Take care to not judge- a discussion about spirituality

Of course it made sense. What you have described is the way that many religious organizations do things these days. The last group of people who should be practicing exclusivity are those who are responsible for teaching spiritual enlightenment through means of religious teachings and mythological studies of the gods and goddesses and where in each of our lives those teachings and myths have place for. What I do not understand is that there is an entire population of people in this world who never question what they have faith in. You know me well enough to know that I am a firm believer in God, but also that I do believe we all take on different personalities which some studies refer to as "the goddesses". It is not until certain sets of people decide that what they deem as different is also evil that any one system of beliefs becomes exclusive. I recently started doing a compare and contrast, just for fun, using the examples for research that were given to the student body for the degree program which I am studying in. In it I use the different religious groups here in Silver Lakes as the core groups for study. I am trying to find out what it is that draws certain people to each church group beside the beliefs. It should be interesting to see what I come up with. You can see the very core differences in each set of congregants. At the church here on the other side of Strawberry, just from what sorts of cars are in the parking lot, one can see clearly that this is a group who is affluent, conservative and dutiful. Across the street from me, where the other group meets, there is a more mixed set of people who come from a varied economic background. Also, it seems as though the first group is different from the second in that the first is an established church with national affiliation, and that the other one is a grassroots type. My point in this is that - *Stereotypes such as the ones which you have clearly pointed out are evident in BOTH groups of people. I know this because I hear it in the conversations between congregants from either church. It is almost an "us versus them" sort of thing going on, where one church is trying to outdo the other in terms of whose goals are more community serving and most of all, sacred in the eyes of God. That I would purposely mention goddesses to anyone involved in either group was telling in that from both sets I got the same "You should know better than to even believe that goddesses are REAL!" and "Do you also believe in faeries, also?" To which I would always reply "do not point out the splinter in my eye before you seek to pull out the stump in your own." Religious people are very cliquish. This also is something else that I note between either set of people is that if they were pitted against one another, there most certainly would be competition between the two groups for who was going to be more (fill in the blank) than the other. However, if given the chance, it is my opinion that very surely both groups would combine their efforts to make sure that someone who practices spirituality in the manner I do -freely and without fear of where my soul will end up if I do not follow a mainstream religion- were to say something in defense of my own beliefs, both groups would do what they could not only to tell me that I am wrong and that I am going to hell for my ways, but in my opinion would also go so far as to try to "save" me from my worldly, Cosmic beliefs. I was told one time that even calling God by the Hawaiian translation of His Name (Akua) is a sure shot into the lake of fire for me. TO which you KNOW I asked where they got that guy-in-a-powdered-wig-and-an-ugly-dress type mentality.

I figure originally the world religions began on a profound thought someone had, or profound truth someone found or revealed.. Then they have been passed down through many human hands, so I know they have changed.. and also they are made up of humans.. and of course too, anything popular and of the people will be infiltrated and used.. off and on.. But at the beginning was the kernal.. I think 'in the end' we'll find the truth is a beautiful tapestry of all of them weaved toghether (the ideal and best of the beginning of each one). I'm happy I don't belong to a group, church, etc.. though I've never met any people of them I didn't like. It doesn't bother me if we disagree on what's right and wrong, or what our attitude should be on it, I just don't bring it up. Though I spose I was a little harsher back when I was justifying, or maybe felt I should justify 'breaking away' even tho I never really belonged..

Very good post! Thanks a lot!!

Indeed! Religion and spirituality go hand in hand, but one does not mean that the other follows. I think that many people are born into a belief that they later question and eventually find their own way. I did.

I believe that there are Christians who are spiritual in their beliefs, and then there are the ones who are like Pharisees, standing in public places,preaching to the masses the benefits of being part of a Christian network instead of being a Christian - period. I think you and I would probably be really great friends and it is because you have this understanding that not all people are going to believe as you do, and certainly there are going to be people in this world who are not going to have the same vision of God as I will. Thank you for your well thought out post!

In Christianity, I think it's a whole world of trouble, that there is a huGe mistranslation, in that "hell" should read "the grave"... Most of these folks (you mentioned) probably mean well! But have accepted this image of their God.. so they reflect that image.. or they fight fiercely believing everyone else is destined to perish forever, or worse!! I like Paramahanse Yogananda's vision of God.. he must have knwon the higher power must be life itself and also perfection, and so the end result can only be the best possible one...

Yes, the most important thing is not what you believe in, but that you do believe. Thanks for your comment!