Religion has a lot to answer for with the troubles in this world. What started as groups who promoted LOVE over the centuries have changed to sectors of POWER and HATRED.
As part of my Bachelor of Arts Degree I studied Religion. I had been raised in a Christian household, knew a little about Islam, Buddhism and Hindu, but not the beliefs of each. As I read through each faith, I was impressed on what each religion was based, but as I investigated further, I discovered that like many organisations, the discovery of POWER, as the numbers grew, became more important than the basics of the religion.
This is a sad situation, because what was set up to make the world a better place, ended up changing our societies to where we now have religious organisations which have let their followers down.
There is good and bad in every person. And that should be accepted. Knowing this will make it easier to find the good side of a person. Instead, we have religious leaders telling us other faiths are wrong, and in some ways, we must fight against this. No one likes wars, and why should we fight others just because they worship another God.
And that is the main problem. How many Gods are there? And, why is it always a Male? What if there are many Gods, and like the Greeks and the Romans believed, each God was in charge of various happenings in the world? Who says what is preached by one religion is correct? Only the people who are preaching it. Because they are stating it, doesn’t make it true.
Does this mean we should abandon all religions? Personally, through my long life I have seen what faith in a God can do. People who pray feel there is someone watching over them. They will tell you, because of what they have experienced, there must be a God, because that is who is helping them. And, I will agree with them. They are finding safety in talking to their God, but that doesn’t mean their God is not the same as someone else’s God. If we all talk to God surely it is the same God?
And that brings us to the next question. Some people don’t believe in anything. They will tell you there is no God. Yet, many times in their lives, when something bad has happened to them, they have prayed for assistance. Just saying ‘someone help me’ to the air around them is calling upon an outsider coming to their rescue. If this is discussed with the person later, especially, when by some unknown reason, assistance arrived, they are confused. If there is no God, how did that happen?
This is the puzzle. Maybe like the Hindus believe, there are many Gods. Maybe like the Christians believe, there are many Saints who assist. But maybe there is a God and not the Supreme Being promoted by religious organisations, but a God within you and about you. Your own personal God, that was born with you.
I can hear you saying this is stupid. How can there be a God within me and about me? Good question, and this is the time to think about yourself and your life. Have you ever felt you had to do something, like go somewhere or contact someone? No logical reason behind that feeling but you know you have to do it? OK let’s think why? What is the reason? It could be called vibes. There have been many people who have refused to catch a plane which ended up crashing, and many people have felt the need to ring a friend only to discover that friend had received some terrible news. Something within you and about you is guiding. You are not alone.
Feeling love for others and wanting the best for others comes from within. Could that be the God within you? And surely the God about you is the God who walks with you throughout your life?
As I have stated earlier, I am not happy with any of the religions, but I am religious. I have set up my own personal religion. I pray to my own God and to friends and relatives who have died and left this life. I request them to take care of members of my family; and for my friends, I ask their family members who have died to look after them.
Belief is a personal thing. You don’t need a church to pray. You don’t need a religious order to tell you how to pray. All you need is the belief that there is someone there helping you, whether that be a God or a past friend or relative.
The world needs a new religion where Power cannot take over. That religion can be in you. A belief in yourself and those you love and have loved. A belief that helps the world, and lets everyone work together as an individual God. I don’t believe I am God, but I do believe there is a God inside me helping me to do the right thing, to love people and be there for others. I am contented with my life. You can be too.
Julie Finch-Scally ©
Add comment
Comments