My Taboos

I did mention to you that I had Philosophy at HKU, didn't I?
Yes, I had courses in Psychology, Ethics, Logic, and Philosophy -  studies regarding human behavior and human reasoning - virtue, morality, justice, beauty, equality, the soul, the cosmos . . .
I do not profess to understand all of the aspects of these topics, but I do think they helped to shape me as I am today. Though for a long time, I had strayed  - by Not Thinking at all. I was too busy tackling my day-to-day life. And, don't we all? It is much easier to Not Think.

Remembering some of the sayings and teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, the Greek philosophers; the sayings and teachings of Confucius and Lao-tse, the Chinese philosophers; or even the reasoning of Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher (I don't recall too much of his philosophy or his reasoning these days, though I had to study Him in my Third year at HKU); and may be teachings of some others, I live my life. These sages and their thoughts and teachings have etched in my brain, though for a long time they stayed dormant at the back of my mind.

I now live in the Bible belt, nevertheless, my thoughts are independent, much to the horror of some of my friends and neighbors. My motto is: 
I respect whatever believe that you have and hope you do the same to me. 
And, I do to the others as I wish them do unto me - my Chinese Confucius upbringing.

One of my daughters said to me one time, "Mom, you never taught us much about religion." 
True, I don't believe in organized religion. I am religious to the point if you mean that I am 
    Faithful,
    Scrupulous
    and Conscientious (being religious according to the dictionary).
And I acknowledge that there are somethings neither you nor I or anyone on earth can explain. So call it Super Power, God, Heaven, or whatever you wish.
So, I think I really have taught you Religion, my dear, because I think I have taught you to be faithful, scrupulous, and conscientious.

Now, I have broken one of my Taboos! 
I do not normally discuss religion, politics, or sex with anyone. One out of three. Oh, well. You have to take me as I am, and at eighty-five, I have earned the Right to be me. Don't you think?

And to think, I was heading towards Edinburgh, Scotland, one of the most religious part of the British Isles at that time. In days past, they were not even allowed to smile on Sundays!