by Judy Merrill

Created on: November 06, 2007

We are all individual and unique people seeking our own spirituality.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: We are not a human being having a spiritual experience. We are a spiritual being having a human experience.

And as social, political and economic factors have shown, we are not very compatible in most ideas. As social beings we want to gather and religions then become the gathering place to discuss and understand God, according to the particular rites and rituals of the group. Any diversity tends to bring ostracizing and dismissal.

Political governments tend to want one size fits all. After all, isn't that what the Nicene meetings were all about? The emperor decided to give little choice to the people under his rule and thereby limit diversity. All political parties in all countries are trying for some kind of consistency for their area.

Economically we gather with others of our own status. We tend to ostracize and eliminate diversity by financial approval. The more we can offer the group, while remaining stable in our own right, the more we are welcome to worship with the group.

As we can see, none of this has been terribly effect in any age. One size just does not fit all. And of what benefit to thinking and examination of ideas would it be if it was restricted by any one way of ritualized behaviour?

As unique individuals we require unique ways to examine our world. Examination is done through science, philosophy, or religion. As we examine our world, we accept and respect others ability to examine, while remaining complacent with our own religious following. That is the true secret to the success of religion - respect for others in their diversity.

After all is said and done, we were not created by a cookie cutter to be the same. Even the snowflakes are unique in their design, but look what they can do when they agree and come together in a purpose - a snow storm.

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