| I have come to a conclusion; there is a difference | | | | choice? Who decides where his teachings come |
| between religion and spirituality. People that are | | | | from? Religion believes they have answered those |
| religious say that they are spiritual. Many times | | | | questions and they have answered them for |
| the words are thrown about interchangeably. | | | | anyone that believes in the ascribed dogma. Jesus |
| However, there is a difference. Religion is an | | | | was giving us formulas to find out for ourselves. |
| idealized set of beliefs. With religion everyone has | | | | How does one know that the teachings of Jesus |
| to ascribe to those beliefs or they are not a part | | | | come from God? When they search for the |
| of that religion. Spirituality is personal with universal | | | | meaning for themselves. When that person goes |
| concepts, Universal in that all can ascribe to those | | | | inside and starts to ask the hard questions. |
| beliefs and they work without impartiality to race | | | | John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the |
| or condition. Religion is objective, meaning others | | | | people, he said, "I am the light of the world. |
| agree to dogma and rules. Spirituality is subjective; | | | | Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, |
| it is subject to the internal beliefs, moods and | | | | but will have the light of life." |
| emotions of the individual. | | | | Religion made this scripture and statement about |
| Jesus was teaching spiritual principles, but man for | | | | the man. Figuratively Jesus was saying that he |
| its own reasons made Christianity about Jesus | | | | can teach us how to recognize our eternal selves. |
| rather than what he was attempting to teach. | | | | If we follow his TEACHINGS he can give us the |
| Jesus was attempting to teach us to connect to | | | | knowledge. |
| a universal consciousness not some all powerful | | | | One of the most destructive verses to mankind |
| being that watched over us like a guard dog | | | | and his universality is John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I |
| ready to bite us and punish us when we did some | | | | am the way and the truth and the life. No one |
| wrong determined by man. Jesus teachings were | | | | comes to the Father except through me." |
| to lead man into discovering his greater existence | | | | This one verse man has taken literally from Jesus. |
| in the universe. Man unfortunately for centuries | | | | He meant that through his teachings man would |
| have believed that the world we live in is the | | | | be enlightened. Religion made it about THE MAN |
| entire universe. Man has believed what we | | | | Jesus rather than about the universal |
| experience with our five senses is all there is to | | | | enlightenment of man. Religion has separated |
| the universe. Even though there is much evidence | | | | mankind from its understanding of his place in the |
| to the contrary, man persists in his limited view of | | | | universe for thousands of years. We have within |
| his existence. Religion is an aid in the persistence | | | | us a vast reservoir of knowledge. We have to be |
| of limiting thought. | | | | brave enough to step outside the accepted |
| In the NIV bible, John 4:24 Jesus states, "God is | | | | NORMS of religion to discover that knowledge. |
| spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and | | | | That is what the teachings of Jesus was about. |
| in truth." | | | | Not the dogmatic rants of self proclaimed disciples. |
| This is one of the scriptures that Jesus makes a | | | | Does a teacher TELL you how to think? Or is a |
| statement that is meant to be universal in nature. | | | | teacher to give you a foundation on which to |
| Man has now defined what a worshiper is and the | | | | build? |
| consequences when he does not fit the definition. | | | | It is time for us to wake up. We have gotten lost |
| Did Jesus intend his teaching to separate man or | | | | in religion. Our purpose is much greater and our |
| to unite? Religion says we all have to fit a | | | | knowledge more vast than any religious thought |
| definition of worshiper. Jesus had principles that | | | | will allow us to perceive. Religion controls through |
| taught us HOW to worship. | | | | fear and misinformation, giving us concepts of a |
| John 7:16 Jesus answered, "my teaching in not | | | | vengeful God and hell. We should open our minds |
| my own. It comes from him who sent me. If | | | | to the eternal wisdom of our souls. Not to the |
| anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out | | | | finite rants of preachers. We all have infinite |
| whether my teaching comes from God or | | | | abilities that Jesus alluded to in the scripture. You |
| whether I speak on my own." | | | | have to be brave enough to investigate for |
| This scripture is spoken figuratively by Jesus. He | | | | yourself and strong enough to stand up to |
| says ...HIM who sent me. Can God be a person, or | | | | thousands of years of ignorance. Spirituality is |
| did Jesus mean a universal force? What is God's | | | | personal and liberating. Religion is bastion of fearful |
| will and how do you choose it? Who decides your | | | | and confining thought. |