Contrary to popular belief, spirituality and religion are similar yet very different.
Spirituality in my mind is a connection with a higher power, whatever you call it—God, the universe, your guardian angels, a positive life force, etc.
Religion is typically organized and follows a relatively specific path of ideas and beliefs. Catholicism is a religion. Islam is a religion. Judaism is a religion.
Where it all gets blurry is in our culture.
There are so many books out there fueling the debate. God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens is a perfect example of how misleading this whole discussion is. If you read the book, you’ll realize actually what he is criticizing is organized religion, not necessarily or primarily God/the universe/a higher power/spirituality.
Of course, spirituality and religion can and do intermingle in a lot of people. While my personal beliefs stray away from organized religion and more toward the spiritual end of things, I think embracing religion is wonderful, as along as it only involves love (the true basis for all religious belief) and not extremism.
The bottom line is this: I’d like to see more people unite and work together rather than have hate and wars because of conflicting religious—or spiritual—beliefs.
What’s your take on spirituality versus religion?
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I’m glad I chose to read this one. Nice work!
Thank you for this info! I enjoyed it.
The catholics have killed murdered tortured raped tormented and abused more people than all the other religions put together,yet they will be in charge of the new world order That leaves you with two choices,man or the Heavenly Father of all that is all.Sunday the worship of the sun will become official,Saturday our creators holy day will be upheld by few.
Thank you, Kay, for making that distinction. I was raised a Christian and when I was eighteen I was privileged and honored to experience Oneness and what it meant for me as a human being. I found no scripture in the Bible at the time that spoke of this, so I made my own quest, eventually discovering that Love is the purpose, the Journey, and the Destination. Love and Light
Does anyone know a verse or section in the Bible about Oneness?
Best definition I have ever heard is: "Religion is when you believe someone else's experiences; Spirituality is when you believe your own experiences." Have no idea who said it.
Religion was created by man and has it's limitations, just like everything else created by man. God wishes to have an intimate relationship with us, which does not have anything to do with religion. It requires time spent with Him, not just attending a religious service. When we spend time in God's presences listening as well as speaking, we will be a blessing to the people we come in contact with as we walk this earth. My definition of spiritually is acting and reacting to every sitation in the manner that is pleasing to God.
I use to be a devoted Christian and kept my faith for 57 yrs, no matter what had happened, many good and many bad times. It was my personal experience that what i found is that the new age bibles are rewritten. Look closely in your mirror, it's the way the bible is, i reversed all that was said in the new testament, it is said in reverse of what is written. It's a mirror of Old and New testament and what i saw is the truth in the old testament, man made a lie in the new testament to keep you from knowing God's truth and to belive a lie. My real God is in me as i am in him, God is my heart felt lifegiving spirit. We all have an inherent belief in our hearts, search the heart God gave you and ask him questions in YOUR HEART, who else better would you believe in as what is in YOUR heart, would you purposely hurt yourself? All other people do not walk in your shoes, only you do. Look deep within YOU alone and not find answers in others, just YOU….you are love when your born into this world, by Love you shall grow in all you do. Obey your Heart, your God is with you from Birth LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS YOURSELF
BTW i was also brought up catholic, i only believe in 1 God, he that is in me an i in him……LOVE
The HOLY Bible is NOT religion, it is the inspired living breathing word of God. All of it’s content backs itself up time and time again. It is the living word of God because it speaks to each of us the same, but differently, that is if we take the time to read it and pray to Him! We are his children and he is our God, that is whether we accept him or not, it does not matter what is IS! This I have learned and studied on my own, ask questions, yes it is true that religion nearly killed Christianity, most all of your churches know and aknowledge that now, but don’t be fooled like the people in the Old Testament, they were fooled by their hearts, wanting to be what they wanted, and remember the great deceiver, Satan, he came to seek, kill, and destroy, he makes evil look fun!
There is "Spirituality and Religion" in one's knowing. It's only up to the individual in the way they choose. Many seek to find what's missing and look to religion as an external savior to comfort and protect in who they are to trust. This helps govern them by an idealism of their faith and beliefs and that's find for those who only know this. We are not here to judge their knowing.
Whilst others know, there's no need to seek as one already knows what they have, without having to prove it. This is what I call Spirituality. It touches the part where it's only given when you surrender to the true Self.
Many see outside themselves in search for the elusive meaning to life, where others look from within and discover the meaning.
It's been there from our moment of inception, yet to discover this knowing one first must go through the trials and tribulation of life before we can unlock what's been there all the time.
God is our selves, God is all, and we are all with one GOD!
Thank you for allowing me to share with you.
Exactly what I experienced at nineteen; knowingness. Everything important is within us and has been since birth. As Marianne Williamson said it, “Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we have leaned here. Our spiritual journey here is the unlearning of fear and the acceptance of love back in our hearts.” Or re-discovering it. Love and Light
Hi, I have a very hard time with religion! My family tells me I am very spiritual. I have a knowing inside me that God is within me and loves me and all,everybody. Yes, I believe that GOD loves ALL!! Even the evil ones, the murders and the child abusers. I can not believe that GOD forsakes anyone, I try to be a good, kind person,and loving also. I try to always speak my truth, which may not be someone else's truth. But I respect that, and do not have a need to change people's ideas about what is their truth. I found over the years that people in churches will not accept you if you do not act like them or accept their truth as your own. I am my own person, with my own ideas. I decide who I am, no one else! Peace and Love to all!!
Donna, you may be looking in the wrong churches. There are churches of most of the main-stream religions that are very open and accepting–they usually call themselves “reconciling” congregations–also the Unitarians, and many congregations formed under a banner such as “Unity”. I have not found it necessary to leave my organized church (which is a reconciling congregation), and still find nurture in the rituals and message. I respect that there are others in the congregation that do not feel as I do and do not receive the nurture in the same sense as I do, but they let me be me, and I respect their boundaries as well. There is so much strength in being part of a supportive, caring, congregation. Try again.
I have a question? I feel invaded by forces of both light and dark. Seems to affect my life abilities and my wholeness. I have experienced much of value in my studies but this is a huge stumbling block for me. Can anyone give me insight – what am I doing wrong.
Charl, I know where you are comming from because I lived in the same place for years. What I found out was the brighter the light the denser the shadows. It wasn't until I realized that by Feeding the darker influences thru my fear of them and giving them attention that made them stronger and more disruptive in my life. Try to intentionally focus your energy and thoughts deep into the light, while acknowledging that these forces exist. Make clear your choice not to participate with them each and every time they appear. This will weaken any influence they may have and allow you to reclaim your own power. Awareness of something doesnt mean you must embrace or allow it space in your heart.
Thanks to both of you. I have started exercise incl. gym and yoga but thought these forces might demand my inner attentions.
They were with me again last nite. The dialogue goes like this. Last time one threatened with a rifle about to come off his back while the other said I'd better run. This time I asked that one what had been told to him by the other. I said he's not always totally truthful and he said he'd keep that in mind. The other said to him "friend!!" sure. I was invited to the party with them and a woman but I faded back and choose not to go. I never know if these are real or not but I do know some things that were are ending to make room for the changes that have happened in me. The acceptance of exclusion. Yet I felt them again and felt sad. They themselves are not always the best of friends, doing all kinds of fighting and competeing and abuse to each other. I don't know if they will leave me alone or come back but thanks Lee and Beth. thanks.
Charl, life is light and dark for all of us. You are not alone in that; the depth of either state varies from person to person, but we all walk in the dark occasionially. There are some things to consider, however, that might be helpful in your search to change the formula.
The spiritual side of you, the "spark within" that is the gift of humanness, is always looking for the light, so give it some help –at night, praise the light in each day and dwell lightly on what you might have done to ameliorate the dark, but don't dwell on it.
Each morning,give yourself fifteen minutes or so of quiet time to look at the day ahead. To help yourself on this journey, join a group of positive thinkers–like a spiritual formation group that focuses on growth of the individual, not a "support" group that sometimes emphasizes the problems to be faced.
Exercise, flex your body. Health is one of the disciplines of spiritual formation. It is not a coincidence that yoga, tai chi, and other body disciplines are coupled with a religion or spiritual philosophy.
"Invaded" is a strong descriptor. If either state, downs or ups, are interfering with your life, do not hesitate to start a conversation with a professional to guide you. A helpful thought for me, and perhaps may give your cycles some clarity is a quote from Kahlil Gibran in his classic, The Prophet, "Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was often filled with your tears."
Search your own Heart, that is the center of anyone’s universe. Ask questions about you alone, and leave the outside influence alone, Jesus was an example as to what we all went thru in our live’s. Seek your own heart out first, and first love yourself as to WHO YOU are, Love is the center of all of us, we only want to be loved, so think of that as a beginning of your own awareness, not to change others but change comes from within. By his stripe’s you are healed? No by your own undoing you have caused yourself, FREE WILL is your choice, not jesus, he was an example for us to reach your god on your own. Love one another AS yourself. Kevin
It's interesting isn't it that we selfishly want to be loved. That am I. Looking for love in all the wrong places. Exploring it in all it's dimensions. Sometimes now that I know love is, I wonder how to connect with it more than I do. How to feel it within this sense of unworth and unforgivingness and all that.
A site called http://www.PamRagland.com is very informative, and i also purchased some cd's from her site. The point being what i got from her site was very spiritual for myself. It is a site that you do not have to purchase anything, other than if you choose to do so. What i got for free was well worth the purchase of the discs after what i received. It may not be for everyone but in my case it was. It's a start for those who open their hearts to their own god or beliefs, it does not push you into religion. By the way i am in no way am associated with her site other than stumbling onto it. I do endorse her site and freely paid for the cd's. I am very grateful to my God who love's me and whom i Love unconditionally, including my fellow Man and Women and Children. Love one another as yourself, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. no religion, just pure love (8)
I believe if the organized religion is based on love it is a good thing. But when it gets extreme is not. There have been more wars over organized religion than over anything else. And, the minute people start discussing it, it can get very heated. Which I don’t understand at all. Isn’t there one God? Aren’t we all connected to the same energy and light. I believe there are many forms of evil that appear as organized religion but there are also many wonderful organized religions. I think the word Namaste covers it. The light in me honors the light in you. We are all one on this planet and should not forget it. If everyone would follow that I believe there would be no more wars over religion.
Ginger, nice name, nice picture, nicely put – my thoughts also this very day.
Thank you for the phrase “the light in me honors the light in you.” This is a good forum in which to discuss our pathways to a good life–and that, for me, does not include discussing the pros and cons of “organized religion.” In some stages of growth, people need to feel that their path is THE right one, and therefore, will argue on that point. To no avial, of course, and leading only to steamed up arguers!
We all, probably, have got a bit of it right–more as we grow in faith and discuss the path we are laying, stone by stone, prayer by prayer with other seeking the same goal. It may be as simple as the childhood song “Let your little light shine”–the element that I believe makes us human is this longing within for good; keeping that alive in each of us leads to our better ability to help our neighbor keep his/her light going. Does that make sense?
There is a great difference between spirituality and religion.Spirituality is freedom,openness,a willingness to receive all the wonderful things life has to show us.Religion is bondage to doctrine set out by others. I am73yrs old.At the age of 10yrs,i became involved in a religion,spent much of my childhood,all of my youth,and much of my adult life in the church,thought i had been converted,saved.I preached the gospel,sang in the church,and thought Jesus was all i needed in life.Then one day i woke up,saw what was really true I HAD BEEN BRAINWASHED.I was believing what i had been taught to believe,and doing what i had been taught to do.A LIGHT CAME ON IN MY SOUL.i suddenly felt free,and open to so much wonder.Some speak of the joy of conversion. I SPEAK OF THE JOY OF BEING SET FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF RELIGION.follow your heart,believe what the universe shows you to be true,instead of believing blindly in the teachings of any religion.
.,,
To Elizabeth, i too went the gammit of religion, and found the very same thing you had happen to me, the Light turned on, the sins i commited were spoken outloud to my family, now i am truly free to live life to it's fullest, if i make a mistake i will embrace it and then stop what i did and make it right. Love conquers ALL. May all people be blessed with truth, not religion. Love from the center of your being…my God in me as i am in him, therefore i am Grateful. I am a 55 yr. young Man Kevin
Elizabeth, This is just what happened with my father when I was in high school. The church’s teachings that he adhered to said that divorce was wrong. Well, in order for my mom and dad to get baptized in this particular church, my father would have to leave my mother because he was married before her. They had 8 children!!! Well, lo and behold, this church said they had a “revealation from God” and that it was okay to be divorced and marry again! We watched this church fall apart and Dad started reading the Bible and the literature from various organizations about Christianity. Then, one morning he woke up and said, “None of that matters.” What he meant was that we cannot earn our way into heaven. He was a changed man and an unchained one because he found truth for himself and not through the dictates of a religion. What he discovered was Love. He was 57 at the time and since then he inspired his daughter, me, to also look for myself. I don’t believe in an entity called God though I believe the Universe is intelligent. “True Believers” cannot understand such a transformation, they’ll continue to point out what the Bible says and are truly puzzled that others don’t see “their Truth which they call “The Truth.” It’s Love as it says in ICorinthians 13:13. So much of the New Testament during Jesus’ time was directed at the Jews and not the Gentiles(everyone else). And so much of the Bible, esp, the KJV is full of flaws and mistranslations. The Way and the truth IS Love. It isn’t about Jesus, it’s about his message. Anyway, thanks for sharing your story. Love and Light
In this world, the possibility exists that we are all right or, perhaps, we're all wrong, but it is unbelievably wonderful that those people who seek the "God-spark" within continue their search in many ways. I am a Chrisian by tradition and discipline. The organized church gave me the guidance (the "road map" mentioned by another respondent) I needed until I could think beyond the boundaries, not of the Bible, but of the man-organized church, to satisfy my longing for not "oneness" as much as "wholeness."
"Spirituality" begins to describe a faith journey at the point where one questions the church doctrine (or wherever one starts the process)and takes all that has gone before–in my case, Sunday School and Sunday sermons, loving relatives, an accepting congregation–and wraps it into one's own discernment of truth and grows toward oneness with the universe.
Even in Sunday School, I learned "Love thy neighbor as thyself," and I see the spiritual path as the way to know thyself," and know our own gifts to others.
I have not found it necessary to leave my church congregation behind-the centuries=old rituals awake a response in me as we sing together the hymns (love songs)of my life, and say words of grace, forgiveness, and faith to each other. The truth I now hear, however, in these acts and the oneness I feel with fellow congregants is not the literal truth of "Bible thumpin'", but the cosmic truth that ties all human beings together.
Beth, I agree w/you on this. I used the teachings of the church to lead me until I started reading & comprehending the scriptures more; this along with my experiences lead me to thinking on my own…questioning the "policies" of the church. I soon realized that a lot of churches focus more on their organizational rules than on the guidance given to us in the Bible. I haven't left church, but now I no longer blindly follow the teachings of man.
Great post & discussion!
Thanks.
To me, spirituality is the contact with love, knowledge and peace that is "God" While relgion was created to seperate man from his ability to come to his own understanding of "God". More wars and attrocities Have been committed using the name of God and the bible to justify evil than I care to think about. I know that God exist because I see his hand in all there is. I dont need to have somebody define that power that I see and feel to me.
I appreciate this place of sharing.
I am a Social Justice/Human Rights priest.
My Mother made sure we got to church as children. She felt it important for her children to be in community with a group of people trying to be loving,respectful, honest and of service in the world.
She had been raised a Methodist and that is what she knew to pass on to us. She also knew to be tolerant of differences in people and was a welcoming champion, often, of the "underdog".
My Father, often away with his career, found ways to express love and his presence even at a distance. He was not a church-goer,although he'd been raised in one. He instead led and modeled for his four daughters compassionate action, right speech, responding rather than reacting, honesty, a belief in goodness, a willing helping hand and a love for justice, beauty and diversity.Neither parent was perfect. But they tried to help us grow in important ways. They taught us even through their failures.
Both parents knew that life was full of grey and supported us in using our heads,taking a big breath,loving our way as best as possible through situations, giving our best and standing up for the things we believed in. God was never small, never punishing,never missing in action.
Even with a Mother who ended up chemically imbalanced and mentally ill, my Mother's early example of seeking God's help through the practice of prayer, helped me to develop tools for working internally to listen deeply to the voices within with greater discernment, to put aside my ego more often and to try to hold both myself and the needs of another in a dynamic of mutual care and balance wherever possible.
Through and despite my parents,the society of the time, and the relationships around me, even seminary, I learned that my spiritual maturation ultimately is my own…the experiences i have offer me fresh opportunities to keep my faith and my way of being in the world fresh and vital as I attempt to BE Love in the world. i often miss the mark and from this place i learn to try again, to offer forth,to acknowledge the wisdom, the pain,the gifts and the stumbling blocks of others and somehow return to gratitude and the Big Mystery of it all.
Islam gives us the 99 names for God, the Irish label God the "Great Melody" or Oran Mor, physicists theorize and share elegant ideas about the cosmos, cows walk unharmed in New Delhi, monks work a field in a community of silence, sufis dance and sing under the stars, some Protestants tap their bibles and talk to God with familiarity and want to share every verse with conviction, Mother Teresa rocked the leper in tiny old limbs, Jesus in pain said he wanted to be removed from the task at hand and then let go saying" Thy will be done", knowing that something called Love was worth dying for.
Moses, in a solo action, bravely held out the code of ethics to a misbehaving group of nomadic people, Buddha stripped off wealth and his privilege to serve the poor, a young man stood in front of a tank in China to protest government intolerance and abuse, a jewish rabbi put himself and family in harms way by renouncing Palestinian genocide, clergy of all faiths stood for equality in marriage while internet opportunities abounded to sign petitions to protect the environment, stop human enslavement, worked toward greater civility between leadership parties in Congress, worried over an oil spill, the illegal aliens trying to eke out an existence doing the jobs that nobody else really has the stomach for!…..and so it goes…..
We have choices…We can grow and learn to be more than just tolerant… to find tools through religion that help to steady us through community building if we grow ourselves well through our own spiritual practices and show up… knowing who we are and what we are tethered to, working to recognize and celebrate rather than demonizing someone else's frame of reference, to speak our truth with an open-handed invitation to another to share their reflections as well… and somehow, above all, to stay open,discerning and full of love…to feed and be fed.
"Love: Its my vocation.It's all I do." said John of the Cross….and many others from different walks have said it only slightly differently, Rumi, Hafiz, the Buddha, Krishna, Anne Frank, Caesar Chavez, Chief Seattle,Dorothy Day, Desmond Tutu and on and on … and YOU? What do YOU say? What do I say? Love….
In Peace, Kaaren
The topics of both religion and spirituality have been on the forefront of discussions lately. In my earlier years I was raised and baptized in an organized doctrine of the Baptist Faith, i.e. a religion. As I matured I divinely connected myself to a non-donominatonal setting of worship, meaning all are welcome always. As I continued to grow spiritually, I have come to know God on an intimate level which should be the ultimate utopia for all living human being. We as a cultural have made a sheer mess of things when it comes to the enforcement of man-made idealologies. People are walking around in a total state of delusion and are disconnected from the truth of what was initially intended. The universe is an extremely organized entity, therefore you need to understand that God, our divine creator, is also just as organized. We are taught and I candidly believe that God is a spirit and those that desire to know Him must honor Him in an atmosphere of spiritually. You must however, in your freedom, unstructured and unorgnazised desire to seek God, know that He has a divine passage way for reaching Him. We will not ever experience God to the fullest extent intended until we are ready to accept His invition, on His terms and RSVP for our divine encounter, God is waiting. The two topics look alike in many ways but are indeed different in what they ultimately offer; sort of like two cakes; they can look similar in their appearances, in their outer coverings, in their stacks of layers, but be totally different in what appeases the palate in term of taste. They are very much alike and equally as different. As a result, there are millions of souls hanging between the oblivia of the two waiting to connect into the Great Surger of their abundant spiritual life. I pray that all who are seeking solace with regards to the two realms, find it in the truth of their personal experience as I have.
That part of us that can find no contentment with anything else except it be filled by that spiritual connection, relationship with HIM.
Phew! I have read all of the above and wonder what someone with no spiritual awakening would make of it all. Each response is valid from it's own viewpoint, but what would an outsider think? Each is certain of his own take on 'spirituality' but how does that help someone who is really seeking truth, a purpose and a reason to live? What is the point? 'Spirituality', whatever that is, seems to be, almost, falling into the same arena as 'religion'. It seems to say, 'my way is the right way', except for one difference. 'Religious' people believe so strongly that they try to stop others making,what they perceive to be, a dangerous decision for their eternal lives. 'Spirituality', as I read it here, seems to say 'do your thing, bud, I'm busy smelling the daisies', to which another might say "thanks a lot, but how does that help me?". So, I am left thinking that neither 'religion' nor 'spirituality' holds the answer to life. Each religion has it's own spirituality that not all members embrace, certainly. Do we then have to try each 'religion' in order to discover its 'spirituality' to find out which one works for us? I suppose it depends on how many life times a person believes he has. Or, do we walk the path of self-indulgence nailed to nothing but how we feel at any given time, man? Or do we pray a simple prayer and ask the Universe, "If there is truth out there, show me." That sounds good. I've never tried it but it could work. It's too late for me. I've already found my path, my guru. His name is Jesus.
Elizabeth, Love it!
Yes, I've found my guru, too, JC. I believe his message is love… He said, "If I be lifted, I will draw…" Not if you criticize one another, not if you lay out rules and regulations that you cannot keep to the letter yet you judge another for breaking the obvious and overt ones, but LOVE.
LOVE your neighbor as yourself; they will know you by the LOVE you have one for another; So you speak with tongues of men and angels but if you don't have LOVE; LOVE your enemies; the greatest of these is LOVE…. JESUS IS LOVE. He is the LOVE which opens the heart and mind to pursue spirituality…. that connection with the most high. GOD. That part of us than can find no contentment with anything else except it be filled by that spiritual connection, relationship with HIM.
Love u all
That part of us than can find no contentment with anything else except it be filled by that spiritual connection, relationship with HIM.
CYNTHIA YOU ARE A VERY INTELLIGENT GODLY WOMAN FOR YOU HAVE FOUND THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE WHICH OUR LORD JESUS GOD TAUGHT US. LOVE ONE ANOTHER. DO NOT JUDGE. YOU HAVE IT IN A NUTSHELL. GOD IS WITH YOU.
I am a spiritual person and have a personal relationship with God. I live my life daily based on my spiritual beliefs. Every act comes from that place within me. I don't not require a church to feel spiritual or to feel my connection with God.
Organized religion changes spirituality because of its very nature. Once you put a label onto something – Catholic, Lutheran, Judaism, Budism, etc. – then it must be defined into very specific parameters. As with most things, this also includes laws of specific behaviors. You may not do X, Y, and Z, or you must do A, B, and C. Otherwise, you won't get to your equivalent of Heaven. It is incredibly limiting, incredibly negative, and can tend to lead people to extremes. Organized religion was created by humans, not by God. And so for any person to believe that their own human-created religion is the only true way to reach God is amazingly short-sited and just plain silly.
Every book of religion was also written by humans. Each has been translated through time into newer versions by those in power at the time. Unless one is reading the first document ever created on that specific religion, then one is only reading what someone else interpreted the last translation to mean – and that will be based on the social leanings/culture of the time. And because future translations do not go back to the original document, but translate the last valid translation, the word gets twisted and changed and interpreted over again. I often wish that I could read the original text of the Bible and compare it to today's, because I have a feeling that the two are very, very different documents.
Most of the posts here seem to make valid points. I turned my back on the fear-based organised religion at about 14 or 15 years of age. I refused to be scared into anything, even at that young age.Alan, take note….your beliefs as they stand are way off the mark and only serve to annoy or scare people….How very unchristian. Religion is created by man..Spirituality is each human's personal search or relationship with whatever they perceive God or the creator to be.
Nanna5 has stated some truths however she misses the point. Frank Sinatra once said I've done it my way. Yes, all of us do that whether we are spiritual, atheists, moralists, or just trying to live a good life. Doing it my way will lead to ultimate spiritual death. You may criticize me as intolerant; however, just as 1+1=2, there cannot be multiple ways to the one true God.
I believe many have never opened up the Bible and read God's word. There is a difference: religion = doing (for whatever reason); Jesus Christ = done
In other words, no amount of striving to reach God will ever obtain something that is impossible to obtain on your own effort because we are sinful and God is holy. God’s holiness demands that he cannot tolerate sin not even one; thus all sinners are separated from God. But there is a way.
If you are still with me, go online, dust off your Bible if you have one, or read one at the library.
In the New Testament, the book of Romans written by the Apostle Paul read these verses:
Romans 3:10 There is no one righteous, not even one.
Rom 3:20 Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his sight (God's) by observing the law (the Ten Commandments); rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 10:9-13 For if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe (and not your mind) that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
If you are truly seeking the one true God, you will find Him wherever you are – even if you are in the remotest jungle, never to see a missionary. Well, God knows the hearts of each one of us and he has given us the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and his shed blood on the cross for all our sins. As I already stated above religion is totally opposite. With religion, you do. With Jesus, it is finished (it is already done) and Jesus has atoned for your sins and all you have to do is accept his grace and humble yourself and confess your sinfulness and you will be saved.
Normally, I do not bother to post on these websites; however, I was compelled to spread the love of Christ as I am commanded to as a Christian.
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in he name of God’s one and only Son.
I pray you will consider these words of truth and act on them.
Alan
Alan,
You post scripture from the bible, and this is your belief. That is your choice and I am happy you find this comforting. However, this is the difference between religion and spirituality. I see that you are a religious person. Spirituality goes beyond the organized religion. It's more than worshiping one single god. Spirituality is the ability to open your eyes and your mind to see all that has been given to you. And not just believing in what is written in scripture is the holy and pure truth. Unfortunately, this is the problem with the world today, we believe everything we read and see. I have read the bible, I had been, at one time, very involved in church. But I made the choice to believe in something more than what is taught in a controlled environment. Through research there is so much more to what is not in the bible.
Quoting from the bible is NOT religion. Christianity is a particular spiritual path, but it too is not a religion. Christ spoke about love and connecting with God and living a clean life. He also acknowledged that we all fall short of perfection but loved us so much that He took our place in punishment.
There is only one God, one power, one universal will. All spiritually based philosophies and religions acknowledge that. Even Taoism. Only pagan, deity based, mythology says otherwise. I don't wish to go on about this since I feel most people on this site simply don't understand what constitutes religion and what does not. I have studied (yes in college) world religions and I have followed a spiritual path myself and I simply get tired of trying to get people to look into the complexities of both. Right now, the favorite philosophy to bash is Christianity and every religion based on it. It is quite disturbing. Maybe 'tolerance', the revered religion of the secular and self proclaimed spiritual, should be observed by the people who preach it.
Everyone of the people that have left comments have made very valid points. Look at history and you will see most wars have been started due to man forgetting his spirituality and just seeing dogma, intollerance of others and hate of differences. ie…. religion. When we make the choice to find our spiritual path, we cannot hate, we cannot be intollerant. Then only can we show unconditional love and acceptance of all faiths. Provided it builds you spirit.
Religions and spirituality are here for us to choose and experience from, if we dont feel comfortable or right with the beliefs or teaching of one, then we have the choice to try another until we feel we have found what gives us the most wisdom, knowledge, learning, understanding that we feel is right for us.
Man made religions cause alot of problems and misery in peoples lives, and so does brain washing and forcing some one including family members to believe in what they believe in because they argue it is the only one you should be following, when in fact we come here with a free will and choice to decide whatever we wish to follow or believe in even if that is not believing in anything.
For some they are able to break free of their religious brain washing and seek something more spiritual and gentle that doesnt shove things down your throat or frighten you to death but allow you to be open to many things that leaves you free and feel good about putting your trust or faith into what makes you feel good about yourself.
I feel sorry for all orphans, or children that has felt the wrath of so called Gods angels (nuns) that have abused their beliefs and power and frightened and beaten their beliefs into innocent children who should have been loved and cared for with compassion not man made rules of religion.
God is not about that and all those who have abused others and hid behind religion will have alot to answer for when they have to face Gods law for what they have done, if they believe a bed side confession of what they have done, puts things right then they are in for a big shock, when they leave this earth plane.
All wrongs are put right by universal law no one escapes what they do to another in the way of abuse, cruelty, or murder, and God doesnt appreciate those who put his name to man made rules and treat others with their version of what god will do to you if you dont do this or that. But the good news is those sorts of people who do abuse others, will feel the same kind of abuse and pain as their victims did by their hands, when they are in Gods Law and that can go on for eternity , as there is no time in the spirit world, until they start to feel remorse for what they have done to another, when they start to feel remorse a light shines into their darkness, and each time they say they are sorry for what they have done,they are shown the light, and can be forgiven, so in another life time they will have learnt how to treat another with kindness and respect their religion choices as being up to each individual.
We all come here to learn and grow from our experiences, and religion for some plays a big part of our learning, but as individuals we do have the right to say no to what we feel doesnt gel with us and how we feel about certain things. There is nothing worse than some one who has been brain washed all their lives coming to your door and trying to convince you that their way is how it is and we will all go to hell if we dont do this or that i get so angry with idiots like that who know nothing of real life just what they have been brain washed with.
nanna5 couldnt of said it better! that has been the biggest thing in my life, other peoples opinion telling me what when and how to live my life! especially the church people that seem to turn their backs on u when u dont satisfy their religions. love peace joy
Nana5 you have said so much in only a few words. Spirituality is a personal journey and everyone has to make it on their own. I believe you can stay close to God (or whatever you wish to call him) without attending church every Sunday; the “spirit” being shown in how you live, how you treat other people, the morals and values you try to instill in your children, the forgiveness you extend to those who hurt you and a long list of other attributes. You can’t talk the talk and not walk the walk; that is hypocritical at best. Let your light shine, and perhaps someone else will one day want to know how to light their own life. That is the true blessing.
AMEN TO COWGIRLATHEA THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL
For the most part I agree from my own experience with what you say. I did have an out of body experience that shocked me with the idea that this had been going on for eternity. The last time I said i was sorry that I had not cared about the suffering of another I did come into light so why not the bedside confession if they are sorry. Then still later I found out that god is as neutral as the air when you put your hand up in it. It doesn't judge. It's calm, it's neutral and infinite.
It's our deeply in ground beliefs that become our karma I read and I did find the sacred space when I gave up caring if it was right or wrong but just that I had the impetus to leap in trust of my neighbor but was carried beyond into his (gods) greater space, my higher self.
religion is something your born into the religion of your parents for example and in some cultures you must follow that religion spirituality is what you can choose spiritulisam is all about love and sending love to people who do bad things we would all like to live in a world full of love and not hate and war so spreading love is better than retaliating as wars only end in deaths and where is the good in that x
I’m sorry, do you not have spell check or punctuation keys on your computer? How about a ‘shift’ key?
Too many wars and international conflicts are due to religious beliefs. I believe organised religion is the basis of much Evil. If we look at the message of all the various religions, the message is a deep spiritual one. It's about time that religious institutions practised what they preach and practised love, tolerance, compassion and understanding.
If, and's, and but's Mary is the circle game. I never get this kind of thinking. Isn't one of his laws. Thou shalt not kill?
How can you love your neighbor as yourself if your making war on them. What made the difference for me was "trust". If two people can "trust" the bridge to the next dimension can be. If only one can "trust" then sacrificing one's self wholly, totally and completely on some level with no reservations, no thought of judging good or bad, you will find that the neighbor will disappear and only the sacred space of eternal calm will be experienced. Then you will understand thy neighbor is yourself. Your highest self. If your intent on this you would not be at war. There is no excuse – it's between you and God. Partly my opinion and partly my experience.
Agree so much evil has and is done in the name of religion. Religion has been used for thousands of years to suppress and oppress women and enforce the good old double substandard.
Religion teaches the law, which when we apply it, destroys kindness, tolerance ect but when that happens we look for a better way and that is love. Love is the source of all truth. If we did not learn about the law of the letter we would never know it fails us and we fail it, where as perfect love reaches into our heart and draws all that is the best in us, which is a process and takes a while to come about.