I am late in answering this question, but I really wanted to answer it, so here I go.But before I do , I feel it is important to point out that I have my beliefs and my opinions and I am not here to push them on to others. I do believe it is important to express ourselves and to have the freedom to do so without others taking it personally.

My life is my own, I happily take responsibility for my actions and for the way I choose to live my life. I also happily take responsibility for my health and my well being. I feel very strongly about having the freedom to do so, to have the freedom to listen to myself and follow my own instincts. I can be inspired by others and I have a lot of respect for others who are being true to themselves and who show respect to all other living beings on the earth.

I am not religious, I do not believe that there is A God.

I was raised in Ireland, where everything was more or less controlled by the Catholic Church. From a very young age I rebelled against the idea of religion. It was mostly a silent rebellion, nothing about attending a cold grey building and listening to a man dressed in black felt right to me. All I wanted to do was be outdoors. In the sun, in the rain, under the clouds. Having a man talk down to everyone in that building was never something I enjoyed. All this talk of sins and penance and being unworthy, just felt so unnatural and very depressing. No wonder so many live their lives feeling guilty. Every little thing you did would be scrutinized in that church. Each of the commandments were broken down, that if you even where to think about them ,then you were breaking them. All of course the men in black, who as it turned out committed so many violent crimes, but hey they are men of God, they are Men so it was okay.

Then there is the part of it where you are born into original sin. How can such a sacred act be considered a sin. How can a baby be born with sin? How can so many people think that this is okay? How can so many not question this. I did not want to be part of this, I did not want to be part of something that people just follow because they are told to. I can think for myself, I know the difference between right and wrong and this felt very wrong to me.

Then we learnt about all the abuse that happened in convents, in churches in mother and baby units all around the country. Boys raped, women abused and treated like slaves, their babies taken from them and sold abroad or killed. All this done by the 'Chosen' ones of God, by priests and nuns. And somehow so many people continue to have faith in this religion and follow this God.

As I got older I learnt about other religions and realized that none of them were for me. All of them have created so much segregation, so much divide and for all the wrong reasons. Then there are all the wars that have been fought over religion. Sufficient to say I wanted no part of any of it. I want no ties to any organization that condones violence against others, that segregates people because of their sexuality, where they were born, what they believe. Who rip families apart because a member of that family does not live the way that their God would approve.

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I want no part of any organization that tells people that the Earth was made for them and thus giving them the excuse to abuse and mistreat it. I want no part of these man made religions that were all created to benefit mankind. I am not above nature, I am not below nature, I am part of it. I want nothing to do with this dominant worldview over nature. This worldview that has led to nothing but greed and destruction. The earth is not ours, we do not own it, we have no right to take from the earth without giving something back in return.

Everything I need comes from the earth, it provides for me. It is so abundant and full of riches. I do not need to look anywhere else. I can feel my connection to the earth, I witness the cycles of nature and I have my place amongst them. I do not feel the need to be a part of anything else, because I am full with respect and love for that which surrounds me. I have no space in my life for a God.

Why do bad things happen

Sometimes bad things happen because we need a wake up call, something to shake us up out of our stupor. To get us to pay attention to what we are really doing with our lives. Our bodies may have been trying to communicate with us, to get us to pay attention, but we didn't listen and in the end something bad happens that finally makes us listen.

Sometimes bad things happen and we don't know why, we can question and question and spend our time looking for answers and never find them. Sometimes it is not about why it happened but more about how we react or respond. Maybe there is a lesson to learn, something to discover or rediscover about ourselves.

Sometimes bad things happen and there is no logic or reason behind it, no lesson to learn, only suffering. Why does that happen, I do not know, I will never know. Why is my sister suffering, going through so much, losing her beautiful hair. Losing her ability to ever have children. Why is that happening, I have heard her ask those questions, I have hugged her as she asked them and I could not say anything, because how can I.

I do not know.

But what I do know, is that this is not a time for questions, this is a time to be together, to laugh and cry together. To say the things that need to be said, to express the love we feel, to not hold back, to express freely and honestly.
What I do know is that time is precious and so valuable and every moment matters. That we have a responsibility to live our lives fully, to love and be loved. To be aware and mindful in all that we do. To open ourselves up to the beauty that surrounds us and be grateful for every second that we get to spend with those we love. To be grateful for every breath we take, for every drop of water we drink, for every sun we see rise and set. This is not a time for questions about why, but more a time for living and being grateful.