Truth

Thanks for commenting, Sam. My poem was more disjointed than your comment, probably! It really was just random thoughts. I looked out of the window and saw those people sitting there... and then that just became a part of it, and it was about my own version of the truth - for what it was worth! I understand the point you're making. And sometimes I often think that faith must be a very valuable and fulfilling thing to have. I like to think of myself as spiritual - though sometimes I realise my behaviour stretches the boundaries of that!  I suppose I partly admire and am partly suspicious of strong and absolute belief. For me, the world is far too diverse and complex to have a single, overarching system of belief that will suit everyone in every situation.  Strong believers will disagree, of course.   Good and evil always seem too reductionist for me, though. There are far too many grey areas in human actions and experience. I like to keep questioning. I always think 'truth' is something that cannot be unequivocally stated.  It's always relative, as far as I'm concerned.  That probably adds up to wishy-washy nonsense!  Oh well... so be it!

Not at all, Bee, and I was very interested to read what you said. I have an American friend who's a Witness, and she's a really dear friend. She's quite open-minded, too - though I know she's mentioned that some of her family might not like what she talks about. Your experience with friends and family is encouraging. I have to say that I've heard some rather different stories - but that probably goes for most groups. I admit to struggling with the idea of 'righteousness' - of absolutes. I find their position on homosexuality to be, to put it mildly, wrong.  I don't have much truck with evangelism, either. I really do try, though, to keep an open mind. I wanted to talk to those people today... just to try to understand. Another things I struggle with is the religious indoctrination of children, because I feel it can do a lot of damage. We had family friends a few years ago who were what I suppose you'd call 'high church' Anglicans. They brought their children up in the faith, of course. But one of the sons was going to university and wanted to study Philosophy - and the parents did their utmost to dissuade him, because they were afraid it would lead to him questioning his faith. It's always a difficult thing, isn't it - what we teach our children. I'm vegetarian, for instance. If I had children of my own, I'd bring them up to be respecting of life, and kind to animals. If they chose, as adults, a different path, I suppose a strong part of me would be disappointed - but I'd never want to deny them the right to make their own choices and decisions. The same as with religion. I have no beliefs. I'd want my children to know about religion, though - and if they chose to follow one, again... I'm not going to stop them. My sister-in-law's sister (I guess that makes her my sister-in-law, too, I'm never sure!) has a partner who is a 'disassociated' Jehovah's Witness. He became disassociated many years ago. Some of his family, though, still haven't forgiven him, and won't talk to him. I find this extremely sad. I think I find this to be the most troubling thing, with any belief system: the intolerance of difference. That, I feel, is where it all goes wrong.