"Heretics Anonymous"

Hello! My name is "Snowyowl" and I’m a Heretic!

I have chosen to not follow the path that others want me to follow. I chose long ago to find out for myself, to seek and search for the truth. I actually found that the search was more important to me than the truth, whatever that is.

Actually, the process is what makes me a heretic. Seeking truth is what most organized religions want you to avoid. “Come with me and I’ll lead you through the Bible.” Some sprinkle, some immerse, some drink from one cup, some from many. Some don’t use musical instruments in the service. Some worship on Saturday, most worship on Sunday. But all want you to do it just one way, their way. They don’t want you to be exposed to other things and other ways. “Stay away from those “Bad Influences.” They will lead you astray. They will tempt you away from the flock.

Well, I’m not a sheep! I wanted to get the flock out of there.

So, as I’ve said, “I chose to follow another path.”

In fact, making that choice was what made me a heretic. That process of choice is what makes anyone a heretic. You see, the word heresy comes from the Greek root “Hairesis” which means “able to choose.”

You see, that is from what most of the Organized Religions want to keep you away. They want to make sure you don’t have a choice. They want to make sure you are not exposed to a choice.

Catholics want you to stay away from the Protestants. Those who follow Islam want to keep you away from the Jews. The Amish wants to keep you away from Machinery. And the Adventists want to keep you away from Sunday. All you have to do to be a heretic is to choose something different.

Now this is like Preaching to the Choir because most of you are here because you have chosen something different from that which you were raised. But you can continue to live your life in a heretical way. People constantly try to lead us. All you have to do is choose to not follow. Or, choose to ask questions. It may be that you will choose to go the way you are lead, but at least it is your choice. And since you have asked questions, you are choosing with more than a little information.

We all are faced with decisions every day. I encourage you to live your life the same way that you live you spiritual life. With all the information you can acquire and then by make well-informed choices.

I have found that a “Salesman” with an inferior product doesn’t want you to ask too many questions. They don’t want you to have a choice between their product and a better one.

But, a “Salesman” with a superior product is confident that with all the right information you will choose his product over an inferior one.

With Religion it is a bit different. There is no telling what is on the other side of the Rubicon. So it is a matter of comfort. Some are more comfortable being lead. Some are more comfortable seeking and searching on their own.

The biggest test of a person’s religion is, “Are you comfortable.” If you are, then that is where you belong. If not then you need to exercise you ability to choose. Trying to live your life according to your minister and their values diminishes your worth. It makes you a clone of the minister.

With a little searching, you can find spirituality that fits your life, and if you outgrow that one, you can move on into another choice.

Remember, “You are not free unless you have a choice.”

So, become well informed by asking the right questions. Then with all the information you have, do the best you can and make good choices.