Two funky jumpers and a chat about structure -#2 - The one who disliked *that* structure

“There are elements of great tolerance and of great hate depending on how you decide to use a religion, or belief, or myth.”

Jan, press officer at the European Parliament

I do not want to practice my spirituality within a structure that was imposed to me. My first experience with pantheism was when I went to Cuba. I got in contact with the Babalawo there and he invited me over for a ritual. There were animal offerings, chickens and pigeons were killed and I had to drink some blood. I like the idea that temple is just a room or a place where you feel comfortable. There is no this strict ceremony or strict way.

For a long time, I could not deal with the image of God as being this man high in the sky who is busy with me and with you and with other beings. The idea that out of nothing an immense force summoned us to exist, within a few days, that is something I cannot fathom. Let alone that this force is following what we do.

Alright I’ll give that to you - there is a force. But the force doesn’t do anything for us. We do it all ourselves. The essence of the force for me is interconnectedness. The force is with me and it is with you. That I can believe in. But I respect yours too. There are elements of great tolerance and of great hate depending on how you decide to use a religion, or belief, or myth.

That is actually why I dislike atheists - they have the same mindset as the greatest religious people. They basically say: if the world was like us, if everyone thought like us then the world would be better.
I have tremendous dislike for people who think their way is the way.
Jan is a press officer at the European Parliament. He is also a writer and has taught paganism in Antwerp, Belgium.