Before I begin this piece I would like to make something perfectly clear to you, the reader. If you believe that your Religion is the one true path to God, you are not going to like what I have to say. I am going to offend you and you are going to try very hard to forget that you have ever come across this essay. I am not going to lie to you, and that in itself should be a shocking change from the institution you follow so blindly.
This is not an attack upon organized religion, this is an exploration of its purpose. By definition, Religion is an institution organized to express belief in God. These institutions offer a community of like-minded people with like-minded beliefs. The beliefs themselves come from the “Holy Book” of that institution. There are several in the world, each one the focus of a different religion. The Bible (New and Old), The Toran, The Qu’ran, The Dhammapaddha, and the Tao Te Ching are just a few.
At first glance, the idea of organized religion makes sense. If we’re supposed to worship God, why not do it in groups? In fact, because people take this so seriously, a certain amount of ceremony should be involved as well….after all, this is God we’re talking about. Hats, Robes, Candles, possibly a Bell…all props to make the routine of worship seem as important and powerful as possible. But what does this have to do with God?
The strangest part of organized religion seems to be their willing misinterpretation of the Books they worship. Many “religious enthusiasts” can quote chapter and verse, but quoting something doesn’t mean you understand it. The majority of “Holy Books” out there are based upon the words and actions of a single figure. Buddha, Mohammed, Christ, Lao Tsu, etc…all of these people were regarded as “close to God”, and so their story was recorded and told to others. This telling is what formed Religion, but is worshipping these figures what they had intended for us? Did Christ want you to worship him or follow him?
I think the biggest fault of every religion is their unwillingness to accept change. Admittedly, there is a certain sense of security found in knowing that your beliefs never have to change because they come from a book you believe was written by “God”. But what of the message inside the book? “God comes from within” is usually the most important message. If God comes from within, then worshipping the book is avoiding God.
At no point will I say that reading any of these books is a waste of time. In fact, I highly recommend reading them and enjoying the symbolism and lessons they are meant to convey. What I’m saying is that the Book is a message from God, but only one message. To worship one thing as the “only source of God’s Word” is limiting both your own growth and your idea of God. Think about it, God is everything, why would it only communicate through a book? Wouldn’t there be better ways?
Dejavu, Coincidence, Insight, Dreams, Imagination, Intuition…these are the messages from God. God is everything…repeat this and try to take it seriously. Everything is a lot of things…thoughts, sounds, objects, feelings, emotions. God, like the Holy Books, is not meant to be worshipped, it is meant to be appreciated. God is the thing that allows us to exist, it is our own consciousness, it is our own will to be. You, are God.
(see A question worth asking)
So why does religion still exist if, in truth, it has nothing to do with being with God? Because it is an easy out…an escape from responsibility. Remember, if you believe God is only in a church or in a book, then it’s not around when you are doing the things you don’t want god to see. Basically, the church offers justification…it offers you the excuse that you are a sinner and therefore below God. But if God is within you…are you really below God, or are you just not taking responsibility?
The Heaven that you so crave is not in a Book, it is in you.
Do not worship those who have gone before you to “God”, just know that they were preparing the road for you