You see, I think that we all have a feeling inside ourselves that there is a Bigger Whole, a God or Intergallactic Vibe, whatever you wanna call it. And I think that we act from that feeling more often than we realize. Behaviourism is a very powerful thing, but I think that little feeling inside, that sparkle of love that can make us feel connected with anything, is much more powerful and just waiting to get out and "kiss the sky".

I see something really interesting going on with the people around me. I'd expect that they would turn away from any form of spirituality or religion, because kicking against christianity and the pope is very much the cool thing to do now in society in The Netherlands, where I live. So a lot of people do that.

But while they are doing that, a lot of them also is trying to find a new way of spirituality, as if they need a replacement. They get into "new age" things, like myself. It's not a coincedence that "The Celestine Prophecy" was such a huge hype (well, in The Netherlands it was). So what I see, is that a lot of people who are thaught by their environment to despise christianity and to believe in God, are also looking for a new way of spirituality.

I have the feeling that they do that, because of that inner-conciousness, they want to experience that spirituality, but the Christian church is not filling that in good enough anymore, like the growth of the human conciousness has passed it's thought on how to live your life.

That process makes me smile.

What do you think about that, or am I just rambling too much now?

Love
johannes

No you've only just begun....

It's not just what people are "taught" in school or by parents. You are taught everyday by society, advertising (greed), friends (conformity), negative experiences (intolerance, anger, hate), etc. So our daily social programming reinforces the existing belief system. It teaches us how to survive by adopting these prevailing attitudes. Yes we can rise above it, given proper role models. Since you are from Holland, you have these role models since your society is far more tolerant than 95% on the planet, so it's easier for you to question authority.

Your particular culture is different from others. Your country was abused by Catholicism (the Spanish & French), then the Nazis. So your attitude towards religion and authoritarism is skeptical at best, and usually downright disrespectful (I ADMIRE that!).

We are naturally spiritual beings. It is our society that supresses this because society seeks control. When people discover their TRUE TRANSCENDANT NATURE, they become more difficult to control and manipulate.

Long ago there were many struggles in Europe between the Church and States resulting in many wars. The result was the church lost power, the states won power. So now the states (soon the E.U.) have the power over the people. So respect for the church and its teachings has diminished and is now unimportant to the average European. In other words it's more of a social phenomenon than a spiritual one.

So now there is a huge gap in people's lives. There is no spirituality. I notice this when I visit Europe, and even in the U.S. It's young people like you who can rediscover their connection to LIFE, LOVE and THE PLANET and UNIVERSE, because older folk are too disillusioned and set in their ways. That's why I believe our hope for the future lies in your generation.

Once upon a time a large portion of my generation looked beyond ourselves and into the future (and got scared to death!). Then came another generation that was so self-centered and greedy because they adopted Capitalism as their religion. So it's up to you and your generation to once again remember who you REALLY are, look towards the future, and help shape society with a vision of Peace, Love, Understanding and Respect, PLUR.

-The Old Hippy