Seeing as Easter was yesterday and Good Friday was a few days ago,
I’ve decided to re-post this column from a few years ago

A friend of mine I work with at the library in Madison asked me about my worldview a couple days ago.  I don’t recall what precipitated the conversation but seeing as today is an important day in Christian History I have decided to shift the original column that was scheduled to publish today.

Image from:
Wikipedia

I want to discuss what I mentioned to my friend.  Several other people have asked what exactly I believe and whether I still consider myself Christian after reading Wisdom and Life; only because some of my beliefs come into direct conflict with traditional Christian belief.  For example:

My unwavering conviction in Past Lives.

How can I balance that strong belief with the overriding conclusion by the dominant Christian Practice of Catholicism that Past Lives don’t exist?  I’ve had this conversation with family as well as friends who are adamant about the subject.  I calmly bring up examples of children who recall events in their lives that they have no way of knowing.  Take a look at my column called Soul Survivor and attempt to explain the young boy’s story.  I had an experience myself a few years ago that I wrote about here called Children’s Past Lives.  Looking at these two examples and many more in my life is how I place Past Lives neatly into my Christian worldview.  The belief fits perfectly into my puzzle of life.

Just as strong as my conviction in Past Lives is my conviction that Jesus died on the Cross and rose on Easter Sunday. My faith has NEVER wavered.  I seldom invoke that name here because that name carries weight, some positive and some negative.  When I use the word “God,” at Wisdom and Life I always think:
Uh oh:
I wonder what kind of reaction I’ll receive from people who don’t share my strong conviction in Faith as I do.

My friend Hal Baird over on Google+ has told me repeatedly that I shouldn’t worry what others think and continue to write what I’m directed to; and not to preface what I write.  I REALLY do have to stop being self conscious about that and make sure I continue to practice the mission statement from Wisdom and Life:
Faith and spirituality have always played a significant role in my life. Take either one away, and I’ll simply cease to be who I am. Take me or leave me. I no longer worry what others think.

My faith is too important to water down and not write about it when I AM directed to.  As I’ve said here too many times to number, I’m convinced that I’m simply a conduit, a channel,  that the Divine provides me with the inspiration to write.  I’ve discovered that when I’m struck with something to discuss, nothing will prevent me from writing about the topic on the given day that I’m writing, which is why many times I have something scheduled to publish on a specific day and suddenly I’m shifting columns.  When I mention that a column is being shifted, most likely it is because I have been given something else to discuss as is the case with today’s column.

So what exactly does my worldview consist of:
In the simplest form if you want an understanding of my worldview you can go to:
My Spirituality page.

I understand that I also mention Thomas Aquinas here often, especially his quote:
To one who has faith no explanation is necessary.  

That’s EXACTLY how I feel. I’ve never had a crisis of faith. Because I feel God all around me.  As the movie I recently saw suggests:
God’s not Dead.  

Even though I don’t attend organized religion, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are important in my worldview.  Why? You may ask since I don’t attend organized religion do I feel so strongly about my faith and since I do feel so strongly don’t I attend?  I guess I’ve always been one to seek my own path, But the Divine has always been right beside me in this, my latest incarnation.  I’ve always had an overflowing faith and as I’ve said before, Ya want some?

Be Happy!  Be Well!  Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
—
Chris

Once you realize that life is eternal,
That our souls our eternal,
That we return to light and physical over and over;

We then lose all our distress
We then lose all our fear of dying.  For there truly is no end.