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March 4, 2008 at 10:36:08
You can be spiritual without the church by Sharon Roach Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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You can be spiritual without the church. God will love you even if you don’t pay tithes or call him/her Brahma, Yahweh or Allah. It is possible to use both the teachings of Jesus and Buddha to chart your own spiritual journey. You can worship God through nature just as you can slap a tambourine in a choir stand. You can find truth in all of this creation not just in one book. The one thing I love about spirituality is that it allows you to chart your own spiritual path, call the Creator what you want, use whatever methods for connection that you like but most important it allows you to maintain your own identity, culture and heritage with no conformity. Spirituality transcends race and religious beliefs and gives opportunity for true freedom. It’s important in this age of conformity, cliques, clubs, denominations and social groupings that you be yourself. Society would make you believe that you can’t know God unless you belong to a church and there are several scriptures that can prove both sides of the argument but common sense should let you know that God is bigger than a church building, loves all people and has created many paths to meet with him/her. It’s time to come out the denominational and religious boxes and begin to experience God for yourself not according to what someone else says. We are getting ready to enter a new age of great spirituality in which religious traditions and lies will have to take a back seat. I welcome this age with full enthusiasm because it’s time mankind evolve to a higher level of existence and thinking. Religion has done its job of dividing, conquering, misleading and murdering and if you look at the state of the world today and some of the misfits running it you can see that religion has brought us down to an animal like state. I look at the Christian crusades that killed and persecuted millions in the name of God, forced indigenous people to give up their spirituality and take on theirs. I look at Jihad and see the millions down through the ages that have been persecuted and killed in the name of Allah and at those who were forced to take on Islam in order to be spared death. I am more convinced than ever that spirituality is the way. 
I don’t hate religion. I feel that some people may need religion and that’s okay but for the most part there are a lot of intelligent people who see the truth and desire to move on in their spirituality and beliefs but religion persecutes, chastises, labels and denounces those who step outside of tradition in order to pursue their own path. If organized religion would be tolerant of others beliefs and respectful of freedom of choice then perhaps I wouldn’t be so defensive.
Here is my dream:
What can bring people of all races, cultures and heritage together under one happy banner? Spirituality. One of the things I love most about spirituality is that I am free to be me. I am free to pursue God in whatever way works for me, while holding on to my culture and identity. It’s beautiful and wonderful when people of all walks of life can come together for the sole purpose of worshipping God, calling the Creator by whatever name they choose, presenting themselves in their own manner without fear of being judged or rejected. I believe in my heart that mankind will one day reach this point and my only hope is that I live to not only see it but be a part of it.
www.sistersharon.net
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| 14 comments |
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You already are..
a part of it. You are the seed of yin that is planted when the yang has taken predominance on earth. But you are more than just that. You are in touch with the whole - flowing in the river of life. You are. :-) by Ferdinand (17 articles, 4 quicklinks, 39 diaries, 259 comments) on Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 at 12:35:16 PM  (0+)
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Many of us
are on a spiritual path and without having the need of a 'leader' to point us in one direction or another. Truth is one, paths are many as the saying goes. So wonderful and freeing to live that without judging, etc. another's belief. I left an established religion many, many years ago........come to think of it I don't think I was ever really there. From childhood on I was just following along and not feeling any connection whatsoever. It works for some, just not for me. I find the universe to be the most interesting, fascinating, fulfilling, ever changing yet constant and expanding. Being along for that ride is unbelievable and oh so exciting. It just keeps getting better and better. Spirituality is it! by kclaf (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments) on Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 at 12:47:54 PM (0+)
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Society of Friends
The Quakers attitude toward steeple houses was right all along. by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1760 comments [39 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 at 1:19:02 PM (0+)
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Many can relate Kclaf
Finding my own spirituality is the greatest thing to happen to me and has opened up doors that I never knew existed. The universe is our temple, nature is our university and life is our teacher. by Sharon Roach (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 184 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 at 1:23:48 PM (0+)
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Absolutely!
This is an original: "Spirituality is a direct connection. Organized religion means using their pay phone under their supervision." by Edward Ulysses Cate (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 232 comments [9 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 at 2:04:25 PM (0+)
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I left organized religion
behind years ago, along with any desire to connect with it or through it. I much prefer a personal spiritual path. It's incredibly freeing. I'm surprised how many religous people, when they learn that I'm spiritual but not religious, seem to think I must be searching for something that's missing in my life. Quite the opposite. There's nothing missing. by SpiritBlooms (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 55 comments) on Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 at 3:11:19 PM (0+)
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Absolutely
We are all spiritual beings capable of giving and receiving of the universe. If you let them, leaders, politicians, churches and religions will filter the message so it's like watery coffee by the time it gets to us. by Kathlyn Stone (46 articles, 227 quicklinks, 27 diaries, 690 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 at 3:13:55 PM (0+)
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Spirit - I found the truth
I was brought up as a Southern Baptist where I learned the teachings of Jesus. Later in life I had a first hand experience of being one with all that is. That experience brought the teaching of Jesus a much deeper realization than I understood as a youth. As I now understand - there have been many enlightened beings who have tried to teach truth. There have also been many who have covered over the truth with so much "dressing" that the spirit is mostly lost. There are two teachings of Jesus that I hold firm in my soul; they are: 1. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. 2. Love one another, even your enemies. I have found that when I do the latter I have the former. by Philip Pease (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 209 comments [11 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 at 8:23:18 AM (0+)
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Pardon my pun... I removed the middle man between me and God
What will be interesting Sharon, is applying that new view of Creator to the every day regular aspect of life. Take marriage for instance: Monogamy says "I am yours and you are mine" That sounds more like ownership and fear, than love in it's definition. I believe the next relationship paradigm will be Polyamory, which literally means "many loves" Google it. When we as Humans expand the definition of Love...which after all is God, we will realize that Organized Religion has controlled and limited our potential as spiritual creatures. Remember, Your not a human having a spiritual experience, You are a spiritual being, having a human experience. Great article :) by Scott Ledger (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 135 comments) on Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 at 3:29:18 PM (0+)
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One of my favorite books...
..."Buddhism without Belief" is an excellent read. Why do so many require promises of rewards or threats of dire peril in the afterlife in order to live, be, and act humane in this one? by Amanda Lang (23 articles, 14528 quicklinks, 442 diaries, 731 comments [17 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 at 3:52:30 PM (0+)
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All that's true. But more is needed to save the world
The prophecies of all religion foretell the time when the humble, faithful, peaceful and meek shall inherit the earth, and spirituality will flourish. But, that won't happen unless and until the proud, aggressive and militant, who claim to be faithful, are exposed as the hypocrites that they are, soundly rebuked by a divinely inspired, prophesied authority, and rendered contrite of spirit in the face of real truth. Just read this to see what I'm talking about: by Ruth (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 273 comments [68 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 at 3:04:46 PM (0+)
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I Disagree
soundly rebuked by a divinely inspired, prophesied authority, and rendered contrite of spirit in the face of real truth. That's what's wrong with the world today, we keep waiting for some Divine authoritative person to come and deliver us from all the evil in the world and show us the way. Following this type of logic is what brought the followers of Jim Jones to a kool-aid death. Following this type of logic is what has brought on some of the worlds most autrocious dictators. You are the divinely, authoritative savior of your own life. Divine because you are a part of Creation, authoritative because it's your life and your own savior because no one can save you but you. Spirituality is the way! by Sharon Roach (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 184 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Mar 7, 2008 at 8:09:38 AM (0+)
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Reply: You didn't read the message
I, like Ruth, advocate the work of the son of man who writes under the pen name of Joseph J. Adamson, because he is the opposite of what you think. If you had read his message, you would not have said that. He fully acknowledges the problem you cite, and his message is a SOLUTION to that. He not only does NOT seek personal power, he avoids the spotlight and writes anonymously. His purpose is to empower and liberate us all, and FREE us ALL from those who want to rule over us. by Sarah Morgan (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 178 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 at 7:32:34 PM (0+)
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Reply: Yes, spirituality is the way
But Sarah is right. You apparently did not read the message. Sharon, you would probably like what Adamson's message says. It will actually liberate and empower us, and, as he says, remove all pretenders from all thrones. The message is that we are equal joint heirs to the throne in the "new kingdom" to come, where the only "king" is the one in heaven. When everyone gets the message we will actually have government that is of, by and for the PEOPLE. by Ruth (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 273 comments [68 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 at 8:16:33 PM (0+)
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