This morning Danelle went to the local Anglican church to witness confirmations and renewals of vows by some of the folks there.

Each person was invited to write their own belief statements / creed and then read them to the congregation. I would have liked to have gone too… but it didn’t happen…

I reckon it would be an interesting exercise to write down what I believe now and compare it to what I believed 20 years ago, and then to do it again at 60. My beliefs have shifted substantially in the last 20 years.

On that, a great book for those who like to know what people believe is the one in the title of this post. Its a collection of the beliefs of ’emminent Australians’. I don’t know how emminent they are – I haven’t heard of most of them! But FYI here is a sample.

Greg Champion – apparently a well know musician pg. 51 opens by saying

I believe there are nature spirits in the garden and elsewhere.
I believe every creature, every ant, every animal is bonded to us.
I believe that plants respond to our energy.
That trees and mountains possess wisdom we can barely fathom
I believe that a man doesn’t have to do what a man doesn’t have to do.
I believe that when two men go up for the mark only one will find true happiness (that’s not deep – I just like it)
I believe that Tibetan Buddhists know nearly everything.
That all our worldly dealings are but an illusion preparing us for a greater peace.
I believe that its the God in me that helps me achieve good things
I believe if I had more brains I’d be brilliant
I believe there’s only one song and we’re all singing it.

Then Natalija Kristicevic a Croatian immigrant and uni student p. 208 writes:

I believe in God and admire his mystery. I have great faith in my religion but I respect other beliefs. I believe that religion should never be forced upon an individual. I have confidence in each person deciding what is spiritually satisfying for them.

And then back to John Casmir pg. 51 of the Sydney Morning Herald who has one very helpful observation where he says,
I believe banks are not our friends. But then after another list of random disconnected beliefs he goes on to say

More than anything, I believe there are no absolutes. Live learn, change your mind as often as you can.

The post below this one, a poem by Steve Turner, picks up on that theme beautifully!