further thoughts

i didn't really dive too deeply into my beliefs, so i'll give you a bit more. here's a tanuki belief sampler (i.e. this list is not exhaustive):

i believe...
1. people are more important than possessions.
-one time, someone spilled beer on my laptop. getting angry wouldn't have solved anything, but it could have hurt the relationship. computers are replaceable. people aren't.

2. in living in harmony with nature.
-nature operates in cycles—give and take. as a species we're out of harmony with nature. let's give as much as we take.

3. in respect.
-respect your own body, respect other people, respect animals, respect life, respect the earth itself. don't be an asshole to anyone or anything.

4. honesty is usually the best policy.
-lies can be hurtful. so can secrets. avoid them as much as possible. when truth hurts, it should be delivered delicately.

5. murder is unjust.
-microwaving cats and squashing spiders are forms of murder.

6. in leaving the world a better place than it was when you found it.
-be a force for good in the world.

7. sexual preference has nothing to do with right and wrong.
-an ideal relationship is founded on mutual love and respect. i fail to see how loving homosexual relationships are bad and cold heterosexual ones are good.

8. beliefs should never be forced on anyone.
-not by guilt, not by fear. if only byu (my alma mater) felt the same way.

i realize some of these don't exactly seem like religious/spiritual beliefs. that's fine. for me they are.