Growing up, religion seemed almost like a dirty word.  I associated religion with bloodshed, scandal, and corruption, and the word “God” had little meaning.  I referred to God as Nature and I thought of myself as an eternal spirit, proudly making the distinction when the occasion arose that I was “spiritual” and not “religious.”  Then came the moment I questioned my spirituality and my whole perspective of existance crumbled.  Uncomfortable as it was, putting it back together has been, and it still is, one of the most fulfilling activities that I am involved in.   In my blogs I will share with you the insights that I have gained and explore them in relation to current events.   In this blog I will share with you my thoughts on rediscovering the true meaning of religion.

 

True religion is the progressive experience of finding and knowing God, with the goal of becoming Godlike. Growth in God-consciousness through the harmonious development of cosmic insight, moral awareness, and spiritual perception, is the purpose of religion. Growth in God-consciousness is reflected in the quality of our decisions and interactions with one another.

 

The detrimental effects of forgetting the true meaning of religion are clearly evident throughout history.  When religion is perceived as a belief, institution, or system, it becomes fertile soil for corruption, manipulation, and divisiveness, and that is what leads to conflict.  Religious conflict is the eight-hundred pound gorilla sitting squarely in the middle of so many of history’s most horrific acts on humanity.  Kenneth C. Davis, author of America’s Hidden History explains that the underlying lesson that history has taught us is that people fear what they do not know, understand, or what is different.  This fear moves in tandem with the arrogant superiority that comes from the notion of possessing the exclusive truth.  Davis states that the presence of these volatile dynamics allows one group to demonize or dehumanize the other.  Firmly established, it becomes easy to hang people as heretics, burn them at the stake or in ovens, fly jetliners into their buildings, and bomb their railway stations.

 

When the true meaning of religion is forgotten or ignored, its institutions become inflexible and excluding, beliefs rigid and dividing, and its practices conditioned.   Decisions influenced by myopic and inaccurate beliefs are unable to garnish the power to transform or to advance spiritual unity and social progress.

 

Our society is currently staggering under the guilt of tolerating politics without principles, pleasure without self-control, wealth without work, knowledge without character, power without conscience, and industry without morality.  Our world is in crisis and in dire need of the progressive new and higher thinking that can successfully address the complex problems it faces.  Joshua Cooper Ramo author of the book The Age of the Unthinkable says of our leaders:  “…whether they are running corporations or foreign ministries or central banks, some of the best minds of our era are still in thrall to an older way of seeing and thinking.  They are making repeated misjudgments about the world.”

 

This observation is not only relevant in business, finance, and politics, but also in religion. Religious and spiritual leaders today are hanging on to ancient ways of seeing and thinking about our world – ways that hinder the development of a broader worldview able to support a growing spiritual nature. Leaders of all types shape and guide our history.  The soundness of their leadership and the effectiveness of their guidance in advancing peace and social progress is very much influenced by the accuracy of their image of the world– factually and philosophically.  

 

True religion is the progressive experience of becoming God-conscious, an experience that starts on Earth and continues through the multilevel universe to eternity.  As we grow in God-consciousness we expand the accuracy of our worldview; our reasoning becomes increasingly more objective, inclusive, moral, loving, and selfless.  As a result, decisions become more effective, socially progressive, and peace enhancing.  

 

The crisis in our world today makes it imperative for all of us, regardless of spiritual or religious orientation, to be open to expanding our understanding  of religion and making adjustments to our philosophy of living.  Social progress and advancement in peace will be the fruits of our courageous efforts.  To refuse this opportunity is to leave the task to the next generation.