“Does all this mean certain ‘traits’ follow us through a constant cycle of life and death?”

“Every soul carries with it the memories and characteristics developed during its ‘own’ mortalities and to a lesser extent, the characteristics of its various ‘mortal parents’ throughout its journey on the ‘Path of Souls’.  These ‘experiences’ are what feed the growth and development of its evolution, and the knowledge it acquires on the journey is never lost.  It is only a question of how much a soul can ‘subconsciously’ remember in each mortal cycle.  The more ‘harmonic’ the soul, the greater its ability to use the skills developed in previous cycles.”

His words remind me of an experiment I’d read about, where birds were hatched in isolation to see how much knowledge, if any, they were born with.  It was found ‘all of them’ knew the songs that were unique to their species, and amazingly, the variations ‘specific’ to the section of the field they were taken from.  After reading this it made me wonder…  If the birds can be born with a song, why can’t we?

But in spite of ‘everything’ he’s shown me, the concept of ‘reincarnation’ is such a fundamental shift in my view on existence I’m struggling to come to terms with it.  I’ve never agreed with ‘any faiths’ belief they are right and everyone else is wrong, and even armed with the knowledge that ‘I myself’ have been subjected to years of religious indoctrination, it’s still a battle for me to accept anything that conflicts or questions the ‘faith’ I was born into  The ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality is very hard to lose once it’s taken root…  My questioning of this makes me question ‘everything’ that happening, even my own sanity.  The big problem here is it all feels ‘so damn real’.  I take ‘another’ deep breath before continuing… “Ok…”

“How is it possible after being shown the ‘truth’ of the suffering you have caused others to be so untouched and unconcerned?”

I ask… “What happens to make people like this?”

“Extreme emotion, be it positive or negative ‘needs to be experience’ to allow souls to define and develop themselves. Those who lack the skills or willingness to cultivate a positive life experience turn to the destructive power of extreme negative emotional experiences to satisfy this need.  Once this happens, the only way to justify the suffering ‘they’ inflict on others is by transferring the blame away from themselves.  The circle of lies is cold comfort, but comfort non the less.

“But ‘why’ must there be a witness to acts of evil?”

He finally stirs from his silence and replies “I am the one who bears witness.  I am the one who shows souls the truth of their decisions, and through these actions, I am the one who becomes the ‘final hope’ for those with ‘no hope’.  Their last chance for change.”

‘The ‘final’ hope for those with no hope’, I think I understand now but honestly  don’t know whether to feel admiration or pity for his sacrifice… “Do many change once they have seen the truth” I ask.

“The stronger the delusion, the less chance for change, the closer to Oblivion.”

‘But isn’t this a description of madness?”

“Acts of madness ‘no matter how grotesque’ are made innocently and without malice.  Acts of evil, justified and driven by ‘self delusion’ are made by rational, calculating intelligence.”

…what does ‘Lucifer’ get out of all of this?”

Everything goes quiet.  I hear the ‘voice’ again, only this time it’s much clearer, sharper, almost as if it’s closer to me, or maybe I’m closer to it…

…”Ask not what Lucifer will gain, but instead ask what, through his ‘own choice,’ he has forever sacrificed.  For his ‘love’ and ‘hope’ for the life contained within creation, he forsake his place on the ‘right hand of god’, to spend eternity as a beacon of light to those lost in the darkness on the ‘Path to Oblivion.’  This decision he may reverse at any time but will not, for he knows another must take his place in eternal solitude, far from gods grace.”

The voice fades away and we are alone again.  “I am so… sorry” I say ” I didn’t understand…” He doesn’t reply….

A long time passes before I speak again but I need to understand ‘this’ so ask…

“And what of the search for “perfect harmony…”

…I ask, “Where can we find guidance if not from the scriptures?”

“Guidence comes from within and the search for perfect harmony begins with acceptance of the knowledge that ‘people’ and the beliefs they hold are imperfect.  Herein lies the answer to your question.  For the greater part of perfection in ‘oneself’ is the acceptance of imperfection in ‘others’.” He replies.

I can feel my anger and frustration slowly being drained away by Lucifer’s inescapable ‘ cold hard’ logic and don’t like it so decide to change the subject before he checkmates me. “So what do you want…

“What purpose do belief systems serve beyond their own?”

“They form the basis of ‘all’ civilisations with their message of harmony.  Even the most bloodthirsty societies still have social structures organised around belief systems that allow individual development, leading to greater levels of knowledge and development of the society as a whole.” he replies.

Maybe I’m just angry at all the trouble I see in the world created, and justified in the name of religion.  Maybe I’m still angry at my fathers priest.  I’m not sure, but for whatever reason I want to reject this in its entirety so ask “But why does it go… so wrong, so often!”

“The pitfall of ‘blind faith’ for those seeking guidance through the words of ‘scripture’, and ignoring their own ‘innate’ sense of right and wrong is in blinding themselves to the ‘inescapable fact’ that scripture is ‘always an interpretation’ of another’s words from a time long gone, and as such, its translation ‘must be questioned’ as to its relevance to oneself and to the society it is being applied to.  For as the light of knowledge illuminates the path ahead.  Religious ‘dogma’, although once acting as a guide, now only acts to darkens the path the further it moves away from its point of origin.

“Are we born with original sin?”

“Original sin is a human concept used by the ‘righteous’ to control the innocent.  Real sin are the wars the ‘righteous’ enforce on the masses.  Real sin is the mutilation and abuse of children by the ‘righteous’ in the name of religion.  Real sin is the belief of the ‘righteous’ that only they hold the truth. The evil committed by the ‘righteous’ in the name of god is ‘real sin’, and at the final reckoning they ‘will’ face the truth and consequences of their own actions.  For I am the witness who will show them the truth of what ‘they’ have done to others.”

His words take my thoughts back to my fathers funeral.  I remember wanting to scream my anger at the priest for asking the congregation to pray forgiveness of him for his sins, and for his soul’s entry into heaven.  My father was a good man, and had done ‘nothing’ that needed forgiving.  That was the day I lost my religion.  That was the day I found my faith.  I no longer had any time for the men who told me my children were tainted with the sins of Adam and Eve.  I had learned to listen to my heart, and quite simply, try my best to do the right thing.