Russell Gregory doesn't follow just one path but five religions to create his own system of beliefs.

RADFORD -- Religion can be a sensitive subject for some.

The way a person lives his or her life can be imprisoned or liberated by his or her spiritual beliefs.

A professor of religious studies at Radford University, Russell Gregory doesn't follow just one path, but five.

The "Zen Buddhist Daoist Jewish Baptist agnostic storyteller" takes elements of different religions to create his own system of beliefs.

His office on Howe Street is overfilled with cinderblock bookshelves brimming with a mixture of literature.

"The Zen Alarm Clock," "After-Dinner Shakespeare," "The Gnostic Bible" and "Appetizers and Small Meals" stick out clumsily, as if recently touched.

The sound of bluegrass funnels through the room, and signs from home such as pictures and cards from family fill the office with a bit of personality.

Coffee pots, chocolates and snack food litter the floor, along with statues and busts of religious archetypes.

You can barely see what color the carpet is, if there even is any.

Gregory's religious beliefs are as eclectic as his tastes.

He grew up in "America's Model City," Midwest City, Okla., and was raised Southern Baptist.

After graduating from high school, he decided to attend Oklahoma Baptist University, which led him on a path to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he got the majority of his theological, biblical and practical education.

His Southern Baptist roots were being challenged as he attended graduate school at Vanderbilt University, where he delved into the study of the Hebrew Bible.

As he read more, he was so intrigued that he called himself a "Jewish Baptist" and began on a journey that would take him away from his traditional belief set but at the same time enrich it with newfound insight.

Susan Kwilecki, a Radford professor of religious studies, met Gregory when she enrolled in the religious studies master's program at Vanderbilt.

"He was the only person I recall who consistently represented positive humanity; he was an oasis of warmth, trustworthiness, humor, openness and good will."

Kwilecki's experience as Gregory's colleague at Radford has been a continuation of those initial feelings.

"Life is a series of moments, and people gifted with the ability to lighten the moments of those they meet are invaluable. Russell is one of those persons."

While completing his graduate degree from Vanderbilt, Gregory taught at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., for a year before ending up at Radford University.

As he taught, he found more insights and teachings and added them to his own "spiritual quest."

Buddhism captivated him. The practicality of Buddha's insights expanded his way of thought yet strengthened the roots of his Baptist beliefs.

A statue of the Buddha sits in the floor of Gregory's office.

"It was carved in Tibet or Nepal, one of the two, so it's the real thing," he said.

His wife gave it to him for Christmas last year. After receiving the gift and walking downstairs with it, his mother, who was visiting from Oklahoma, had an ashen look on her face.

"All I ask is that you not bow down to it," she said.

Gregory chuckled to himself. The response seems to be a typical one in his family.

Once, when asked by his father why he told so many Buddhist stories, Gregory replied, "because they make sense to me."

But Buddhist stories aren't the only ones that make sense. Gregory draws wisdom and truth from the parables, Daoist stories and many others.

Gregory believes that while all of these stories sound so different, they all seem to point to a common truth.

When people find out that he is a "Zen Buddhist Daoist Jewish Baptist agnostic" they may think he's just "out there," being obnoxious or just trying to be a good teacher.

But if people really know him, they'll realize that the words don't define the man.

The self-given title not only represents his own pilgrimage or growth, but is also used to show people how labels are inaccurate. "I'm really more than that," he said. "These are just some words I throw up there, just like when I use the word 'God' or 'afterlife.' Those aren't really concrete, they're just pointing to a belief."

Once, a conservative student asked: "Isn't that impossible, to be a Christian and a Buddhist at the same time? You can't give allegiance to Buddha and God at the same time."

Gregory replied: "I'm not giving allegiance to the Buddha, I'm learning from his insights, like you would from a Sunday school teacher."

Aside from Zen Buddhism, Gregory was influenced by Daoism while teaching at Radford.

"Daoism points to our place in the larger framework of the natural world," he said.

The natural aspects of Daoism pointed back to Gregory's Christian influence, taking Daoist stories and relating them to the first chapter of Genesis.

To these insights and beliefs Gregory also added agnosticism to his path.

"We can never know all there is to know," Gregory said.

So, beyond all his faith in his many beliefs, there is still a sense of doubt and wonder.

But Gregory is a storyteller at heart.

He teaches by telling stories, jokes and analogies -- anything to relate the material to his students in a meaningful way. He also learns best by stories.

"I can be logical and I can listen to all that stuff, but I'm best when I understand and have a story," he said.

Radford sophomore Niki Badillo has experienced Gregory's style of teaching first-hand.

Badillo said Gregory takes interest in his students and what they are involved in at Radford.

"He is funny and sometimes goes for the shock value, which keeps people interested and talking about his class," Badillo said.

"Before class he will talk to students about the sporting event or theater production he saw them in recently."

When you set out on a trip, you generally have a final destination in mind.

In Gregory's case, that final destination is truth. His journey has been a winding one, but it isn't over yet.

After retiring from teaching, Gregory plans to focus on his writing.

"I probably have about 140 poems I've written, so one thing I can do is revise those," he said. "Some need a lot of attention and others just need tweaking."

Gregory also has ideas for writing about his teaching experiences, as well as fiction.

Aside from writing, Gregory plans to devote time to another passion he has neglected over the years -- his two electric guitars.

"I'd like to relearn some of my repertoire and go around and sing and perform," he said. "I've even had dreams of playing rhythm guitar in a rock 'n' roll band."

Storytelling in churches is also something Gregory is interested in doing when he retires from teaching.

Retelling his version of biblical stories and going back to the oral tradition of religion has been something Gregory has always wanted to do.

"It kept religion alive and active," he said. "When you write religion down, it stops growing."

While the mixture of his religious beliefs isn't exactly orthodox, Gregory's views are admirably honest.

Religion is all about worldview, the way you look at the world and make sense of it. In the end, he is headed towards what he thinks is "not the truth."

"Truth is not the possession of one nation, one group of people or one religion," he said. "I think it's free. We all claim to have it in our corral, but it's not. It's running free."