rogue49

Thanks Lebell,
Since I didn't grow up with a official religion, I had to figure out for myself where I was.
Of course, me being me I researched all of them, their meaning, their histories, their interconnections.
And pretty much most of them basically say the same thing in the end.
They just divided on the details.

I noted the concept of the Trinity...and the deeper less male - less Christian meaning of it. (Masonic)
The Father - The Creator
The Son - Us
The Holy Ghost - The Soul/essense of the Universe (feminine)

I decided when you become an adult, you do things on your own,
not your "father's way".
Thus my emphasis was on The Creator, but being "in tune" with the essense of the Universe, which I was apart of.
Thus "God" for me is the Soul of the Universe. (in both male & female terms)
Where we came from doesn't matter, it's what we "are"

I cannot be an atheist, I feel that connection everyday.
However, everything else is up for grabs.

I enjoy the Masonic meaning because it combines the Judeo-Christian symbolism that I was surrounded with in the U.S. and brought broader meaning to them.
For example, "The Rose & The Cross" are representations of the Female and the Male in one.

I enjoy the Quabala, because it takes further back & on even broader terms. That "rose & cross" was the "Ahnk" the ancient Egyptian symbol of life, and in turn it was orginally even then just a strap for the sandles which you walk on through life.
The ancient states of "matter"...Sprit, Fire, Water, Air & Earth actually represented Soul, Drive, Emotion, Intellect & Animal the essense of life as a human.

I enjoy the Yaqui Shamanic principles not so much the symbolism.
The philosophies that help get you through life.
For example, the statement "the True Warrior hunts with Intent".
It's ruthless way of life, but in a good way, very efficient.
I also like the idea of "totem" animals to help represent your self.

I have found that religion over time wasn't so much humans trying to explain their world and how it works,
only the overzealous people took it that far and screwed with it...
but it was humans way of explaining themselves and how they "relate" to the world.

I believe this is how it should be,
taking the terms literally to explain facts is just going mess things up,
taking the terms symbolically will enhance your connection with it all.

There are subtle multiple meanings to everything.
And everything is interconnected.