VALUES, RELIGION, AND ETHICS -OH MY!

There has been a lot of discussion in the last few years about family values, responsibility, ethics and so on. Many people seem to think that the world would be better off if we all went back to the good old days when everyone pretended that divorce, homosexuality, and premarital sex didn't exist.

Indeed, there does seem to be a void in our society which manifests itself in many different ways. There is continuing discrimination against those who are "different" in terms of race, nationality, religion, sex, sexual preference, and so on.There is also a growing gap between the rich and poor - both within our own country and among the nations of the world. In addition, we continue to see too much violence - not only perpetrated by people against one another, but also by governments and corporations against people and nature.

And as tensions rise we hear more calls for a return to "family values." Yet America is a diverse society; and the world is obviously more so. Thus there is little agreement about what exactly our shared values should be and how they will shape our future. Indeed, the only value which seems to be shared by most of us is greed - a lust for ever more money and material goods regardless of the cost to others or the planet.

I believe we need to change that. I agree with those who call for a stronger sense of community, cooperation, and responsibility. We need to find a mythology which includes respect for those who are different, a desire to help those who are in need and a duty to help make the world a better place for us all.

Some people say that this can only come from a return to God in either his Protestant or Catholic versions while others feel that Judeo-Christian values helped get us into this mess in the first place.

There are people who feel that no religion has the answers and others who believe that all religions have something to offer.

Still others seek to create new views of divinity or long to return to ancient religions.

Of course, we must not forget about the siblings of Christianity - Islam. and Judaism

We may also be able to learn much from eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism.

As you explore some of these sites, I hope you will keep an open mind and look for the similarities as well as the differences. Remember that all religions are an attempt to understand the universe and our place in it, and they are also reflections of our hopes and dreams and fears.

Please keep in mind that I am not trying to challenge anyone's religious beliefs or convert people to my religion. I believe we each need to choose what works best for us. At the same time, I think it's good to know about other peoples' beliefs and practices rather than thinking that everyone who is different from us is evil.

It's also a good idea to remember that there are people and organizations out there who may try to take advantage of others or whose views might prove dangerous. So use your head and ask questions before getting involved in any organization which you know little about.
The Advanced Bonewits Cult Danger Evaluation Frame is an excellent guide for determing whether a group poses any threat.

And for even more links than I've listed here, try a Google search.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE SITES

Myths are stories about the gods, supernatural beings, or amazing heroes. Long ago, these stories were a daily part of everyone's lives. Myths taught people about life. The ancient myths from around the world can still teach us much. These sites are good places to start.

The following sites deal with the separation of church and state and the rights of individuals to practice their religion of choice without discrimination :

Welcome - Environment - Spirituality - Ole and Lena - Renaissance - Politics - Thinkers - Technology - Entertainment - Sports -

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