Faith and Belief - Wesley

Faith can be a very important thing for anyone. People can be raised in a certain religion, resistant to different beliefs, or simply don't care. The world and beyond are full of different belief systems and religions surrounded by people in faith, or those who don’t have a preference or even no strong connection to faith in a religious way.

One way people can find themselves and deeper meaning, or connection, is through that of religious practices, belief systems, spirituality and general faith. Just because we aren’t a singlet doesn’t mean we aren’t individually affected by religious and spiritual beliefs either. We are each unique people who have unique takes on religion, spirituality, beliefs, and faith.

I had studied a variety of belief systems while at university from large scale Abrahamic Religions, to Indigenous Spirituality, ancient spiritual traditions to niche belief systems. Many different headmates in our system have a wide variety of beliefs and spiritual actions and have come to understand each other with respect to make sure we have a healthy dialogue about how the body interacts with faith in the Outer world and within the headspace.

The Astra system as a whole does not have an overarching religious perspective, or belief system we follow- everyone is free to do as they please religiously, barring a few rules. First, the religious practice in question may not harm anyone else in the system, the body or the outer world. Second, each person’s practice may not interfere directly with another headmate’s practice (unless discussed and agreed upon by the pertaining parties). And third, no headmate is to convert another headmate to their religion or force their beliefs upon another. These rules keep everyone in the system safe and secure, if there are ever any disagreements there will be a discussion between the parties and a neutral third party (either a Guardian or a Caretaker).

A good example of a rule/compromise that was made and kept is the body being vegetarian and continuing to do so, the reasons are for my spiritual practice, and as the body has been vegetarian for almost 10 years and the body now no longer has the ability to break down meat products. So we decided to continue being vegetarian. Not everyone is happy with the outcome of the decision but it was made with the betterment of the body and system in mind and people have come to understand.

A different example was when in the headspace when there were fewer of us and less difference in opinion I kept an altar out in the headspace living space. This is not okay any longer as it can be seen as a way to induct others into my practice as I could just have it in my room in the headspace. So I moved the altar.

With all this discussion of how we talk about faith it can be difficult to imagine how we are so understanding, are we similar in our beliefs, no - many are far from similar and are still very close. So, what are our faiths? For those who are comfortable sharing, I have put their quick input below (Please note, these are very simplified versions of people’s faiths, not the whole picture.)

Dominik: Atheist

“I was created from a version of Heaven as well as a composition of biblical and aesthetic angels- I have since removed myself from that term and spiritual or religious beliefs in all. Moving from valuing a power or deity to loyalty as a concept. I don't believe in God. I believe in the appraisal of a community based on their loyalty to each other and doing some form of right in their moral scope that doesn't hurt anyone else. We’ve all already been hurt enough.”

Wesley: Eclectic Pagan/Pantheistic

“The world is too complicated and beautiful to boil down to one person being right about the creation of the universe and everything’s place in it, so I have become occult eclectic and pantheistic with a focus on the tree as a symbol of growth and evolution of beliefs all stemming from one belief that is true that no one person has all the pieces the right, everyone instead has a shard of the truth.”

Lyre: Indeterminate

“I’ve been idle around for years, without precaution to believe as I desire. Yet, the whim of religion or practicing religion does not define me, though it may pertain to a different individual. This may sound as if I am outside of religion's gaze; that simply is not true, I just do not partake in the practice but the belief is present nonetheless. As a flame with no candle, I have the faith without the act.”

Teddy: Monotheistic with Christian Tradition Leaning

“I um… I believe in a god… they are very nice and caring… They care for us all. Even if they can’t help… they try to guide us… to be good!... I hope there is a Heaven… but no hell… I don’t want people hurting… and neither does my god… um… I sometimes pray little letters to my god… hoping they can help the ones I love… yah… thank you…”

Conan: Agnostic

“There could be a higher power, or not, the world is so full of darkness and light, shadow and shine, and all the gray and silver in between. To say what is right or wrong based on something that everyone interprets differently (just like everything in the world) is too confusing. Personally I try not to get too deep into it because it doesn’t matter to me right now, I'm rather indifferent- and that’s okay.”

These perceptions and beliefs themselves may change over time and of course many come into conflict with each other and we do see verbal tussles in the headspace but we have built a foundation for understanding in our system. Moving past the need for everyone to be the same but by following the ground rules we respect each other's individuality in faith.