Anyway, I was doing a search for Buddhism tonight because I feel emotionally strained sometimes, along with will power problems. Buddhism has been on my mind a lot recently. All the dogmatic religions out there seem to so built up in dogma that it is easy to find a fracture point of imperfection in them where their beliefs are in direct contrast with evidence or reason. Some say the Buddhism that made it to the west is watered down but I disagree. I would say it is purified. Most of the local superstitious aspects have been removed and it is a lot more about living a good life.

The thing I find so attractive about Buddhism though is that it can be viewed from a humanist perspective very easily. I find nothing incompatible about paganism either actually, however I don’t really feel like changing into robes in a park and dancing and chanting in a circle. You know that feeling where everything around you is so ridiculous that you feel like you are in a cult?

Anyway, I can’t help but be curious… you said:

[quote majestic_hand]I believe that through intimacy and sex, certain energies are exchanged between the two involved. So if I’m intimate with a client who has hate or anger in his heart, then that energy will linger, leaving me disenchanted, uneasy, paranoid, or just tired. This is when I need to smudge[/quote]

Forgive my rudeness for asking but curiosity has gotten the better of me. What is your vocation? It sounds as though you work in the field of erotic entertainment.

Anyway, I was about to end my post and hope for some sort of theological discussion but I remembered I have more to add. Although generally I don’t believe in the supernatural, I have had experiences that lead me to believe that thoughts made with a strong intent can manifest themselves externally in future events. I have experienced this … pagans would call it magick. It scares me yet I feel I need to understand it.

The problem with that is, there is only one other kind of religion. That is, DISorganized.

I suggest perhaps you don’t prefer the particular “organized religions” you have experienced. Go try some others. They’re good.

Amen.