Credit: Favim.com
A wise man once said, ‘never argue politics or religion’. And I agree. The remainder of this post is only to spark conversation and to learn from one another. Which I believe is vital in human growth. This is not up for argument. I am sharing my view in an attempt to satisfy my personal need for understanding. Again, this is only for discussion. This is not up for argument. Share at will. With that said, here is my view:
I don’t believe in religion. I believe in living a spiritual life. I think that most religions/churches have a small piece of the puzzle, but not all. I believe in seeking my own truth. The one God has for me, not anyone else. All our paths are different and we need different things to grow. But in the end, the ultimate key is love. God IS Love. Meaning LOVE is God. One in the same. Not some man in the sky but the sky itself, and the living spirit that resides in anything that grows and breathes, (including nature.) Also, I believe that when our spirit leaves the flesh (because, of course, we are NOT just flesh and bone) then whatever state of being our soul is in at the time of departure, that will determine our heaven or hell. This is why we should constantly seek a life of peace and love in the flesh in order to attain an eternity of the same in our spiritual re-birth.
Your turn….
I have been enjoying your blog for a few months now and wanted to share this story with all of you, it’s kind of long, but gives the essence of what I personally believe.
The King and the Six Blind Men:
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The First approach’d the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, -”Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”
The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he,
“‘Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
MORAL.
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!
For me, religion is not only unnecessary but dysfunctional and limiting to the belief of the Universe and its workings…The Universe is here for us in all its glory and order…and conspires to bring us fulfillment, love, and cooperation with it and humanity, if only we will listen…heed its beautiful and meaningful messages. I do believe in this greater forceei. For those who need religion to bring meaning and order to their thoughts and actions, I respect that, but will never be tied to that…only to the mystery and beauty of the Universe and its workings. Thank you.
)
I agree that there are many messages and we more often than none, cover our ears to them. Thank you for your input. Happy to have you join us and share your thoughts.
♥
Definitely makes you think about what you truly believe and when faced with a choice do you still truly believe it? That said, i do not believe in any man-made religion, I believe in the historically verified person of Jesus Christ of the bible who is the Son of God manifested in the flesh over 2000 years ago.
As do I, Mark. I believe that Jesus was the human personification of Love.
Thanks for joining and sharing. Much respect. ♥
You all are so amazing! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your beautiful ideas that you willingly shared with me. And the fact that you did so in a kind, respectful manner. I knew I liked you guys!
Thank you for opening up to me, for being brave and honest in your comments about what lies in your hearts in regard to the subject. It means so much that you would allow me in. ♥
Let us never lose sight of the bottom line. Always, always strive to seek patience, peace and knowledge; within ourselves and within others. We are all in this big world together. We all have our struggles. We all feel pain. And we all share the same longing: LOVE. Embrace one another in knowing that. Blessings to you all! xoxox
Truly,
Kellie
I choose to have the courage to say I don’t TRULY know what is out there or inside me in regards to what makes me me. But I have a sense of goodness, a sense of strength , a sense of will to keep on projecting that positive energy to others and make something better of myself and others in this life (or the next) before I leave it , and to enjoy the struggle through life knowing its a mysterious gift we shouldn’t squander on the negative. That’s my internal religion/sprituiality ..or whatever you wish to call it, those two terms are just labels and I am not a product on a shelf. I am me and nobody defines me better than me…:)……thanks for sharing your view Kelly I know that took courage…
Thank YOU, Philip. I appreciate your openness and sharing. I too believe that as long as we cling to those senses, the ones that long for goodness and positive focus, we will be alright. It’s when we lose heart that things go wrong. ♥
I agree wholeheartedly Kellie…:)
I was brought up religious but later developed my own way to see. I now see myself as spiritual rather than religious. Religion to me is a set of rules based on past writers that rarely share the context of the current day. We all learn what’s wrong and right and by the time we’re adults, we fully understand what hurts others… but often do it anyway.
Spirituality tries to see beyond these rules toward the purity of love and with it our own happiness. Some see this as selfish.
I don’t believe in God. Take that word out of what you wrote and I’d agree with it 100%. I believe religions and churches are, unfortunately, man’s perversion of the truths you describe in your post. For instance, the comment from Len Williams Carver regarding “facts” about Christianity. There’s nothing there that is a fact. Yet, those “facts” are utilized to … ah, never mind.
You’re right in your post. You should be spiritual in your way, finding the path that is yours, and only yours.
See, ‘God’ to me means God of all things good inside of us, no matter what you call ‘him’. Love is what ‘God’ is made of. Not an actual being, but the part of us that feels things that the flesh cannot. Longing, love, goodness and that bond that we feel for others. Thanks so much for sharing. I appreciate your joining us. ♥
I am a Christian and I much rather be thought of as a spiritual person than a religious person. To me, the word ‘religion’ reminds me of a list of things I can or can’t do. Spirituality is internal, it’s a way of life.
Absolutely. It is indeed a way of living. It is the thing inside us that continues to long for and seek goodness in ourselves and others. We have to nurture it or we lose…all the way around. I find just a few minutes a day to just think “happy thoughts”. I know it sounds cheesy but it feels so good inside to just for a few minutes, refuse to allow any negativity into my thoughts and only reflect on one or a few small moments in my life that brought me joy.
Thanks for your sharing ♥
I believe in Jesus, and I believe He’s all about Love, and RELATIONSHIP, not religion. I believe in grace, because I have received so much of it, and I hope to spill it out over my thankful edges into a world that desperately needs it. I believe He loves me with an absurd love I will never understand, pursues me with a steadfast devotion I can never return, and wants me to love myself and others in that same ridiculous, scandalously forgiving way.
I believe these things because I cannot NOT believe them, after living them. And I believe, because I have experienced it, that so-called “religious” people are every bit as broken and flawed and sinful as the rest of us. And that grace is available to them, too. But that hypocrisy is the only thing Jesus ever, ever hated. And He still does.
I see Him in the nature around me, too, Kellie. In that vast sky, and the dancing leaves on a tree. It’s a major spiritual pathway for me. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful thought, and for allowing me to share mine.
I believe in Jesus, as in he was/is the human personification of love. God being love, not an actual person, had to show his face to the world and Jesus did that. With an ultimate gesture. ♥ Thanks for sharing! xox
Religion and spirituality are man’s attempt to reach God…
Christianity is God looking down on mankind, and seeing that we were desperately lost in sin. Knowing that the wages of sin is death, He reached down to mankind. God knew that there was not one man who ever had lived, nor would ever live who was without sin – no, not even one. So God, who loved the world so much that He gave His One and Only Son, so that whosoever believed in Him (Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God), should not perish, but have everlasting life. Christianity is knowing and recognizing that apart from Christ, we are dead in our transgressions.
Christianity is confessing with our mouth, right out loud, for the world to hear, and for us to hear, that Jesus is Lord. It is believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. It is having the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not demand and cling to His rights as God. He made Himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form He obediently humbled Himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised Him up to the heights of heaven and gave Him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father…
(Since my answer to this is so long, please click this link to see the complete answer:
http://burningfireshutinmybones.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/religion-vs-spirituality-vs-christianity/
Thank you for sharing. And if you read my comments ahead of yours, you will see my response to your input.
Happy to have you join us! xox ♥
I go through life not with one religion but all religions along with inspiring life philosophies. Each person receives messages in their own way adapting to their own needs and I think that is why religion is a difficult subject to discuss. The misinterpretation of holy books have led to a split in society (worldwide) – those who take each word as gospel are ridiculed for being ignorant, for instance. Those who do not then considered blasphemous. And those who shun the idea of God all together. The best pilgrimage any one person should go on is one of personal growth, respect and love for themselves and their surroundings. It may sound trite but love really is a great religion.
Absolutely! Everything we need to know, lies inside of us. We just have to listen and mind the right voices. Once we hone in on the one that follows in the way of respect and love and goodness…we cannot go wrong. ♥
Thanks for sharing.
i am Muslim and religion for me is a complete code of life and a standard for my morals. It tells me how to live and why, and gives me answers for questions that can’t be answered anywhere else…
As long as we follow in the way of goodness, the way that makes us feel love, we are guided in the way we should go. If there be any regret or remorse for things, then we have not done as we should.
Thanks for sharing. xox
you’re right, its a wonderful way that you’ve worded it
Love is!
High Fives! Love is!
What is often forgotten is that religion, with all its rules and rituals, is man-made. It is not God who has told us we need to follow certain behaviours (such as covering our head, or pray with a rosary) but man. What is ironic is that Jesus fought against these rituals men follow; and a religion was later created in his name. It is not the rituals and the rules that determine we are spiritual. It is instead our love for God, our love for our fellow man, our love for the gift of creation that God has given us. There are those who need spiritual guidance, and this can come in the form of religion. But the religion du jour should not mould our spirituality – instead it should be our inner belief that moulds our spirituality. And our inner belief that should mould our actions (not the said and unsaid rules of a particular religion).
Key words spoken there, Colline…”inner belief”. That is the voice we should obey. As long as it guides us in love, then we know it’s the right one.
Thanks for joining us. xox
Excellent post, Kellie! Religion is man made, and to date, man has managed to screw up almost everything he’s touched. Religion is rules, and the rules are constantly changed to fit the current violators of same. God is not rules, and He is constant; constant in His unconditional love for us. Love is most assuredly the key, for God IS love. I believe the key to becoming one with Him and thus becoming love is to merely focus on Him. I’ve found that the more I focus on God, the more like Him I become. Not that I am anywhere near what God is, but I’m a whole lot better than I was before I started focusing on Him.
One of the keys to peace is accepting who we are and loving ourselves; it’s nearly impossible to love others if we don’t love ourselves first. The most important aspect of being spiritual, which I equate to being one with God, is to accept yourself for who you are, flaws and all. God made each of us, He has a purpose for our life, and contrary to popular belief, He does not make mistakes. I could go on and on (you knew that!) but I’ll step down off my soapbox now.
I don’t know if you ever read my daily encouragement, Kellie, but I hope you do, and if not I hope you’ll stop by and take a look at one of them sometime. I try to live my life the way I write my daily offerings; I’m not here to change anyone, or try to convince them my way is the right way, my intent is simply to encourage those who I come in contact with, whether it be through my blog and writing, or in person.
uhhh, Kellie. Don’t git me started!
P.S.: Today’s encouragement kind of goes with some of what I say above: http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/water-your-plants-january-30/
When we walk in love, share in love, speak in love and think in love… we have done as we should. If everyone did it, what a grander place this would be. ♥
Thank you, Charles! xox
Religion does not have a definite description or a definition, religion is a set of rules that to a certain sect of society abides by. a religion is a human quest for fundamental answers. The human race across the planet, has been divided by various religions. The difficulty in defining, has led many of us on different ways in exploring what religion is. Despite the ambiguity in its definition, religion does teach the followers obedience, humility, self-denial, forgiveness and non-resistance.
Facts about Christianity
The Christians believe in one Godly figure, the Jesus Christ, who was born to Virgin Mary through immaculate conception.
Jesus Christ was killed at the age of 33 by the Romans for claiming to be God’s son. He was tortured, first by the Jews and then by the Romans, by long unending beatings.
It was after the death of this sinless man, that the world started believing in him. Christianity says, his act of sacrifice, has paid for all the sins of mankind.
His resurrection is celebrated as Easter, as the eternal presence of God on Earth.
Thank you, Len for joining us. I have left comments above that relate to your post.
amen