In order to facilitate more understanding in this forum, I thought that it might be interesting to outline our individual journeys towards a greater understanding of ourselves and our world. I doubt if anyone here has remained the same in their views and beliefs since childhood, and I am looking forward to reading about your life's journey.

I'll use my journey as an example.

My first memories as a child were in going to church. I was in the choir from age 3 on; I remember going to the sanctuary and looking at a stained glass window in the ceiling, thinking that was where God lived, and that He looked down upon us from there. I will say that I always had a feeling of love and joy when I went to the sanctuary. But I did also absorb the dogma of the Methodist Church-the Crucifixion/Resurrection, and the need to believe in Jesus to have eternal life.

And then, at age 13, my mother gave me a book to read--"The Passover Plot" by Hugh Schonfeld. http://www.amazon.com/Passover-Plot-Interp...
For those who don't know this book, it posits the notion that it is possible that Jesus planned his crucifixion and how to live beyond it. It made me seriously question my faith--was I a Christian solely because I felt it was a way of insuring I would have eternal life? Was that the only role religion played, and, if so, what if it was a lie? I would say it was at this time that I really started searching for answers about the nature of life and reality and the role religion is to play in our lives.

At age 17, I had my first mystical experience, one that showed me a couple of things: one, that there is consciousness even at the cellular level; two, that there is an overwhelming unity of which we are all a part. At this point, I would say that the fear of death lessened a great deal, replaced by the question of what is the purpose of living this life. (FYI, I have never taken illegal drugs, though I have heard some who have tripped on LSD have had similar experiences)

Anyway, this personal experience sent me on a different path. It involved reading a series of books, including the Seth books, which talked about subatomic particles and that there is an underlying force that unifies all things--Seth termed it "All That Is". Other mystical experiences reinforced this concept and expanded it--the only way for me to continue on my path to understanding is through myself. This force, by whatever name you call it, can only be experienced through our own selves.

And where did religion go in all of this journey? Well, I recognized that what is important in religion is the message--the message of how a devotee is supposed to act. I was led to Universal Sufism, which strives to show the similarities behind all faiths and to show how science and spirituality are seeking the same thing.

My journey continues, as I explore and learn more about others' point of view. I continue to have mystical experiences, all of which come as great surprises, all of which I consider great treasures.

Thank you for reading of my journey. I am eager to read yours.