Reader's Questions

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Reader's Questions

***I received the following questions from a listener of the interview I'd done on Bob Keeton's Living Successfully show.

Rick wrote: I heard your interview on lime radio this morning and was impressed. Although, I question your comments on the religious aspect of your interview. If I heard you correctly, you said religion is something that is not that important. Can you clarify that for me? I am at somewhat a crisis in faith. Although I am a catholic, I find myself questioning my belief system, and God. My prayer life seems empty, I feel lost, and I find it difficult to sit and just conversate, or pray to God. I know you said God is near, and not away, but it often doesn't feel that way. Also, doesn't the bible warn us that there will be people who will try to lead others astray and away from God? By writing a book such as yours, what are you advocating? I read the book Conversations with God, and in that book, Neal states that there is no wrong, and even Hitler can go to heaven. I find his writing somewhat bizarre, because, killing of others, or hurting people is not right. Yet, he seems to think it is ok. Do you agree?

Sorry for wandering, but I find individuals like yourself interesting. I know you are busy, but hopefully you will find to write, and I will read your book and comment on it.

Thanks

rick

Hi Rick-

Thank you for your questions. I can't speak for Neal, but to my knowledge he has never said that killing or hurting others is okay. As for religion: my intention was not to imply that it isn't important. I believe religion is important for many people as a place to experience community and to worship together.

The point I was hoping to make is that giving too much power or authority to an individual or institution is not a good thing. Abuse and fundamentalism comes to mind. Many bad things are done with the absolute belief that they are being done because they are "right" and God's will. And the idea of unworthiness that has been perpetuated by many religions (including Catholicism) has not helped matters here on earth. I do explain how this belief has caused so much trouble in my book, so I do hope you read it.

As for where you find yourself currently regarding your religion and your belief- it sounds very familiar to me. I have been there. As uncomfortable as it feels, it is not necessarily a bad thing. It is good to question. One of the things I urge in my book is that the reader simply becoming willing to "not know"-to open their mind and ask some questions.

As for the Bible's warnings regarding false prophets and being led astray: I believe we have been led astray in many ways, not the least of which has been through some religious leaders and institutions(governments, mass media and many other things might be included on this list). For me the Bible is a collection of stories

and teachings that are metaphoric in nature. These stories were written based on what people knew and understood thousands of years ago-they were written to make sense in a way that those people could comprehend. And the people doing the writing could only express things in ways that they understood themselves.

The trouble is many churches and people have gotten stuck in the metaphor and to them it is literal. This has caused a good deal of trouble and I believe all one need do is look at the world situation. As for the New testament-let's not forget that much of what is there was written years after Jesus had come and gone.

Finally you asked me what it is I am advocating. Love, forgiveness, compassion and kindness. I believe each person is here on earth for a reason and that reason is to be of service in some way.There's a saying: We love to hate in the world what we hate to love in our self. To me this is it in a nutshell. We project out into(and on to) the world what we cannot accept in our self- we see it in "others" . Again, the book explains the how and the why of this.

In closing let me say this: I don't claim to have all the answers. I have days where I feel connected to God and days when I feel as if I am totally alone(even after tons of proof to the contrary). What gets me through these "off " days are a set of practices and procedures that do not vary based on how I feel. They include prayer and meditation every morning 1st thing. By the way, my prayers are personal -I don't use the ones of my childhood- "Thank you" is always the overriding theme. I ask for guidance and that I may be of service to another human being. I ask God that I might use my talents and abilities to help someone. Each of us has something special that is unique to only us that we can contribute to the greater good-that's why we came here with it in the first place! When I truly open my eyes I find God in all that surrounds me-in each person I meet(even the unpleasant ones), in the animate and inanimate. It's all a matter of reminding myself of this, and when I do amazing things happen-miracles are everyday occurrences.

Rick, you asked me what I'm advocating with my book. I realized as I wrote that last sentence that this is what my hope is: that everyone might experience life as it can be: challenging and at times painful, but also the beautiful and miraculous gift that it really is. Anyway, I apologize if this is a bit long-winded, but I hope it answered at least some of your questions. But keep asking them! Thanks again for writing.

Peace,

Rich

*Please email me with any thoughts or questions regarding my book

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	RICH HAYES \| home Reader's Questions *I received the following questions from a listener of the interview I'd done on Bob Keeton's Living Successfully show. Rick wrote: I heard your interview on lime radio this morning and was impressed. Although, I question your comments on the religious aspect of your interview. If I heard you correctly, you said religion is something that is not that important. Can you clarify that for me? I am at somewhat a crisis in faith. Although I am a catholic, I find myself questioning my belief system, and God. My prayer life seems empty, I feel lost, and I find it difficult to sit and just conversate, or pray to God. I know you said God is near, and not away, but it often doesn't feel that way. Also, doesn't the bible warn us that there will be people who will try to lead others astray and away from God? By writing a book such as yours, what are you advocating? I read the book Conversations with God, and in that book, Neal states that there is no wrong, and even Hitler can go to heaven. I find his writing somewhat bizarre, because, killing of others, or hurting people is not right. Yet, he seems to think it is ok. Do you agree? Sorry for wandering, but I find individuals like yourself interesting. I know you are busy, but hopefully you will find to write, and I will read your book and comment on it. Thanks rick Hi Rick- Thank you for your questions. I can't speak for Neal, but to my knowledge he has never said that killing or hurting others is okay. As for religion: my intention was not to imply that it isn't important. I believe religion is important for many people as a place to experience community and to worship together. The point I was hoping to make is that giving too much power or authority to an individual or institution is not a good thing. Abuse and fundamentalism comes to mind. Many bad things are done with the absolute belief that they are being done because they are "right" and God's will. And the idea of unworthiness that has been perpetuated by many religions (including Catholicism) has not helped matters here on earth. I do explain how this belief has caused so much trouble in my book, so I do hope you read it. As for where you find yourself currently regarding your religion and your belief- it sounds very familiar to me. I have been there. As uncomfortable as it feels, it is not necessarily a bad thing. It is good to question. One of the things I urge in my book is that the reader simply becoming willing to "not know"-to open their mind and ask some questions. As for the Bible's warnings regarding false prophets and being led astray: I believe we have been led astray in many ways, not the least of which has been through some religious leaders and institutions(governments, mass media and many other things might be included on this list). For me the Bible is a collection of stories and teachings that are metaphoric in nature. These stories were written based on what people knew and understood thousands of years ago-they were written to make sense in a way that those people could comprehend. And the people doing the writing could only express things in ways that they understood themselves. The trouble is many churches and people have gotten stuck in the metaphor and to them it is literal. This has caused a good deal of trouble and I believe all one need do is look at the world situation. As for the New testament-let's not forget that much of what is there was written years after Jesus had come and gone. Finally you asked me what it is I am advocating. Love, forgiveness, compassion and kindness. I believe each person is here on earth for a reason and that reason is to be of service in some way.There's a saying: We love to hate in the world what we hate to love in our self. To me this is it in a nutshell. We project out into(and on to) the world what we cannot accept in our self- we see it in "others" . Again, the book explains the how and the why of this. In closing let me say this: I don't claim to have all the answers. I have days where I feel connected to God and days when I feel as if I am totally alone(even after tons of proof to the contrary). What gets me through these "off " days are a set of practices and procedures that do not vary based on how I feel. They include prayer and meditation every morning 1st thing. By the way, my prayers are personal -I don't use the ones of my childhood- "Thank you" is always the overriding theme. I ask for guidance and that I may be of service to another human being. I ask God that I might use my talents and abilities to help someone. Each of us has something special that is unique to only us that we can contribute to the greater good-that's why we came here with it in the first place! When I truly open my eyes I find God in all that surrounds me-in each person I meet(even the unpleasant ones), in the animate and inanimate. It's all a matter of reminding myself of this, and when I do amazing things happen-miracles are everyday occurrences. Rick, you asked me what I'm advocating with my book. I realized as I wrote that last sentence that this is what my hope is: that everyone might experience life as it can be: challenging and at times painful, but also the beautiful and miraculous gift that it really is. Anyway, I apologize if this is a bit long-winded, but I hope it answered at least some of your questions. But keep asking them! Thanks again for writing. Peace, Rich** Please email me with any thoughts or questions regarding my book Go Back*