Charles William (Bill) Johnson-Miles earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Humanities from the University of the State of New York’s Regents College (now Excelsior College) in 1996. The degree includes two required depth fields. One is in Journalism and the other is in Religion and Philosophy. While Journalism has been his career for more than 30 years, Religion and Philosophy have been among his passions.

The shop owner and author spent the first years of his life in Texas where he was baptized in the Methodist Church. At the age of six, his family moved to a small town on the southern Oregon coast, where they attended an Open Bible Church. One summer the shopkeeper earned a new bible after completing a youth bible study summer camp. Reading had become a joy and the stories in the bible seemed rich and adventurous. Church activities dwindled after the family moved to the Portland area following the author’s 12th birthday. Both parents worked and their jobs now quite often included Sunday shifts. The author did attend a Presbyterian Church every once in a while with friends during his high school years.

Attending Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, began to open the author’s eyes to the world. Here he met many people with different cultures, religions and faiths, and from different parts of the world. Besides courses in journalism, television, communications and public relations, the shopkeeper also completed classes in philosophy and comparative religions. These along with courses in history and archaeology started to unveil the truth. While attending college, the author worked on the university radio station and student newspaper, eventually becoming it’s co-editor. He was also a member of the Cultural Committee and quite often could be found at the college theater or even the local community theater, helping out with productions, plays and shows.

During this period he also worked part time as a Portland taxicab driver, eventually becoming full time, providing him another kind of education. In this occupation he met people from all walks of life. The job gave the author an appreciation for people of all social levels, races, cultures and sexual orientation. But the job wasn’t a career, so to finish his education and to satisfy his yearning to see the world, the cab driver became a Sailor.

The shopkeeper served for 20 years as a Navy Journalist, earning many honors as a writer, editor and video story producer, including the Thomas Jefferson award, the highest communication award in the Department of Defense. He also earned the 2002 International Mercury Excellence “Grand Winner” award for Best Feature Article.

Deployments and tours of duty during his military career took him around the world with stops in 17 different countries. In Singapore he toured a Buddhist temple. In Bahrain he was invited to visit a mosque. In Hungary he invited himself to a religious wedding celebration. In Salzburg, Austria, the author experienced the Maximushöhle caves, also know as the Catacombs of Salzburg, a secret place of worship dating back to the third century. Cathedrals throughout Europe were a favorite attraction for the shopkeeper, who also spent some time in Rome visiting the Forum and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City.

He found the different cultures, faiths and people all fascinating and has learned much about the sacred planet and global village during his Navy travels. The Navy also helped to pay for college classes during the journey and the author earned his BS degree in 1996, one year after marrying the love of his life. He retired from the Navy in 2003, worked for three years in public affairs for a small city in the Los Angeles area, and is currently editing a magazine for the Marine Corps in Northern Virginia.

The author’s two brothers still live in Oregon and one is the pastor of a “Praise Chapel” church in Portland.