Steve, what you say is in one way surprising. America tends to be far less bound to tradition than the old Europe, but in this aspect maybe it is doing worse.
I've Always imagined America like the place where innovation and new ideas in all fields are accepted and welcome, so maybe I was thinking about California in particular. It is sad to hear that across the board in matters of religion it's the other way around.
Here in Italy the Catholic culture is of course very strong and the bible is also king, or queen in this case. But I do not pay attention to it. Some people are skeptics or atheists, some others are Catholic but do not practice. I was one of the rare exceptions who welcomed eccentric and out of the ordinary ideas. A misfit according to some, a wise one according to an objective view. Well, I know the latter may sound a self praise but it is not, I'm simply realizing that religion-wise I had the gift of a developed discrimination. In other things I didn't but in this fortunately I've been lucky.
Yes I would say so; to go against the grain and find your own way. I read this about lesson 98 and it seems to apply to you since you have found your own environment here at this forum as an example.
Lesson 98
First, the evil thought in a individual leads him to an evil environment to express himself in like manner. Then again, another free act of will, he can change his mind and consequently change his environment. But when one constantly remains mentally in an evil environment , that environment b begins to strongly affect him and to exert an almost unconscious upon him, and in time he almost entirely loses his freedom to choose a different environment or the power to become free from the resented, undesirable influence over the specific evil environment.
Mccoy
You have quite a chance to expose yourself to a different environment when Amma comes to Italy in Nov 2016. 😇 Hope you take advantage of it! I can't begin to tell you how such change of environments has changed my life! If u should ever decide to come to the states again let me know. It would nice to spend time with you as we do here!
om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
