by Judy Merrill

Created on: March 29, 2010

There are 3 main religions (by numbers) in the world:  Islam, Jewish, Christianity.  And each of these religions has splintered because of beliefs and practices.  This in itself indicates the fallacy of the man made rules, dogma, and creeds set up in all religions, when they can be dismissed by forming another group under another idea. 

Each of these religions and all of their splinter groups forming religions have fallen well short of the mark of spirituality.  And as our life is meant to learn the spiritual lessons for individual growth, they have fallen short of being a community to worship God and become a social club of worship of the richest. 

We might consider that the word sin means to fall short of the mark.  In which case all religions are finding their theology to fall well short of the mark of spirituality and understanding of God. 

In many discussions of God we find many opinions of what is God.  As we all have a personal covenant with the God of our own understanding this is a natural and learning place to be while we struggle with our own lives and the lessons to be learned.

To believe that God will welcome a Jihad from an Islamic practitioner is as blind as thinking God wants war to settle disputes, most of which stem from religion. During one of the many wars of our history there was music set to the idea of Bless God and pass the ammunition.  Would God welcome any killing or dying by any of creation?

Religion is man made.  The books that were written to follow as holy texts have been presented by men and woman have had to fight for identity ever since.  In response there are religions now welcoming woman participants and leaders that have taken centre stage in our societies.

I have to wonder if it would not be more conducive to our spiritual understanding and growth to accept the differences.  Perhaps we could even welcome the diversity and embrace with respect the many beliefs that stem from our knowledge of God as it unfolds within our lives. 

All things are based upon energy.  This science has been at the forefront of helping us to understand.  The spiritual energies within each of us are seeking growth.  Our potential for more understanding and awareness of self and others leads us to religious experiences.  Why not bring what we understand of our world through science into our world of religion to find the things that can work for all people regardless of gender, sexuality or even spirituality.

One of the world's greatest minds in physics, Albert Einstein said:  Science without religion is lame.  And religion without science is blind.  Perhaps the halt and blind among us need to keep these differences tearing us apart instead of showing us a path of righteousness that leads to spirituality on an individual as well as collective scale.

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