Tsc Tempest
a biography of religious faith
(a submission in accordance with the requirements for the Universal Ministries Bachelors Degree)
I have never found it easy to begin talking about myself and my personal feelings and deeper held beliefs, especially such beliefs that might be considered something of a religious nature. Yet, at some point the burning need to share, one’s beliefs in a safe space needs to be expressed.
Without a doubt I have found that religious beliefs can be a source of conflict and confusion, personal and interpersonally. My own relationship with my own beliefs was complicated by my experience with the Holy Roman Church. While I did not have an issue with the tenets taught by the Church, I found myself frustrated by the way in which the congregation flaunted those tenets when they thought no one was looking.
My disillusionment with the Church was cemented when I witnessed people stealing from the donation plate during Mass. When I reported the theft, I was admonished for not being in my pew and attending to the Mass. In other words, I was the one chastised, for the sins of others. They were told to, next time, make sure the door was closed. This experience pushed me to question the blind acceptance of religious beliefs and to explore my own faith in a more personal way.
Since that time, I have interloped in various Christian sects, perused the Book of Mormon, delved deep into New Age thought, and philosophized with Graduates and Professors various Universities. I have even made passing inquiry into key Eastern worldviews, as an outsider looking in. Through this process of exploration and reflection, I have consolidated and tentatively developed my own belief system.
My personal beliefs, which I call the, “Tetroidian Worldview,” are based on principles of family, community, self-actualization, and worthiness. It has fundamentally shaped my approach to public discourse, which I believe should be conducted in a manner of openness and mutual respect.
My experiences in both religious and secular communities have informed my thinking on the role of religion in society. I believe that religion should guide the values and principles of people so that they can contribute to the community's prosperity and share in that prosperity equally.
My belief in an all-seeing Guardian who watches over us is strengthened by my personal experiences. While I believe that this Guardian may intervene in mysterious ways, I also believe that we are here on this plane to grow and develop spiritually. I contend that there are several planes of existence, and that our spiritual growth continues even after we leave this world.
My personal journey of exploration into faith, and reflection on it, has led me to a personal belief system that guides my interactions with others and with myself. While my experiences have been shaped by heart rending exclusion from, and and open armed inclusion in, various communities, I believe that my personal World View to be a positive force that helps me to explain, understand, and constructively contribute to the world around me. This view is not controversial, but it is a Tetroidian World View.
October 10, 2001 TT
