high school I stopped believing in God. I just didn't think there was anyway that it could all be true. I can't remember what exactly brought me back to the church but I eventually started to grow in faith again. There are a few major events that have helped me in my faith. The first is TEC. TEC is a religious retreat here in Minnesota that is just such an amazing experience that you just feel so damn good you never want to leave. The other events are mission trips. I have been on three myself. Two to reservations and one to an urban site. Being in such a different setting from your normal routine and seeing how others live and helping them and just spreading God's love is such a great thing. Both TEC and mission trips renew my faith and help me grow.
Now, I am still working on what exactly I believe. So far I have decided that (now this is only my opinion, here) first, there is a being (such as God) that made the universe and our planet and all that jazz. But I also believe in evolution. There is too much evidence to deny that in my mind. So I think that God made the world and sparked life and what we know today all came from that lucky single cell that God blessed with life. Second, I'm having trouble believing all the stories that are in the Bible. I mean, some of them are pretty far fetched, aren't they? After all, the Bible started by story telling (if I learned one thing from Confirmation, it was that) and we've all played the game telephone right? So we all know how things change through word of mouth. For all we know, all the stories in the Bible are super exaggerated. Lastly, I have recently (just now actually) decided
that God is working through us. I used to believe that it was people believing God was there that made good things happen. Now I'm starting to think that he is doing his work through us. Now that I have explained all that, it's time for me to explain my views on religion as a whole. I do not understand why everyone is so bent on their religion being the best. After all, they are all basically the same. To me, they all have the same basic points. They just differ slightly in the details. And it's the details that everyone gets caught up in. They don't really matter in things like this. But for some reason, the human race finds fault in things they don't agree with. Why can't everyone just get along and be happy?
One last point I would like to make before signing off. It intrigues me that all the creation stories are so similar and yet some are more believed than others. Take Christianity's for example. Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. It's just a story that someone made up that was meant to answer life's great question of why are we here. Which is what every creation story is. A way to think that we know what happened when really, no one knows.
So, always remember that what I put out here is only my own opinion and I'm not trying to force my beliefs on you. Take what I say or leave it.
Much love and be free,
Avery
