Regrets

I was listening to the radio this morning and the DJ was talking about rock stars who are still alive, but should really be dead. He mentioned Ozzy Osbourne who was interviewed a while back. Ozzy was asked if he had any regrets about his life and he replied," no,I don't regret anything."
I don't buy that for one minute. Surely anyone who has lived their life the way he has, must have regrets. I could fill a book with my personal regrets.
I have to say that 99% of people who say that they have no regrets, are not being honest. Just my personal opinion.

It's the 5th August 2021 and I'm reading old posts. This post stood out as one for a complete rethink. Whilst I believed what I wrote then, I have had a complete reversal of opinion. I have since faced and come to terms with most of my regrets. I now understand what Ozzy Osbourne was getting at. Everything that has happened in his life has led him to where he is now. He seems far more content and happy in his life. I can relate to that but whilst I still have one or two issues to deal with, I also am in a good place in my life. 

Opinions change and thankfully, the original one has changed for the better.

Till next time.

Priorities

I watched a video on youtube yesterday of a debate on the accuracy of the gospels between Prof. Bart Ehrman and Dr. Craig Evans. The jist of the debate was the numerous inaccuracies that occurred in the gospels. I completely agree that there are indeed numerous inaccuracies, BUT and this is a big BUT, to paraphrase a well known British comedy team. Surely the MESSAGE that Jesus brought to us remains EXACTLY the same despite the differences between the gospels.
I sometimes think that it is the differences in the gospels that make them so interesting to read, and I include the non-canonical books as well. It is the diversity of the christian writings that make it such an absorbing religion.
I write this as a sort of prodigal son returning to his home, although I have not yet managed to choose what branch of the christian tree I will return to. I may never decide and just be a solitary practitioner. Only time will tell.

Connections

The more I delve into the world of religion, the more confused I become. The connections between the various strands of Christianity should be a positive link between them all. Instead, they bicker and squabble about when Easter should be celebrated and even if it should be celebrated at all.
Christianity and Paganism have lots in common with regard to conflict, the Wiccans believe in one set of deities, Norse in another and the Druids yet more.
The connections between Christianity and Paganism beggars belief. "A messiah, born of a virgin, visited by Magi/Wise men etc. Gifts, miracles. The very fact that the major Christian festivals fall either in or close to the major Pagan ones should tell us something about what is original thinking and what is not.
Whether all this makes sense, I don't know. There will definately be more confused ramblings in the future.

Finding A Path

One of the reasons I abandoned the Christianity of my upbringing (Church of Scotland) was that most of the people who attended services were there out of habit,or there to be seen. To me, there was no sincerity, even from the minister who just seemed to be going through the motions. Everyone seemed to be only too willing to take what was written in the bible literally with no questions asked.
I then drifted through a secular phase during which I ridiculed the very existence of a God. With age however my lifestyle slowed and I had time to think. I have my Mother to thank, because she took the time to sit down and talk about the spiritual side of life. Jumping a few years to just after my Mother had died, I met someone who introduced me to the Pagan path. I had always been extremely interested in Greek mythology and I devoured any and all information on all the different paths of paganism. I found all the people I met to be very devout and totally committed to the path they had chosen walk. There was complete religious tolerance. All beliefs were respected. Only dogma was outlawed. Which brings me to the present time. It was through paganism that I started to rekindle an interest in the bible. I found similarities to various pagan practices, ie. Yule and Christmas. I delved deeper into early christian history and discovered a group who were called Gnostics, it was like a veil had been lifted in my mind.
It's early days though, my studies are going well, although I would like to meet like minded people who live close to compare experiences.
Going back to the beginning of this post, it's not enough to just pay lip service to God/The Gods/ Supreme Being. You have to live your life the right way and acknowledge that you have a duty the creator to look after that which was created. That includes yourself, your immediate family, your wider family and your/the environment. The message that Jesus and all the great teachers brought is there for all to hear and learn. it takes work to understand, but if we approach it with an open mind, then there is no limit to what we can achieve.
Gnosis is my path, I hope that everyone can find there own an walk it in freedom and peace.

The Spirit And The Soul

The Soul is that which inside us, to animate us and propel us through our life. When we die, it is reincarnated and begins the cycle all over again.
The Spirit is that which is inside us that lifts us above our mundane existence and guides us to a higher existence.
Our Soul is imperfect, and is the creation of the "Demiurge", whereas, our Spirit is perfect and is the creation of the "Monad".
The Soul is of the brain and is corruptable. The Spirit is of the heart and is incorruptable.