Another interesting lunch experience today. A casual friend (of about 20 years, but only getting together occasionally) was telling me about her daughter-in-law's spiritual beliefs, which included energy, incense, crystals, rejection of organized religion, etc. My friend said she does not judge, is very open-minded and that everyone has their own beliefs, but that's their thing and good for them. She then proceded to tell me about her own spiritual beliefs. She also rejects organized religion and it's inherent belief system: original sin, a vengeful god, a patriarchal god, sin, a destiny of infinite hell for not obeying the rules or going to church, tithing, etc. She then asked me what my spiritual inclinations were. Time for me to come out of the closet!
I told her that I shared her rejection of religion and always have. That I feel god is not a person, but a source of everything, is in everything, the whole "conscious energy" concept. I decided to tell her, briefly, about my interest in Seth, his teachings and how it's the only thing that has consistently made sense to me. I tried to explain that Seth is not a religion, or even spirituality, but to me fits more into the category science and specifically, physics. It satisfies my need to understand the nature of reality. It resonates with me.
Before I could even finish, she was mentally searching for the name of the likes of David Koresh, Jim Jones, et al. but all she could sputter out was the word "cult." I suppled those names to her, and tried to explain that Seth is not a cult and had always professed that we should listen to our own inner senses and guidance. She just could't let that sink in and then proceeded to psychoanalyze me as being "raised as a Catholic and needing to find a belief system was was the opposite being told what I needed to believe and do." Wow. I told her I consider organized religion to be cults, but with open borders. I had to explain that. And that my experience with ex-Catholics is that they tend to gravitate towards yet another limiting religion, BA Christianity.
Years ago I would have doubted myself in a confrontation like that, but today it left me feeling calm and buoyant and viewing our conversation from more of an observer position. She's a bit of a gossip, so I'm expecting some questioning by mutual friends in the future. Living in a primarily born-again Christian area, I tend to keep Seth to myself, mainly because he's so hard to explain and so far removed from the OLC. And there's that channeling thing. Which is perfectly acceptable when writing the Bible or talking to burning bushes in the desert, but if it's modern times then it's completely bonkers.
My mind keeps going back to George Carlin's rant on religion, and how so many people will accept what they are told is the truth by certain religious authorities and swallow it hook, line and sinker, without question. But then dismiss other concepts as fantasy or even insanity.