What do I believe? Do I even know? These are questions that I've spent many years exploring, and I am still exploring. On this page, I list briefly some of my basic beliefs, then I elaborate on them in more detail on the Think page. As you read about my beliefs, think about how they agree or disagree with yours. Try to keep an open mind, but try to see the relationships and contrasts, as these will be important for the next stop along your journey.

Let me also define what I mean by belief. Belief is not what you *know*, it's what you perceive as truth. This distinction is important, because many people don't really understand the difference. They say they "know" there is a god. But do they really? Or do they just have enough evidence to perceive the truth of god's existence? Most people acquire their beliefs based on experience, observation, and indoctrination. Keep this in mind as you explore your own beliefs.

One note about this page: I have only answered questions that are relevant to me, for instance, since I have no personal experience with Islam other than just a very basic idea of what it is from a doctrinal standpoint, I have not listed questions such as "What is the Qu'ran?" I have answered only those questions that I have explored and that have relevance to my belief system. This doesn't mean they're not important, it just means that I haven't thought about them enough to incorporate them into this page.

God - I don't believe in "God". I do believe in a higher power. But not in the creator, scorekeeper, punisher, rewarder, omnipotent, omniscient, supreme being sense. My concept is more like a combination between a permeating force of energy and a non-conscious "wisdom". It's hard to explain, but the closest thing I can come to describing the concept is that god is like gravity in that it affects everything, we can see evidence that it exists by observing its effects on objects (and other things) in the universe, but it is not tangible or conscious or really even "there".

Heaven & Hell - I believe Heaven and Hell exist only in our minds. I do not believe they are a place, and I certainly don't think we will go to one or the other if we are "good" enough or "bad" enough. I believe we create our own Heaven and Hell here on earth by our own actions. Sort of like karma in a way, everything we do has an effect on everything, whether we realize it or not. And a lot of the power of Hell comes from fear. No fear, no Hell. Simple.

How did we come to be? - I believe we have always existed, and that we will always exist - sort of. Imagine that everything in the universe is made of energy, but that the energy manifests itself in different forms such as light, matter, sound, heat, consciousness, and so on. Each of us is made of the same "stuff" so each of us is in a way eternal yet non-existent.

What is our purpose? - I don't believe we have a "divine purpose" in that someone or something decided for us what we should do. I do believe that we might as well make the best of what we've got while we got it, though. And twist a few minds while we're here.

What is the Bible? - I believe the Bible is a really long philosophy book.

Who was Jesus? - I believe he was a Truth seeker. I do not think he was divine, but I think he might have been "enlightened". I don't think he wanted us to worship him, or even follow him in a literal sense.

I believe there is value in all faiths and for each of us at least one path to our ultimate destination. Our chosen path may not be the same as for others, but that makes it no less valid or true. I believe there is not only one 'way' to salvation or enlightenment or wisdom, but I also believe in the possibility I may be wrong.

Now that you have a basic idea of some of the things I believe, go read some of my essays and Think.