Creating A "Family Religion"

    Religion has always been something I sought after. With my dad being a Catholic and my mom's Baptist background, it has always been Christian based. I began my quest by learning about different sects of Christianity, but adding such things as Buddhism, Judaism, Wicca, Shinto, Hindu, Voodoo, and even the Cherokee faith. My intent was to find one religion I would treasure above all the rest. However, none really seemed to fit (perhaps because of my eclectic views toward religion). Finally, this search of mine is coming to a close. Instead of finding a religion I like and converting to it, I will create a "family religion!"

The beliefs of this un-named religion are not too hard to believe. Our Lord God is a supreme being, all knowing and all understanding. God has no true form and no defined gender. Nor, is it assumed there is only one God. For all we know, "God" could be several people. The Divine ("God") is in everything created with love, including things of purpose. However, instead of being disrespectful and referring to the Divine as "it", we use the word "he" -� meaning, the father of all.     God created the universe, his mate Mother Earth (the Goddess), and all the works (including evolution). God existed in deep meditation for countless ages in a void until deciding to create the universe and life. The exact age of the Earth is unknown, since the Divine has no conception of our time. The Earth has had many beings call it "home". Some might even refer to the Divine's primitive beings as failed experiments. However, Earth was not the only planet our Lord created.

    Our Lord God is universal and appears in many forms. God is the Goddess and the Goddess is God; they are one. They exist and work together in harmony producing all experience. With these broad ideals, we can assume that almost all religions hold truth. What the individual chooses to do with this knowledge determines the length at which their spirit will grow. This observance and honoring of God (and the Goddess) can be done through prayer, trance, meditation, chanting, or even dancing. The Goddess (also known as Mother Earth) can be reached directly through this process, along with the messengers of God. This is the path of acceptance and understanding.

There is no set day of prayer for a family religion nor are any written works followed to the letter, but rather they are taken in context. Words are much like a finger pointing to the moon. Words are just a sign to point to the unconceived ultimate reality. It is of great value to not obsess over the conceptual pointer, but to see the ultimate reality clearly. Each person must face this reality in their own way. The most efficent way to achieve this is through prayer. There is no right or wrong way to pray, however, it is extremely beneficial to dedicate one day per week to worship. Saturday often seems to be the day of choice, sometimes along with Tuesday or Thursday. The day is one of self-fulfillment in the name of the Lord. Anything done to better your self or show love (or care) towards others is favorable on this day. Work is not recommended, but the line is very blurred. For example, if you are to teach a yoga or tae kwon do class, this is acceptable, as you are helping others to better themselves along with you.

    Let�s use an example to best illustrate the weekly day of prayer. Say you chose Saturday as your day of worship. The day of worship begins Friday evening when the sun goes down. It is not necessary to visit a location in order to pray � rather, it can be done in your very home. Candles are to be lit and prayers are to be said. The woman of the house lights the candles and begins the prayers. (If a woman is not present, then the presence of the Goddess must be requested before you begin.) The candles are usually scattered around one single room, or (if a single space is being used) arranged in a circle which everyone can fit into. It does not matter what is worn during this service of devotion, but everyone must fit into the mix. (For example, everyone might wear one color, all girls might wear dresses while all the men wear pants, etc.)

    The day of worship in our example would end Saturday evening after the sun has set. A fest is to be held during this time. The fest marks the joining of the world�s people in peace. No weapons are allowed to be on the table with the food. Often, a pocket knife will be used; the bread can be cut by the man of the house and then the knife can be put away. Meat can be served, as long as it was prepared before the day of worship and it is properly thanked for.

Keep in mind that without prayer there is a lack of devotion. Pray as many times as possible during the day. Do not feel bad if you pray only once per day; just be sure to be more thankful than expectant!

    Birth is a very joyous occasion that is often associated with a blessing of baptism. Baptism is completely optional and it does not guarantee a pleasant reincarnation (if you should have one after this life). Instead, baptism is something we do entirely for ourselves. If you feel it shall bring you closer to God and the Goddess, it is your bidding. Baptism has the ability to heighten the awareness and understanding of your spiritual level. The baptism itself is performed with some sort of running water. The best option would be that of a waterfall, but a river or stream works just as well. Baptism is performed at any age and can be done individually without the aid of a monk, priest, nun, or priestess.

    Often, it is wise to have your past lives read and examined. Psychic abilities (or rather known as the 6th sense) are extremely important. If one does not wish to practice them or even acquire them, this is perfectly fine. However, they must not get in the way of others. We each are fated (or destined, if you prefer) to our own path. It is our choice, along with the outside influences on our life, if we follow this path or not. Pay extra attention to any signs you may receive along the way, as they will insure your success on your journey.

In addition to the use of our 6th sense, we must also take into account our astrological sign, moon sign, and rising sign. These are predetermined at our birth by divine influences. It is vital to plan which astrological sign you might wish for your baby, but ultimately this is in control of God and sometimes possibly the Goddess as well. For as we were made from the Earth by God, we were made through the Goddess who is the Earth herself. Be sure to also pay attention to the color the astrological house you belong to.

    Rites of passage throughout our life are important. A female's monthly cycles (also known as moon blood) mark her entrance into womanhood. From the start of her first and onward, she is referred to as a "Lady". (For example, I would be known as "Lady Jessica".) The title of "Lady" does not become part of one's name. It is instead used to identify their stage of life. For a male, the mark of manhood begins at age 13, but does not round off until 17 or 18. During this period of time and beyond, a male is referred to as "Lord" or even "Master". These titles are well deserved names of the religion. As God created the earth and this process of creation which is the Goddess, girls will mature faster than boys.

Sex before marriage is not condemned within this religion, however it should be used properly and not be misused (examples of misuse include one-night stands and/or many partners). Sex is not an obstacle of this religion, but instead a way to enhance awareness. As always, certain ages are not appropriate for sexual activity, while others can pass as acceptable. Should two people make a pledge to one another at any special festival, such as Beltane at the beginning of May, this bond is considered sacred and honored like a bond of marriage. If the pledge should instead be one of friendship, this may be done during any normal ritual and shall be highly respected.     Marriage occurs after a significant period of dating, usually one year or longer. Marriage itself should not be thought of until around the age of 24. Age helps us determine someone's physical status and experience, therefore the age difference between the bride and groom cannot be very great. The ceremony can be performed anywhere and at any time desired. A licensed official must perform the rites and vows must be exchanged. A honeymoon is encouraged, but always optional. The bride and groom become the God and Goddess of their household, but are not to be worshipped.

Creating a "family religion" is not the easiest thing in the world. There are many factors to consider in the process. After comparing so many religions, they all start to look somewhat the same. We all seem to have common goals in mind, though. Through this process, I have discovered that we cannot judge a person by their religion as much as we can judge them by their name! "I never told my religion, nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another's creed. I have judged others' religions by their lives, for it is from our lives and not our words that our religions must be read." -- Thomas Jefferson Religions seem to be different branches of one tree. We are all seeking something which is greater than ourselves -� there are just many paths to choose from! A true follower of any religion would strive to learn and understand others. "There are more things in Heaven and Earth...than are dreamt of in your philosophy." -- William Shakespeare It seems for any religion to be completely just, it must grow along with it's followers.