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| What is AFS? |
Introduction to All-Faith Spirituality.
All-Faith Spirituality is basically our idea to bring acceptance by fostering an understanding of all the religious beliefs. What we offer as far as religious beliefs is freedom to incorporate any practice from any religion that you feel demonstrates how you feel about your personal spirituality. If you are a christian now then as an All-Faith Spiritualist you can continue practicing as a christian as well as add some aspects of Buddhism or Taoism or Muslim if you so choose to your daily worship of your Higher Power however you come to understand it. You also have the freedom to not be bound by some traditions that you may find questionable in your current faith basis. What we encourage people to do is to sit down and take a personal inventory of their connection to their higher power and to feel free to modify that connection so that you can feel as close to that higher understanding as you are able to. We are called All-Faith because we don't discriminate in any way against any other religion and are accepting of all belief systems and practices. We don't however accept any form of slander or any negative action that would promote superiority or inferiority. Our members are not exclusive and you would not have to follow our rules to get into a heaven or fear an eternity in hell. The only rules we do impose is to love all things as they were family, Respect all things and their right to disagree with you, and honor all things as you would wish to be honored for differing beliefs. When we say all things we mean everything, animate and inanimate, visible and invisible. People don't seem to realize anymore that this planet is a system and we are merely a part of that system. Just as we should love each other as human beings we must also care for and respect that which allows us to be human.
As far as actually religious beliefs we are not a religion. We consider AFS to me more of an educational and personal experience rather than dogmatic decrees. As our lives change so do the needs of our souls and we try to encourage adaptation for those changes. For example, if one believes all their life that Jesus is Lord and to claim him as your savior is all that is required for admission into heaven is suddenly is cast with doubt, then we encourage people to explore that doubt rather than to hide it. We also try to bring peoples attention to the here and now rather than looking to an afterlife for their reward. We firmly believe that Heaven and Hell are merely perceptions of where you are now. Heaven is here now if you choose to see it that way, just as life could be hell if you can't see things positively. Some of our members believe in Reincarnation but as with any belief in AFS its not mandatory to subscribe to anything you feel could be questionable. Again, its all about your personal connection with your higher power as you understand that power.
As far as our background, I come from a christian background primarily but always had a curiosity about other ways. I've studied theology and mythology for almost 15 years now and have found various connections between supposedly opposing religions. I've always felt that if people ever took the time to look they'd see that they all have quite a bit in common. The reason I created AFS is to urge people to take the time to look and learn all they can about those they once considered to be heretics. No one way can be correct for everyone and I felt that people could be happier with their spirituality and their place in this system if they just stop and research and realize that everyone is striving for the same goal. Life shouldn't not be about possessions or superiority or even control and unfortunately during my research those three things seemed to be dominating in almost every world religion in existence to some degree. AFS is my attempt to wake people up and teach them that the world can live in harmony without the need for conformity.
I know this is probably a lot more of a response than you bargained for but as I hope to have conveyed this is a passion of mine and I strive to make learning and enjoying a personal connection with your understanding of a Higher Power a passion of yours as well.
In love and light,
Rev Peter M. Semadeni
Created on 12/19/2004 11:16 AM by revwolf
Updated on 10/23/2010 11:32 AM by revwolf
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