Wow great post!
I've gone through many cycles and indoctrinations myself also. In a way I feel like I've come full circle recently though - but with a twist.
I started similar to you, in a Catholic home raised by predominantly unquestioning parents. Then when I went off to college, I went the route of liberalism and social justice advocacy. Then in my late 20s and 30s I moved into libertarianism followed by conservatism to occultism.
Now in my 40s I don't identify with any group really. I tend to see flaws in all of them. There's good and bad in everything. I guess they call this wisdom.
But to be honest, I've kind of returned back to my Christian roots just recently. However the difference is that I don't trust the machine known as the church, especially the Catholic Church. I don't mean the people in the churches, I mean the structure and head honchos - the machine. Most denominations really. I tend to believe they are guided by man made rules and lend themselves to corruption.
I've newly dipped a toe back into this world but I'm going to approach it from a one on one perspective - myself and God. No middle men anymore.
Hopefully this is the last -ism in my life. I'm getting too old for this **it!
Thanks again :)
I recently started studying creationism and evolution. I am amazed at how many holes evolution has and how many holes creationists can point to with the big bag theory. It's been mind blowing seeing how much my beliefs have changed this past year. Something is turning very fast in the world.
It's a fascinating subject. I'm like you in that I can be persuaded to change my viewpoint with some rational logic, argument and/or evidence. I often wondered if man evolved to this perfect species, meaning after presumably infinite subtle changes of random origin then why don't we see evidence, dead or alive, of that infinite variety?
Where are all the three armed men? The skulls with 7 eye sockets. The rib cages with triple the number of ribs. We've found many bones and ancient settlements.
Where is all the evidence of the failed versions throughout our history of evolution? Did they just disappear. How it that even possible let alone likely?
Just wondering... :)
We have over 4000 genetic flaws in our code and counting. It seems as though our growth has been retarded by design. Ancient texts speak of men living hundreds of years. Before the flood stories from India and out of Egypt. It is a period of awakening and we are remembering who we are.
That's pretty fascinating.
I've always believed that the other side of the argument of evolution, that is 'intelligent design' does not exclude the notion of other non-deities as creators. So mankind itself through genetic manipulation schemes, extra-terrestrial being of superior intellect (ancient or modern), inter-dimensional entities and yes even God himself.
Thanks again for the thought provocation....