[Jewelry making - Article 00575] - Re: [Orchid] Universal interfaith symbol

[Clyde Gilbert]

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    A most excellent suggestion, Noel, but how about an additional
    suggestion:. 

    The debate between Athiests, Agnostics and all the various religious
    persuasions has sparked dissention (and wars!) over the past couple
    of millenia at the least. The ranting from the "non-spiritual" side
    is as strident and divisive as the adherents of a particular religion
    or three, and unfortuanately, I can't see the end of it in my own
    short lifetime or those of my children. 

    How's about we take this whole debate into that quiet space we all
    keep within ourselves, and make our beliefs (or lack thereof)
    manifest in our lives as well as upon our bodies. There is no way
    that with a group as diverse as ours that we can come up with any
    sort of Universal Symbol to signify our Faiths. Some don't share by
    definition, others do not permit the execution of images, others
    disdain representation of any sort. Tony, and others, I understand
    your lack of desire to have any sort of faith-based symbol attached
    to your association with what is a group of craftworkers and artists,
    but the vehemence is a bit spicy. Folks who adhere to a particular
    faith of set of beliefs do so for a variety of reasons, others go to
    visit their therapist once a week, others call their parents, some
    drink themselves insensible or use drugs, while yet others immerse
    themselves in helping others...the list goes on and on. Belief is not
    a delusion, not if it allows the person to actualize their "highest
    and best" and come to understand the deeper meanings of our
    existence. Belief in the purely physical and scientific is still
    Belief with its own set of rules and conditions, there's simply a
    different framework that's used. I for one enjoy seeing various
    symbols that people wear to signify their Faith, it reminds me of all
    the different ways we have to express our psychological connection to
    the rest of the Unknown. Some of the greatest artistic jewelery works
    in history have been inspired by spiritual belief, from the reliquary
    of the Catholic Church to the gold-and gem-encrusted mandalas of the
    Hindus to the votive offerings of the ancient Celts. This is not
    delusion, it has been made manifest by the minds and hands of people
    working from the deepest wells of inspiration. It is not for anyone
    to judge the veracity of their belief, simply to acknowledge the
    wellspring of creativity that leads to these creations. 

    We're all craftspeople, with enough brains and talent to create a
    showcase of expression through our art. I think there are thousands
    of designs bubbling about in our hearts and minds, so why don't we
    utilize the training we have acquired and drop this whole idea of
    "Universal Interfaith". Bring more of a "World's Fair" energy to this
    effort and showcase the manifestaton of our respective beliefs where
    the beauty of all the ways of expressing our inner spirit. 

Clyde Gilbert
Greenwood Studio


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