SB>JK>I wander in here now and then because I have worked for two Indian
SB>  >tribes in Alaska and one down here, have at least one Indian ancestor
SB>  >somewhere in the past, and learned much from those I have met in the 
wo
SB>  >states.
SB>I always like having you wander in here.
Thank you.
SB>JK>I also finally became free enough to search for my own belief system
SB>  >which did not turn out to be New Age, but did turn out to be something
SB>  >that sticks with me no matter what.
SB>I think it's very important to find out for oneself what one believes.
I found the answer to be quite simple, but, only after I complicated the
search for several years.
SB>JK>And I am still very greatful to the Native American lady who confirmed
SB>  >that much of what I discovered in my own search was known to her also.
SB>I think one problem with "religion" being overly discussed, especially
SB>on Native conferences, is the tendency to take one person's belief
SB>system, and generalize it.
There are those who will seek and those who are too lazy or ignorant to
do so.  The latter look for some easy method to fix things.  Those who
must find out for themselves will go through many different stages in
their belief system until things get very simple.
 One Native American lady is a whole
SB>different thing from "The Native American Belief System", which,
SB>actually, doesn't exist.  The traditional Lakota and the traditional
SB>Aztec believe different things.  A Lakota who is a Christian, a Lakota
SB>who is a traditionalist and a Lakota who is an atheist all believe
SB>somewhat different things.  And all three are still Lakota.
Right.  There are certain common denominators in all religions and in
all human thought. We spend too much time concerning ourselves about the
differences rather than looking for the common ground we all believe in.
SB>We lost a lot of people about three years ago during the Screaming
SB>Bloody Wars; and those wars were not just about religion, although
SB>religion was certainly a part of it.  We've lost other people over the
SB>years, some to the internet, some over topic discussions, some for
SB>other reasons.
Too bad.  Some things just have to be experienced and cannot be put into
words very well. That is why every organized religion has its
myths.....so folks can fill in the blanks for themselves.
And believe it or not, most of the myths, such as the virgin birth, get
carried along from one religion to the next one.
 * SLMR 2.1a * On a clear disk you can seek forever
                      
--- JCQWK
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