How to be spiritual without necessarily being religious?
How to be spiritual without necessarily being religious?
It occurred to me recently that I see an ever growing number of
people who are spiritually minded, who have beliefs that
recognise either a supreme being, a greater whole, or something
which can be collectively called god. And, yet they feel
disconnected from most traditional religions, or feel that
religions are not providing the answers in a form in which they
can relate.
So, where do you go to connect, if you don't follow the lingo of
the latins or the mantra of the muslims? How do you follow the
"Lord of the Dance" if you feel your rhythm is more freestyle,
when the available options seem to be a formation waltz or the
military two step? How do you "tune in to god" on a radio with
only preset channels?
I would like to make it clear, that I am not anti-religion, but
I am pro-choice.
I do not want to be merely quoted information from a book which
is deemed to be the word of god, but I do want to understand and
know the essence and the values which inspired it.
It is not enough to read a particular written doctrine and say
this is absolute truth, this is the word of god, this is the law
above all others and must be followed without question.
I do question. I want to know - how can a text, which has been
translated and revised from it's original inception still be
accurate to the original "word of god"? Even if it was, how
could it be absolutely and totally relevant today when written
from the context of centuries ago? And even accepting all of
that, how can the essence of god really be condensed into words
without losing something in the process?
For example, no matter how eloquently, I might be able to
describe the taste of an orange, it would still fall far short
of what the real taste of orange was like. I might read a book
about oranges as a starting point to learning and knowledge,
just as I might read a religious text to start to know god. But,
it is only a starting point, a guide along the way and a
signpost for direction.
I might also search out knowledgeable people, just as I would
look for others who have experienced oranges and who might also
help me in my studies, perhaps even show me where to find one or
how they enjoy them. However, if they tell me that THEY are the
only one with the key to the orangery or that I have to join the
Orange Appreciation Society in order to get near enough for a
sniff, then I start to think that it's not just oranges that I
can smell!
It is when exclusivity creeps into religious attitudes, where
the rituals and rites seem to take precedence over the core
values of our spiritual unity, that I start to look for answers
elsewhere.
All these "good books", waved fervently by their devotees as
badges of allegiance might be based on spiritual values, but
people being people, often put people focused interpretations on
them and then they lose some of the divine essence to baser
human frailties.
Most of the "good books" could really be refined down to a few
essential principles upon which all interpretations of them
would be based. That way, freedom to choose a particular way
needn't violate someone else's choice about their path, because
they are both still based upon the same fundamental principles.
By trying to be a step-by-step guide to heaven, a good book's
focus on one route often excludes other options, which may be
equally valid. Added to that, human nature has a tendency to
validate it's own beliefs by reinforcement (sometimes
forcefully) and by denigrating anything else that doesn't fit or
follow.
To illustrate - here is one core principle that you can find in
most "good books" in some form or other:
"Treat others as YOU wish to be treated".
This very simple but profound principle gets trodden on and
trampled to death by all the presumptions of rightfulness, the
intentions of the righteous and the glory of the mighty.
Presumably, those who go into battle, with their "good book" in
hand ready to impose their righteousness, their lifestyle, their
beliefs, their way on others, also expect to be treated in that
same way. After all, if they are following the instructions of
their own "good book" they must be acting how THEY wish to be
treated!
And, if someone abuses another in the name of some "good
intention", whether they perceive it to be for "their own good",
or the greater good, it also means that they expect the same
treatment if the tables are turned.
History is littered with the debris from "good intentions" and
"righteous warring", but are we really living now in more
enlightened times?
Personally, I feel disappointed by the standards being upheld by
many religions.
Too many religious leaders are allowing fanaticism to become
established at the expense of unity and the expansion of all
humanity.
Too many are turning blind eyes to behaviour that subverts the
morals and ethics of which they espouse, and in doing so teach
double standards to those who look to them for a spiritual lead.
Too many are becoming entrenched in their own dogma rather than
inspiring others through enlightened guidance.
Too many are taking judgmental stands and preaching intolerance
and separatism rather than acceptance and union.
Too many expect rigid adherence to a rule book and expect
rituals to be undertaken "religiously".
In fact the term "religiously" has now taken on slightly
negative connotations and is often used in other contexts to
indicate following an idea or ideal slavishly and without
question.
However, it is through asking questions that we expand our
knowledge and that we increase understanding. We may step out of
the comfort zone of routine perhaps, but we are then able to
discover something greater than we previously knew or were. We
may still have faith in a higher existence, we may still trust
that we will reach it, but each day we can ask ourselves - which
path shall I take? who's company do I choose? who am I? what are
my values?
IF WE STOP ASKING QUESTIONS, WE STOP GROWING.
If we stop growing and expanding our spirit, we are merely
following a familiar groove and are invariably looking down
rather than upwards or 'god'-wards.
J Hargreaves
Authentic Online Psychic
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