I BELIEVE

(PAT BUCKLEY - 1994)

I BELIEVE THAT IN THIS WORLD IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND GOD.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD MADE THIS WONDERFUL UNIVERSE AND ALL THAT EXISTS.
I CAN FIND GOD IN NATURE, IN ANIMALS, IN BIRDS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD MADE ALL MEN AND WOMEN.
THAT HE MADE THEM ALL EQUAL.
AND THAT HE LOVES AND CHERISHES THEM ALL EQUALLY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE IS THE FAMILY OF GOD.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE INTELLIGENT LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS
AND IF SO, THEY TOO ARE PART OF GOD'S FAMILY.
I HOLD THAT RELIGION AND FAITH ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
THAT RELIGION CAN BE BOTH GOOD AND BAD.
AND THAT IT IS SPIRITUALITY THAT COUNTS.
TO ME YOUR RELIGION IS AN ACCIDENT OF YOUR BIRTH
OR A GIFT OF GOD'S GREAT PROVIDENTIAL DIVERSITY.
THERE IS NO ONE, TRUE CHURCH.
ALL CHURCHES AND ALL RELIGIONS CONTAIN ASPECTS OF THE TRUTH.
BUT ONLY GOD IS TRUTH.
NO MAN IS INFALLIBLE.
A BUDDHIST OR A GOOD ATHEIST IS AS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD AS A GOOD CATHOLIC.
I BELIEVE THAT SEX IS GOOD AND SO IS THE BODY.
THE ONLY SEXUAL ACT THAT IS SINFUL IS THE ONE THAT USES OR ABUSES.
I BELIEVE IN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SUFFERING PEOPLE.
I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF WEAKNESS.
I BELIEVE THAT ALL MEN AND WOMEN WILL BE SAVED.
I BELIEVE IN A PACKED HEAVEN AND AN EMPTY HELL.
AND EVEN SATAN MIGHT GET ANOTHER CHANCE.
I BELIEVE IN THE FREEDOM OF GOD'S SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
I BELIEVE THAT DOGMA IS OFTEN EVIL.
I BELIEVE THAT LIFE IS A JOURNEY TOWARDS GOD.
AND THAT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO INSIST YOU GO A CERTAIN ROAD.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD AND REALITY ARE TOO BIG FOR MY POOR WORDS.
I BELIEVE, THEREFORE, THAT I AM ONLY AT A BEGINNING.
ONLY KNOCKING AT A DOOR.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME.