The Path (Updated from 6/12/2014)

 

“Reality is what it is, and what it isn’t, it isn’t.

Sometimes, what it is it isn’t, and what it isn’t, well... it is.

Other times it is nothing, and then it isn’t nothing.

If it's nothing, it isn’t, and if it isn’t nothing, it is.

Naming "nothing" makes nothing something;

Therefore, whether it is or it isn’t, it must be,

Because even nothing that isn’t, already is.”

-- F.A. Villari

I have received numerous e-mails asking me about the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and, in particular, about my blog, The Path.  Questions run the gamut from my religious arguments, my religious affiliation, what guidance I offer, and my purpose for trying to convince anyone that I am right (I just heard a large gasp from those who read my posts most often). I’m a humble person, which means I’m only right if I know someone else is wrong. As it happens, a lot of people suck at being right. If it doesn’t make any sense, it’s probably not right.  If it is right, then someone is most definitely wrong and I am vindicated.  This happened a lot in the military.  I hope the following will clear the air.

First, let's address that I would never try to convince anyone I am right.  Please, use your brain when reading my offerings and try to keep your feet firmly planted in this "created" reality.  Like most of us, I am rarely right when it comes to telling other people how, and what, they should believe.  No one has been close to being right on this topic since Christ was born, and we can see what people have done with the "philosophy" based on His teachings, it was twisted and bastardized to meet mankind's agendas for whatever control was deemed necessary for the particular era in history.  I can say the same about the prophet Muhammad, for that matter.  All great philosophies are left in the "right" hands with no thought to planning for "philosophical" sustainability.  The religions still exist, but their love, understanding, and peaceful heart have been lost to infighting and misinterpretation.  Am I right?  I really don't know; it's just my opinion.

Second, I am fully aware that "religious" tolerance was not well thought out, especially on my part.  I detest organized religion.  At the inception of the Congregation, I was scurrying to put together a protective shield for those members of "peaceful" Islam, and, at the time, religious tolerance was foremost in my mind.  It would certainly be more correct to refer to my congregation of like-minded folks as the Congregation for "Spiritual" Tolerance.  It would make it, almost, all-encompassing. One might accuse me of leaving out all those who have no spirituality.  I think those who deny their own spirituality, simply haven't discovered it yet.  They are in denial of our one common gift:  We are, all of us, spiritual beings.  I stopped thinking of myself as "religious" quite a few years ago when I found I had little use for organized religion.

Many questions and concerns, put forth by my readers, were a bit off-target.  Having said this, I would never berate someone for asking questions or voicing concerns.  I feel that questions and concerns are like bullets in a gun which many of us aim at a particular subject, person, or target.  You have a full magazine of ammunition and an itchy trigger finger, like most of us, except for snipers.  The sniper's credo is, "One shot, one kill."  We are really all just snipers that haven't learned to use just one bullet, the one golden bullet, which I like to refer to as the one golden question:  "Why?"

People that know me, or read my posts most frequently, will probably understand that my usual answer to all the questions put to me is, "Why?"  Why is it important to you that I have a reason or a purpose?  More specifically, why do you think a reason or a purpose would, in any way, be important to me?  So, here you have this golden bullet of "why" aimed toward a target you feel worthy of shooting.  Why?  Why pull the trigger?  I think one needs to ask, why someone else's answer to the question will satisfy them?  Why will it quench some thirst they have for any answer, other than their own.

Why ask a question if you don't want the answer? Or, do you already know the answer? Or, is it that the answer really doesn't matter as much as just trapping someone in a game they'd rather not play?  The group I feel is most concerned with never accepting any answer offered, would be those folks I affectionately refer to as the League of the Perpetually Offended.  Their targets are usually ones of opportunity.  They rarely seem to have any cogent reason to shoot other than to shoot and wound anything in their line of fire.  They seem to have little, if any, tolerance for anything or anybody, especially those who aren't, also, offended by everything.

Are the questions we aim for, more important than the confusion or the emotion driving the question?  I feel no burning need to answer questions that I feel are not the right question, and, as usual, are being aimed at the wrong target.  Many times, I feel a little "personal introspection" might be of some value to people.  I would offer that perhaps some folks would glean more from firing these questions at themselves, and then follow up by asking themselves, "Why?"

No amount of guidance can help someone that doesn't want to help themselves.  No argument will ever sway a mind that is anchored in the muck and mire of self-pity, laziness, or self-imposed ignorance.  And, no religious or spiritual belief, no amount of faith, can convert a person who refuses basic love of self.  You must learn to love yourself before you can learn to truly love others, or truly grow.  I wrote a bit of prose, not long ago.  I think it comes close to answering "Why?" and most other questions of me, including any of my blog issues:

The Path

This is my path.

It is not your path, it is mine.

Good or bad, it is my path.

I must travel it alone.

That is your path.

It is not mine or theirs, it is yours.

Good or bad, it is your path.

You must travel it alone.

At times our paths might intersect

Or, run parallel for a while.

We will visit, laugh, and cry,

Exchange experiences and offer advice.

At some point, we may part,

Perhaps to join up again

As our destination is the same

And our journey is long.

I wish you a smooth path,

And a long, interesting journey,

Full of emotion and life,

Family and friends.

We will not arrive together,

At our distant destination,

But, I will wait for you, my friend,

As I know you will wait for me.

I can only give my opinion, for what it's worth.  If it helps, then it is a good thing.  If it hinders, it is not my intent.  Opinions are what you make of them.  We all have them.  Some are good and some are bad. They are just opinions.  You need to have an opinion of your own, and not rely on the opinions of others.  Personally, I think God wants us to worship on our own, and not use some surrogate priest to help us toward grace. (Check out Matthew 6:5-6)    

We are all on an incredible journey through a reality we have made for ourselves.  This is not the reality that God made for us.  It is, however, our "created" reality which we built with the mind God made available to us.  Within our created reality we tend to build several individual realities which make up our whole.  Our individual realities are fluid, similar to each other in many ways and, as similar fluids do, they tend to blend.  When realities blend we run a real risk of losing track of not only our one true reality but of our other "created" realities, as well.  When this happens, we are left living with whatever corruption is left.  However, if we strip everything we have created away from our lives, what we are left with, again, is the one true reality.

We must always remember, there is only one true reality.  It is the one true reality of God's universe which we are blessed to be a part of.  When all seems lost in our lives, we must return to the source.  We must break free of the crap we have created.  We will only find true peace and happiness when we return our mind and desire to the creative force which gave us life.

Of course, this is just my opinion.  I give it freely and, usually, if it's wanted or not.  But, then, that's just me being me, and I'm just full of it... so I've been told. For those who take issue with anything I write, I point you to the "disclaimer" I place at the bottom of my posts:

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions, and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions offered. I have come to believe, after twenty-three years of military intelligence, that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance... he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center. 

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com