Through the years I have studied various religions intently. Primarily I’ve studied the various sects of Christianity, however, I have also investigated Wicca, Judaism, Muslim, and many others. Throughout my studies I’ve noticed one very common similarity in all of these religions. They tend to divert one’s focus away from truth and toward their own form of control over the individuals.
Perhaps most people in the western world were raised as either Christian or Muslim. If not there is certainly enough exposure, especially to Catholicism, that people have a basic idea of their teachings. Traditional Christianity follows it’s cannons over independent thought. This is the same with Judaism, Muslims, Wicca, and every other religion I have looked into. Now there is nothing wrong with traditions and traditional teachings. As an Anglican priest once told me, “The stations of the cross don’t bring forgiveness or salvation. They only remind us of the suffering of the Christ that brings salvation to us all.”
In lay terms, ceremonies and practices don’t do anything. They only remind us of what we have been taught. The “born again” Christian who claims that saying a certain prayer “saves your soul” is no different. The ceremonial actions are empty in all faiths unless they can bring about the mental and emotional stimulation within to create activities of value. Things that can truly change the world and make this a better planet to live on.
Religion isn’t a bad thing as it helps us to connect with our spiritual selves but religion and spirituality are not the same things. Religion is a set of practices and beliefs that assist us in connecting with our spiritual selves. Spirituality is the ability to know and comprehend that we are more than mere flesh and blood animals who are only on this planet for a short time and then cease to exist. Spirituality is that which causes the most devout atheist to feed the poor and educate the less fortunate. It is this essence that religion was created to try to connect with. It is this higher self that spirituality connects with and brings into the comprehension of the basic animal called man.
Whether you be Wicca, Christian, Atheist, or any other religion I salute you if, and only if, you can grasp that hatred is “sin” in any form including the many forms of assault on each others beliefs. If you are Christian merely to assault Muslims and attempt to convert them (or verse visa) then you are NOT Christ like for the Christ taught us to love ALL of man regardless of their beliefs. He demonstrated practically how we are to transcend the ideologies of this world and be loving spiritual beings. So I implore you to use your religions for honorable purposes and demonstrate the Christ like spirit of love and forgiveness for all mankind. Beginning of course with yourself.
Rob
