In this edition of Conversations, I decided to interview a friend of mine who just happens to be more like Dr. Strange from the Marvel Universe. This conversation is me as a Christian looking into his world, and him talking about his journey.
I know the title sounds fantastical, but
hey we are in a sensational world. So how would you describe yourself?
I am a teacher, artist, martial artist, minister, mystic, father
and grandfather. I am a person who has spent the majority of my life seeking
something greater; something greater within myself to allow me to be a more
effective as a teacher, artist, martial artist, mystic, father and
grandfather and leader.
I have a personal relationship with you
so I know the answer to some of the questions I’m going to ask. What would you say
your religious views are?
My religious path/spiritual path is New Thought, specifically
Religious Science aka The Science of Mind and Spirit. I was a fundamentalist
Baptist for many years before leaving it.
I noticed your title as “Rev Dr”. Can you
explain that please?
When I was in the process of leaving Christianity, I went to a school
and seminary to study Interfaith and Holistic theology and after several years
received my first (of 4) doctoral degree and then ordained several different
times. Currently awaiting my ordination panel within Centers for Spiritual
Living which is the New Thought organization I serve as a Senior Minister in
MD.
4 Doctoral
degrees? Wow. You worked hard on those, so it is worth celebrating. Do you mind
sharing what they are in, how long did it take to acquire?
The full list is: Associates in Illustration/Graphic design,
Associates in Interpreting (ASL), BA in art education, BScD in Metaphysical
theology, MFA in Theatre pedagogy, MScD in Metaphysical theology, and Doctor of
Divinity in Christian Theology/ MScD in Metaphysical Theology/ PhD in Life
Coaching/ and PhD in Holistic Theology took about 20 years? Give or take…
Wow. I'm doing one PhD degree and it is requiring a lot out of me.
So you were a Christian of the Baptist denomination, what made you unsubscribe to that theology?
I was a Fundamentalist
Baptist/Evangelical Christian from around 1974 to 2000. After moving to
Richmond VA with the person I was supposed to be marrying, I started to attend
the MCC church there. My views of Christianity, which had been waning for
years, really started a major deconstruction. Attending a “Gay” church and having
a few friends in Richmond say things to their kids like, “We love Mr. Ray but
his being Gay is a sin and so we don’t accept or condone that part of him,”
made me return to the seeking I had done back in the late 80s and 90s. I read stuff
about Christian Mysticism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shamanism, Transcendentalism, etc.
and eventually circled back to New Thought. I decided to dive in and read as
much as I could and after moving to DC in 2003, started to attend a Unity
church and then the Centers for Spiritual Learning (CSL) in Falls Church VA and after that started an active
path to ministry within that organization. So the major things that ushered in
my exodus from Christianity was the anti-gay rhetoric and the dogma that was
taught in a way that was counter to the love of Jesus. It was
not in alignment with who I wanted to be. Funny thing is that New Thought is
considered a Christian teaching. It is a metaphysical approach deeply rooted in
Christian mysticism. My path also has some other influences per the founder’s
studies.
CSL is considered Christian teaching? Good to know.
If your
sexuality hadn’t been an issue Christianity, would you have stayed or still
left?
Probably not, there were other things
like rampant hypocrisy of ministers, a dogma that was not empowering and was
more condemnation of people (not just LGBTQ, if you don’t tithe enough, you
don’t volunteer enough, if you wear clothes like this or that, if you listen to
anything that is not Christian music and only certain artists, etc.) Also
turned off by my having been kicked out of many Bible study classes (sometimes
physically escorted out of the church) for asking questions the teacher did not
want to answer, could not answer, or just didn’t like.
That sounds like it would have been a traumatic experience. It is unfortunate you had to go through that.
To a layman, how would you describe your
spiritual views?
God, not as a person or a being but as all that is, is all there
is. And because it is all there is, it is what we are. Which means we are made
not just in the image and likeness but made by, of, with and as the very stuff
that God is. Voltaire said, “God is a circle whose circumference is no where
and whose center is everywhere.” So the center of God is right were each of us
is, always. I also tell people to think of a chocolate cake. If you take a
slice out of the cake, is that slice all of the chocolate cake? No, but is all
of that slice chocolate cake? Yes!
Is there any “benefit” to subscribing to
your belief system as opposed to just walking down to the next church down the
street around the corner?
The belief system I practice is an applicable practice that builds
up the individual to awaken to their divine power and magnificence. It is not
about fearing a devil or a God who judges because of sin. It is, if anything,
about taking the passage where Yeshua said, I have done these miracles and so
can you and even greater.” It is about developing the mind in such a way that
we know the truth and are set free by it. So is there a benefit? Yes. Radical
inclusion and acceptance where you are welcomed and celebrated for who and what
you are as a divine individualized expression of Spirit! You will not hear a
sermon or message about being born in sin and deserving to die or burning for
all eternity in lakes of fire.
Not being accepted or validated for
existing is the one thing people despise about fundamental religion.
Yeshua. Hmm, who is Yeshua to you? A wise man, a prophet, more?
Yeshua, enlightened master teacher who
walked the path and pointed the way for others to walk it as well.
I jokingly refer to you as Dr Strange,
but do you see any parallels with him?
I love several superheroes as archetypes that have influenced my
life. Dr. Strange is one of them. Parallels would be pain, fear, suffering,
that led him to seeking out the Ancient One and then reading books and
practicing in order to learn and develop his abilities. In many ways it was my
pain, fear, suffering, that lead me to a different path and the books that I
read that gave me greater insights and awareness to live and thrive whereas I
once only survived.
In the Marvel Universe, he is the
sorcerer supreme, who casts spells and incantations. How does that fit into
your views and beliefs?
As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is… in the path I practice,
we know that thought precedes action so thinking and being excellent stewards
of our thinking and feeling is greatly encouraged. And add to this, you have
the power of life and death in your tongue… and we also believe that our words
have power. So add it all together, how I think, feel, speak, and act combine
to create and manifest an experience in my life. I create that experience and
if I want a different experience then I must change the thoughts, words,
feelings, and deeds.
When you break it down like that, it does
seem like individual perception of things. What do you
think about the concept of evil? Like some individuals such as child rapists or
sadists and serial killers who seem to be inherently “bad”. How do you explain
such?
Humans have free will. Some are born
with certain traits just like some are born with blue or brown eyes, that make
them prone to certain behaviors, the pyromaniac has a love of fire that may be
nature or may be part of nurture, either way there are other factors that
support them in their choosing to harm others. I don’t refer to people as good
or bad since that is a value judgement. Some express life in more or less
healthy ways. Serial killers due to various factors choose the less healthy.
Having watched several documentaries about the making of a serial killer, it is
clear that certain environmental things pushed them into those heinous crimes.
If there were more support in schools, churches, homes, communities, etc. much
of that behavior could me healed before it even devolved.
As a doctoral student in forensic psychology, I know that the nature/nurture debate of the school of psychology regarding deviant behaviors is almost age old. lol.
Some eastern cultures endorse astral projection
and transcendental mediation that enables feats akin to ESP (Extra Sensory
Perception). Would you say all these are in the vein of your spiritual view?
They are not things we teach or promote but if a person chose to do
so on their own, there is nothing that “forbids” or cautions against it. The
idea is each person has free will to practice and study as they see fit. Some
love The Course in Miracles teachings and find it in alignment with New Thought
and some do not. Some read the Bible in a metaphysical manner and some do not.
Some do chakra work and Reiki and some do not. In this way New Thought is
rather eclectic. In some ways it is life being a chef. There are certain
standards to what it means to be an Iron Chef for example but the Iron Chef
themselves may focus on certain cuisine in their own restaurants and lives.
Some are Italian food chefs, some Thai, others Mediterranean and others Indian,
… each using different spices and ingredients but still following certain
standards of practice per se.
Have you indulged in any of these feats?
If yes, what was it like?
Years ago I practiced lucid dreaming, several meditation
techniques, mudras, mantras, etc. and have episodes of clairvoyance, telepathy,
clairaudience, .. it was exhilarating
and scary because of the circumstances of my life at the time.
In retrospect, how has your life and
well-being been enhanced by your beliefs and practices?
I no longer suffer as I once did. I am very comfortable being who I
am and living as I live. I used to live in fear all the time! Fear of being
outed, fear of failing, fear of losing family members, fear of rejection,
abandonment, and of death. I am happier now than I ever thought possible. I am
doing what I love. Not to the degree that I want but it is growing. I was in
many ways one of the Walking Dead… I was people pleasing, codependent, porn
addicted, closeted, self-hating, self-loathing, a suicidally reckless person and
that person died several years ago. For the first time in my 54 years I love
myself, engage in radical self-care, am healthy and well mentally, spiritually,
relationally, financially, emotionally, and physically. Even amid the grief of
my mothers recent passing and my family’s betrayal and the distance with some
of my sons. Even amid all of that, which years ago would have tormented me, I
am well, thriving, and alive!
My condolences to your mother's passing.
That’s a laundry
list of issues you have overcome brother. We both know of people who have gone
through such, and ended up self-loathing and committing suicide. What would you
say to someone who may be going through some of what you went through, and is
at the brink of attempting suicide?
Give yourself the opportunity to see the light at the end of the
tunnel. Often we are sitting in the dark and see no way out, but when we give
ourselves the possibility of there maybe being help, or a way that is better,
the first step is made. Then seek support systems, like the alcoholic has AA,
seek someone who is there to help. A trusted friend, therapist, minister, …
someone who can listen without judgement and is willing and able to help find
the necessary answers to what caused the depression and suicidal ideations and
or attempts. Basically, it is giving yourself the opportunity when you feel
hopeless to be willing to have someone reintroduce hope into our lives. And then the real work begins
because then it is about structuring our lives in ways that offer continual
support, self-care, self-love, self-awareness, and the audacity to Thrive!
Thank you for those words of encouragement.
What exactly is a daily practice for you
that help to enhance your well-being?
Each day I do something for each of those areas I mentioned
previously: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, Financial, Relational.
When I wake up I journal my dreams and later meditation on what my
subconscious was offering me. I meditate and read first thing in the morning. I
do martial arts and workout. I pray throughout the day. I chat with close
friends and family, Tracy (my sister of choice) and I chat over dinner. Each
week I spend time with my oldest son, daughter in law, and three grandkids. I
do some creative things daily, like draw or digital sketches. I write and am
working on my third book. Later in the day I meditate again, I do Reiki before
bed. I walk and or ride my bike. Spend time in nature. Watch movies and
metaphysically analyze them for the spiritual lessons. I eat and drink higher
vibrational stuff as often as possible. I used to indulge in lots of comfort
eating and sugar and fat and went up to 300+ lbs as a result. That is all under
control now and I make more effective choices without needing to eat my
emotions. I spend time in contemplation.
Speaking of books, you have published a couple:
Do you actively proselytize? And what
would you say to people who believe that you should keep your beliefs to
yourself and not attempt to influence them?
No I do not. Each person has their own path. If people want to know
I will answer questions and share.
What’s your belief about life after
death? Heaven, hell, God, the devil and all that?
God cannot die so we cannot die. We change form. “What the
caterpillar calls death, the butterfly calls life.” Heaven nor hell are places
but rather are states of consciousness, many who are very alive are in hell.
God is all there is and there can be nothing other than or counter to it so
there is no devil. Metaphysically the devil is the choice to belief what is not
true about ourselves and our divinity. It is any lie that convinces us we are
separate from Spirit and anything / anyone else.
Some people say religion is the scourge
of the earth. That it has brought more discrimination, wars, deaths and pains
than anything else. What would you say to that?
Fundamental Religion based in Colonization has done just that. The
essence of what religion is and is supposed to be is about freedom not
enslavement. Any religion that separates, casts down, victimizes, traumatizes,
abuses power, is a religion led and promoted by men who desire to be and stay
in power.
We just experienced a pandemic, and a lot
of people were rattled to their core. How would you align that with your
spiritual views?
How would I align what with that? Them being rattled to the core?
People feel what they feel and what they feel is valid. If you feel fear,
anger, sadness, etc. all are valid feelings. The key thing is, what are you
choosing to do while feeling it. If a snake bites you, you can kill the snake
knowing it cannot bit you or anyone else again, however they most important
thing is, what do you do with the poison in your body now? How are you
navigating the sadness, anger, fear? Remaining a prisoner to it is not healthy.
How do you take care of yourself even while feeling all that you feel to your
core? New Thought is about putting into daily practice those things that
elevate consciousness and the quality of living for the individual and the
collective. New Thought as a liberation theology is the answer to all forms of
oppression.
What impact do you hope to make on the
earth, and what would you like people to remember you as/by?
Impact has already been made in the lives of the thousands of
students I have taught since 1983. The countless people in audiences when I
performed. The young men that became my sons and the influence they have in the
world. The people I have prayed and meditated with. Those who have watched
videos on my YouTube channel of my Sunday messages, prayers, meditations, etc. The
marriages I officiated. The Deaf people I interpreted for. The communities
where I was guest minister and where I now serve as Senior Minister. The people
who bought my artwork and hang it in their homes and offices.
I want to be known for and remembered as a man who is fun, funny,
loving, compassionate, caring, empathic, wise, thoughtful and though-provoking.
A man who walks the walk and has made the world a better place.
You mentioned your YouTube channel. I'll take the liberty of posting your social media info on here:
Website, Instagram 1, Instagram 2, Twitter, YouTube, Blog
CSL Website, CSL Instagram
Any last words to our readers?
Namaste and blessings!
Thank you for reading! 😊
