2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: The Sound of Silence [View all]H2O Man
(73,920 posts)I'm glad that you are participating in the DU community. And I'm looking forward to your next OP.
"Religion" tends to be a tough issue to discuss on DU. Without question, organized religion has done great harm to numerous groups and individuals, including in our nation's history. More, it continues to do so today. In my opinion, that is an important starting point for discussions here.
Still, I am comfortable with the houses of worship in my area. My favorite is a small Quaker church located near a tiny, rural crossroads hamlet near where my father grew up. But I am at home with the sweat lodge that is out near my pond. I'm lucky to have a small group of people who participate in ceremony here. And more frequently, it is where I meditate and pray by myself.
I'm an old man, far too old to have "heroes." But the people I respect and look to for examples of proper living include Gandhi, King, and the Berrigan brothers. And, of course, my mentors, Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman, and Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. Paul was religious; Rubin was an atheist who viewed life on earth as a cosmic miracle.