Controversial me?
It’s come to my attention that some of the beliefs I hold- despite seeming like basic common sense and justice/human rights in my own mind. - go somewhat against the mainstream in this society. I don’t know if it’s related to a background of faith (don’t think so), or a love of Eastern culture (clashes with Western patriarchy and control?), or maybe it is something in my parent’s backgrounds and thus, how I was raised.
Either way, I’m starting to think I’m in a minority and my opinions are not always welcome 
Maybe I need to write a creed of beliefs. This is a creed related to a few issues that have arisen lately…
I do believe in God. I don’t know what else surrounding God I really ascribe to these days in relation to the Christian church, but I believe in God who is creative and creating and good.
I believe that people are not born into equal opportunities in this world but are equally valuable.
I believe that whatever way you sugar-coat it, hitting/smacking/slapping a child is abusive to someone who is powerless and deserves protection.
I believe that people seeking safety and a chance at building a life are welcome here, no matter how they managed to get here.
I believe that breasts are made for breastfeeding where it is possible and those who choose not to breastfeed because boobs are for sexual pleasure only need to re-evaluate creation and the wonders of it.
I believe that friendship in it’s true form comes to life in times of isolation and need. Whatever the alternative is shows its face at the same time.
I believe that children have a need to be close to their primary care-givers and that our society obsession with individual rooms, cots, prams, car seats, bouncers etc (and ultimate “they need to learn” attitude) – undermine a child’s interaction and closeness that they so desperately require.
I believe that Facebook is fantastically helpful for connecting with friends and fantastically full of crap if the 200+ people I seem to have listed as “friends” really are friends. Half of them don’t know me or anything about me….we’ve not talked on there and are unlikely to. We also don’t share much or any of my creed in common! So I’m deleting 
Sorry. It’s liberating though.
In spite of loving my medical friends as valued friends, I believe Western medicine has it’s head up it’s bum on oh-so-many issues. It is NOT wholistic and does not serve a whole person, no matter how life-saving it can be in a crisis. I believe our Western medics need a revolution of mind-expansion out of the world of fear and control and into the world of wholeness and flexibility.
So. That’s me for the moment I’m sure I’ll come up with more of the creedal opinions of Rah very soon, LOL.
I like your view on things Sarah. They usually lean toward the more compassionate way of viewing the world. I think we all would be better off if the mainstream society would start to think a little more like you
Awwww
Funny how I might be seen as being critical of “non-compassionate” people in that regard then. LOL. Compassionate AND critical. Nice mix 
Keep going Sarah…more of your creed would be great. Love the photo!
My knowledge of Eastern (and what culture are you referring to by Eastern?) culture is not great, but my impressions lead me to question whether ‘Eastern’ culture is any less patriarchal than the culture of the West, as it seems that significant patriarchal values are built into Indian\Hindu and Asian\Buddhist societies. This is not to say that these societies and their cultures don’t have anything to offer the rest of the world in terms of moral or spiritual insight, they do, and undoubtedly you love them because of this, yet I think some Westerners tend to develop a rosy coloured image of Eastern society and culture from the selective literature they read on the subject (my aunt is really into Eastern culture also) and then view the West negatively, ignoring all the accomplishments and insights into life that the West has to offer, or even denying it has anything to offer. It seems that in certain circles it’s not so fashionable to be pro Western. Undoubtedly this is partly due to the significant harm Western societies have done to the world historically and at present, but I think there’s something else to it. I think we can take Western culture for granted, and so easily dismiss or ignore it when we see something we like in another culture and want to embrace that
This goes for Western vs. Eastern medicine as much as for Western vs. Eastern ethics\spirituality. Maybe Western medicine is not supposed to be wholistic, maybe it’s just supposed to treat the ailments of the body, not the soul, and the problem is that people want it to, but you can’t fix everything with a pill or surgery or the right diet. As for the spanking issue, I haven’t decided, partly because it’s not my job at present, but my sister has a different view to your own, adopting the principle that if you’re doing it for you rather than the child, then you shouldn’t do it, but if it’s necessary for the safety of the child (say if they’re getting into something that could be harmful to them, or if they decide to run off, or out onto a street, or going to touch hot liquid or objects say) then it is the lesser of two evils. As for the relationship between your faith background and your values, why is it that you feel this relationship is not significant? I would have thought it was since in my life these two things are very closely related. I can agree with points 1,2 and 4, I hope that’s enough to stop you deleting our friendship status on facebook
Hey Rah, just love what you’ve written here… can’t seem to remember to look at this regularly, but your creed of beliefs is so spot on! I love they way you’ve worded it, with perfect resonance or something… whatever, totally resonates with me! fancy that!x