My Faith

If I were to write this again today, I think the focus of the writing would be somewhat different, but I don't think I would ever disagree with what I did write back then. I include it in the wiki for posterity, because it is a convenient place to put it, and because some may be curious as to my religious beliefs after reading my work. It's not really your business, honestly, but I'm a firm believer in full disclosure. You may embrace my work or dismiss me completely after reading this, that's your prerogative. But I give you the power to do so with an informed oppinion of me by providing this to read.

I'll warn you, it does get a little preachy. It was written at the end of my adolescence, during a time at which I was self conscious and defensive about a great many things.

Because it is a faith, I have not gone out of my way to use logic to support any of the statements. You may find it only in the structure of each sentence itself, and it may not be perfect. But I did include many generalized observations to support my points.

And for the record, I do not believe in the DragonPeople, any more than I believe in the Tuatha de Danaan or the Norse Gods, or any other named diety. But I do believe in something. You will understand more clearly if you just continue reading, of course.

1. Given experience, a person (or other entity) can learn how the world seems to work on a day to day basis.
   
2. No one can know for certain WHY it works this way.
   
3. A benevolent set of ethics can be and is inevitably derived from observation of how the world works and logic, independant of a higher authority.
   
4. Experiences vary enough that every person (or other entity) has a set of needs and a perspective that can not be accurately predicted or understood by another person without extended intimate communication, therefor, what works for one person will not necissarily work for another person. No communication can be complete or perfect.
   
5. Nothing is certain.
   
   
   
   My Observations and some conclusions
   
6. Humans seem to need a working explaination for the unexplained, but not always.
   
   - I can explain things away to myself all I want, whether I use scientific method or faith in the unseen or conjecture, but I don't always need to, and maybe I should be aware of when I can let things go. And while I might need something explained, I should be aware that another person might not, or that they might not accept my explaination.
   
   - While I don't have an explaination for everything, I do like to entertain that there is a higher power that is worth talking to. I normally don't pretend to know it's name or identity, but sometimes I do because it is fun and rewarding to do so, and it never has exactly the same face twice.
   
   
7. Humans seem to need a sense of belonging and worth above that of their community, but not always.
   
   - I need to feel loved and needed. If there are no other people around, I tend to need to find a source that maybe I don't really know exists. Maybe I can get along without doing this, but it doesn't seem to hurt me in the long run. However, I should also be aware that another person may be perfectly contented. Or maybe they are more needy than me.
   
   - I had an imaginary friend, once, who filled this need quite nicely, but he never physically manifested when I really needed him. People, on the other hand, have real physical power and it can be amazing sometimes. Sometimes it's fun to imagine that the imaginary or mythical works through these people...
   
   
8. Humans seem to need a sense of security, that everything will turn out all right despite life's hardships, but not always.
   
   - I am insecure about that which I do not know. If I don't know what will happen when I die, then I may fear it and need an explaination. On the other hand, I have survived things that I thought might be bad, so maybe I only think this is a need. Again, it's relative, and I should realize that other's needs may vary drastically from mine.
   
   - I actually don't care what happens to me after I die, for the most part. I usually don't think about it. I'm usually more concerned about what will happen to me while I'm alive. Maybe that's just me, but it definitely colors my beliefs. On the other hand, it's fun to conjecture about death occasionally.
   
   
9. Strife and hardship seem to effect the degree to which a human is needy for things beyond the provision of their community, but not always.
   
   - I see that this is true in myself, but I also see that my view changes somewhat independantly of this due to a neat little thing called logic. Also, sometimes the community is just there for every need, and sometimes that may not be enough. So, in private moments, when I feel a need from something beyond the ken of my community, I pray to the unkown for it, but I keep it to myself so as not to overly burden others with something they might not understand (and because they can't provide for it!).
   
   - Honestly, my spiritual neediness is almost effected by the moon or some other cycle more than my true neediness.
   
   
10. Confidence in outcome or security is sometimes that which allows a human to go the last mile to overcome such strife and hardship. But not always.
    
    - There isn't much to say about this, except that it's a handy tool when I find that I can apply it, and that I can't really expect others to know how to use it or to use the same crutches and explainations I do to use it when the need arrises.
    
    - In this case, role playing can be handy. I do believe that I'm really fooling myself when I role play such a situation, but if it works it works! And it can also be fun.
    
    
11. What goes around seems to come around. Something bad for one person most often tends to result in something bad for people near that person. Something good for one person most often tends to result in something good for the people near that person. But not always.
    
    - Humanity is so wide and varied that it is like a weather system, and I never know when a storm will rise or break. However, if I help other people when they ask for help, they seem more likely to help me in the times of my need. This is really handy! This is also the basis for creating a set of ethics independant of any higher authority, be it god or government. But since it doesn't apply in all communal systems all the time, it can't be expected to work for all people.
    
    - See "the Golden Rule" re: from any other religion or philosophy that has withstood the test of time (they almost all have it in some variation)
    
    
12. It is possible to live one's entire life without having faith in any higher authority or power, mundane or supernatural, and to lead what other's might call a worthy and good life. But not always.
    
    - I don't always need my faith in the supernatural to carry me through hard times or good, and I suspect it's entirely possible for someone to live their entire life without that need. So what? It's not like that's going to hurt me or anything!
    
    - When I drop my faith, it's not like I'm not going to pick it up again, is it?
    
    
13. When humans work together they can often create things that are bigger than the sum of their creator's efforts.
    
    - This is further reason to become part of a community or family or any group of people. And the history of humanity has provided great tools for creating great works, and because of the "what goes around comes around" I should give credit where it's due.
    
    - I also believe that this is the way in which we can make our gods real. It's the true magic.
    
    
14. When humans have expectations of themselves that are too high, they break down.
    
    - Relax, it's probably OK. Help other people relax. It's fun!
    
    - In a few moments, everything will be different and there will be a different set of needs, most likely.
    
    
    Now, back to the story
    
    Everything from the beginning of the world to the end of it, and all the fiddly messy bits in between.
    
    • TheBeginning
    • TheFall of the DragonPeople
    • TheBigWars
    • MajorDevelopments of the DragonPeople
    • FairportWA
    • HarmlessFreeRadicals
    • SunspotChronicles
    • ImportantPointsAndThemes