[Garnet FalconDance]

WEll, you were all quite verbal after I went home last night!

I'm glad the point that not *all* religions have a written holy book. Although I consider myself as the spiritual rather than the religious type, my faith still does not have a written doctrine that we all follow and we are not alone in that.

Faith and trust are nearly inclusive as they tend to go hand-in-hand. Can anyone conclusively divide them once and for all? They are too closely related. And 'faith' does not necessarily denote a *religious* slant as we usually define such. (ok, I'm getting off that track since it's turning circular)

I do agree with Yorrik, however, (as usual, strangely enough) that we are all a product of our society's faith irregardless of our later choice. I was brought up Southern Baptist and have studied all the major and most of the 'minor' religions. Yet I still chose paganism and refined it to a form of witchcraft (non-wiccan) which, though it is reviled by most of society as demonic (it isn't) and somehow less than a religion, still reflects and fulfills a need within myself to connect to a Deity in a way which works for me. There is no sacrifice unless you count the giving of my fears, dislikes/hatreds, and other negatives over. There are very strong morals and ethics to which I hold myself. This doesn't mean I completely disregard my upbringing...I still have little bits of Christian beliefs coloring my actions and thoughts. I simply could not agree with all the doctrine, etc which Christianity touts.

Yorrick, you know me (well, I know I haven't been around much lately...) so don't lambast me on this one. [img]smile.gif[/img]

One's beliefs are their own, influenced by their upbringing, but ultimately between themselves and whatever (if any) they consign as a higher power. All the rest is, in the end, immaterial.