Gospel......

Dogma, article, canon, conviction, credenda, credo, creed, doctrine, gospel, opinion, persuasion, precept, principle, rule, teachings, tenet, view.

Yeah, pick one. They all fall under a belief system. Where I grew up, Gospel, is a complete reference to an institutional system of religion. You can sum up the religion in my city to almost any individual with a single word. Generally, "The Church" or "The Gospel". "The Church" has "the members". You get my point.

I was recently accused of being anti-Church. So, I've been mulling over this "anti" thing. Am I? Am I antiChurch, antiChurch members, or antiGospel Doctrine? Is it productive?

I am surrounded by "The Church". Lord knows I live in it's capital headquarters. And the population in any given region is about 70% members. You can't exactly get around 'it'. And making an exit from said organization without some serious boat rocking, yeah, good luck. Sometimes, there are near drownings. Mine, was a near drowning.

Fifteen years ago I had pretty much had enough. So I called it quits. To the extent that you can in my world. Let's just say it's kind of like overcoming an addiction of sorts while living in the "grow house". Liken it to taking the recovering alcoholic to the bar with you as the designated driver. It's difficult to be in it and not be of it. And not to desire to be of it. It's magnetic.

Yes, I did analogously compare a religion to an addiction. Relax, if you are of the predominate persuasion, don't get your g's in a twist. It's not a personal character flaw. I'm not about dis-respecting you for your beliefs, as long as the respect goes both ways. It's clearly stated in "the rules" (please refer to 5,6,8 & 15.) that if I know you, at some point I will bitch about you. Whether I like you or not.

I don't encourage people to leave the predominant religion in this state. I also do not recommend that they stay. I can not make decisions of such magnitude for other people. I can only hold your hand along whatever path is best for you. Be who you are, be good at it. And let the rest of "be".

So, in an effort to examine my attitude, I recently opened 'Pandora's box'(this was an unintentional provocation...some people!) At my house that's a box with lots of historical books. Approved and dis-approved. I really shouldn't play with fire, if you know what I mean. But let's all agree, that some things, should be left unopened. I put the box back into storage. Two things have been determined, 1) unless provoked, I am not "anti"(careful, provoking can be unintentional. I'm not perfect, I do have my moments of retardation. That's what the rules are for, disclaimer.) and 2)Some storage, should stay, in storage.