Religion in School

Recently I received a call from an old high school friend that I hadn't spoken to for about five years. Being a Mormon she attended Brigham Young University in which she told me about some of the religious influence it has had on her life. Pert of the reason it had been so long since we talked was because she went on a mission where she was only allowed to contact her family twice a year, on Christmas and mother's day. She was one of few women to go on a mission, usually the men go although none of her three brothers did. At the university she explained that things are very different. The school strongly encourages dating. She was surprised to hear that I have asked a man out, apparently this is foreign there. The whole culture in the school is based around the religion, including mandatory church attendance. Although her lifestyle could never suit me I respect that she is fully committed and values her beliefs.
Another childhood friend was Christian and attended Bob Jones University. Her sister previously attended the college and settled down shortly afterwards. A few summers ago she told me about the regulations the school has. When she moved into her dorm all of her belongings were searched for material that could be considered inappropriate. Such as posters of girls in bikini's or music will foul words. Dating was also encouraged at this school. She once told me that if she sat at lunch with just her and a man then it was considered a "date."
I just think its odd that these religious schools focus on creating marriages between their students. Of course everyone at these places uphold the same religious beliefs so a union would be more appropriate. It seems to me that these places segregate themselves as if trying to avoid scrutiny or questioning from others. I don't understand how some people can have a belief but are not willing to debate about other opinions and options. Its as if they want to create their own communities where outside influence doesn't have to be tolerated.

Reincarnation

Could we really have past lives? When I was little I was sure that I was a man in my past life. I remember one time at age four or five lifting the toilet seat to go to the bathroom. Then I thought why I had done it, coming to the conclusion that it seemed natural. Another thought of my childhood was that once someone died they were able to go back through their lives and find out all of the mysteries. Such as you would have the chance to ask questions with them all being answered. Then in your next life you would be able to learn from what happened in your previous ones. At this time my idea was that I would ask what happened to my favorite shirt, this being very important question at the time. I think myself as a child was more curious and thoughtful about what happens after death then the present. I was so sure of it back then, like without a doubt that was what happens. I'm not sure I ever discussed it with anyone, since my opinion wasn't highly acknowledged back then. I think now I don't believe it but I would like to. I would love to be able to find out what happened to people, or why certain things occurred. Although now I would find more meaningful questions to ask then just where my old shirt went. It reminds me of a movie, "Defending your life" where after death there was a judgment on weather you would move on or relive life on Earth. They would review instances in your life and evaluate how you dealt with them. This somewhat relates to a Buddhist belief, being reincarnated until you reach enlightenment. I think this belief would take away from the specialness of each individuals existence. Knowing that you are not created from your parents but they are just a pathway. Such as if they never had you someone else would have. I like to think that nobody else could have been my parents and I am only who I am because I am their decedent. Therefore I must reject the idea of reincarnation even though there seems to be some sort of evidence for it. The choosing of the new Dalai Lama seems too unlikely to be explained as any other possibility.

Help from God

It seems to me that people only turn towards God in times of trouble and despair. We call on him for help when we a scared of what is to come. The prayers we make are for him to guide us or give us good fortune. I know that when we hear speeches made for winning awards the people do thank the lord and give him credit. Yet I don't think that during the moment of success we take a minute away from the cheers and glory to pray and give forgiveness. People acknowledge the situation and the glory is their reward which they are not to keen to give up so easily. Instead they take their time to enjoy the moment, the party, the congratulations; then later they reflect and pay their respects. I can't say personally that I've ever blamed God for my good or bad times but I know others constantly do. I think usually it happens when their prayers have been answered, such as in the case of a miracle. Mostly I'm referring to sports since this is what I have the most experience with. Although in sports most of your success is due to your own training and effort, which may be why people only thank themselves at these times. I have heard people say thanks to God for making them stronger but not much more then this. I came from a somewhat religious community where devotion came in times of need instead of glory. I think that it should not be a one way street and I hope to see people give prayer for both situations instead of just asking more and more for themselves.

Animals in Religion

This thought came from Buddhism where a person may be reincarnated as any living thing. Therefore the question could be posed at to weather or not animals could hold any idea of some spirituality. Some animals we hold at a higher regard for their humanistic qualities, such as a dog's moods. We can see that animals feel pain but are they aware of death, do they understand the meaning and if so do they fear it. This may be a completely ridiculous question, but if we are reincarnated how do we retain our spiritual beliefs if we don't have the brain capacity? Can we assume that these beliefs just remain throughout our existence? But then how do you explain an animals nature for survival. The Buddhists believe not to harm any living thing for it may have been a relative or friend in a past life, but animals have to for survival. I believe the Buddhists eat meat and therefore they must thank the animal for its sacrifice, this may be the same for hunting animals. I think its ludicrous to believe that animals have any idea, or care, what happens after death. They understand it, Koko the gorilla new when her kitten died. She grieved for the pet and this is evidence that on some level she understood the meaning. But how can we know that she wasn't pondering more, and wondering where her kitten had moved onto? Critical thinking has been researched on many animals, my sister is working on developing the dolphin's cognitive processes. All we can assume is that animals live based on their thinking therefore the more intelligent the animal the greater the possibility of it having deeper thoughts on life. Truthfully I don't believe animals would have anything we could relate to religious beliefs but studying their concept of life and death would be a very interesting study

Are Animals Aware of Death?

by Gary Kowalski
The Souls of Animals. 1999
http://www.kajama.com/index.php?file=articledetail&id=DC508A2E-0F28-42CA-882B-8B4818CFB53E&PageNum=1

Maureen Sheehan, a staff member at the Gorilla Foundation, interviewed Koko about her thoughts on death.

Where do gorillas go when they die? Maureen asked.

Koko replied, Comfortable/hole/bye [the sign for kissing a person good-bye].

When do gorillas die? she asked.

Koko replied with the signs Trouble/old.

How do gorillas feel when they die: happy, sad, afraid?

Sleep, answered Koko.

Gorillas not only mourn. Like human beings, they seem able to reflect on their own demise and struggle with the same sorts of questions that haunt us when a loved one dies.

Buddhism

Studying Buddhism has shown me that there are so many people who believe in world peace and being decent towards each other. I think the worst thing I found was that for being peaceful people they were so easily overpowered. I don't see the reason for trying to take over land where there is no threat. Obviously if China didn't, sooner or later another power would have dominated Tibet. I just feel that these people were secluded and not interfering with the troubles of the world, there was no point or benefit in adding them to another country. I was surprised that some of the Tibetans chose to fight for their country although this goes directly against their religious beliefs. I would have thought they although they are proud people and wanted to keep their way of life the same, they would be committing an action that would already disturb their lifestyle. If they did survive the battle how could they live with the thoughts of the crimes against their moral basis that they had committed. I would have thought that they would have just let China take over with an agreement that would have maintained their practices the best they could.
As for Buddhism in general, I believe strongly in most of their beliefs. Treating every living thing as if it were your mother in a former life is a little hard to accept. In America we give everything a place to determine its value. Just from being brought up this way I could never treat a plant with the same respect I give a stranger. Everything with human characteristics is given a moral obligation in my culture and everything else isn't. I admire the Buddhist way of treating nature with respect but I also believe in wellness for mankind which usually results in the destruction of nature. Its hard to balance, which is more important. I think a Buddhist in our society would have a hard time surviving, my fear is that they would be constantly stepped on. When those around you don't reciprocate the amount of respect you show them it makes them hard to deal with. This religion would be very successful in a culture of everyone sharing the same beliefs. Being an individual Buddhist would be so difficult, full of hardships on viewing how poorly the rest of society treats each other and the environment.