Solace of the Solitary
General Talk
It depends on the bible you are reading, and the priest you ask to interpret it. Some believe that the bible condemns rape, while other believe that it means homosexuality. I have 3 different bibles at home, and none of them phrase it the same way.
I add the word "spiritualist" because I am. I do believe that something greater than us is connecting everyhing together. No, not a god. Not even a single, all-powerful entity. I agree that something that has influence over us is not plausible. But unlike you, I don't think that we have no control over our thoughts and actions. You say that they believe it because that's just the way it is, and that they can't not believe it, because that's just the way it is. I don't accept that.
People are not bad because they are wired that way due to their genetic code. We can change. We are Homo Sapiens. Self aware. A nervous animal does not have the cognitive functions to change itself. Sure, you can train it. But if you let up on the training regiment, it goes back to being it's old self. If a person wants to change, and really puts their mind to it, they can.
Western medicine and studies have proven that alternative medicine is false. But it's been used for thousands of years. if it didn't work, they would have stopped using it. American studies still claim that Weed does not help cancer and AIDS patients. But European studies prove otherwise. Science can be flawed. I would know. I'm in school for biology. In multiple years new finding have come out, and I had to relearn something that was taken for granted. You can't even site a journal or article in a science paper if it's older than 5 years. Experiments are not a perfect science. And the FDA, even, just found out that some companies are givingprescriptionantidepressants to kids when they specifically were told that the drug wasn't safe for them. As much of a scientist as I am, I understand that it's not perfect.
I believe in being a good person. I don't own much, and I am generous with the little I have. It's partly a cultural thing. But the culture spawns out of the religion that surrounds it. I believe in Karma, The 8 noble truths, and the golden rule. These ideas would not be around if not for the religion the people believed in. These religions came around during a time when people sacrificed animals and people to gods, when you could have your hand cut off for stealing. The concept of being a good person did not create the religion. the religion created the idea.
To me, at least, the terms refers to "something bigger than me". Something you can't necessarily define and pointed to. I know what will happen to me when I die. But I also believe that something connects us all while we are alive too. Do I know what that is? Not really. If I studied quantum physics, and understood the math, maybe I would have a better idea. But as for right now, it does have a slightly mystical feel to it. I know there is something physical going on. I like using gems to help heal from bruises and sore muscles. I don't believe that anything is reaching out through the rock, or that it is a mystical item left just for me to use. I know that crystals vibrate on their own just because of their molecular structure. And that that vibration has an effect on what is around it. No different than how radiation vibrates in it's own wavelength and makes you sick.
Growing locks, like I said, does not produce the spiritual experience. It is a way to feel more closely tied to your spirituality, and to express it to others. Sure, the majority of people don't see it. But you are not growing locks for them. You are growing them for yourself. The best christians never talk about god or their faith with anyone outside of church. They act on it. There's no reason to talk about what you believe unless you are trying to convert them, or answering a question. People see how you act, not what you say you believe. But because we can not see each other here, all we have is our words. So that has to do.