Spirituality

I was shocked to see a picture in our local paper and on national TV showing an extreme branch of the Baptist Church demonstrating at the funeral of a fallen veteran. Suddenly I realized what I believed all along ,that churches when out of control are part of the problem and not part of the solution. This group feel that the deaths of our troops are caused by God punishing them for their homosexual policies etc.

My belief is that every church or religious group have a doctrine which in print sounds quite good. All religions have some value and meet some criteria to be considered worthy of having universal currency. Most have a supernatural event which establishes it's right to be the one and only  in their direct contact with a supreme being. Some even have a direct link with God through human linage.Most feel that all the other beliefs are inferior to theirs and some will go far as to say that believe what we believe or you will go to hell.

Facts and more logical thinking has put that to rest by declaring that there is no physical hell but some who have returned from Haiti after serving for a time there might doubt that fact. In earlier times when the universe was small and extended as far as you could see and without the benefit of modern science it is practical for people to formulate some semblance of a religion to satisfy that need for assurance that there was some sort of a universal force controlling natural happenings.

Our Aboriginal Nations had a form of spirituality which met their needs and had many elements of universal religions. Some of them have met the trial of time and still exist. The Number of formalized religions which exist in America today are numerous and because they have not grown with the times do not meet the needs of many people. Some have made great strides and have become a powerful force. Many even delve into politics and get their hands burnt.

There are many people like me who have a spirituality which does not need the walls or creeds of an institutionalized organization to feel the great universal power which exists not only here on earth but beyond. Moral and social norms come from within and are taught through relationships in the home and community. Spirituality is not judgemental and does not exclude divergent thoughts and ideas. People who feel this power realize that man is a small part of the whole and understands that many secrets of the universe are still undiscovered. The beauty is in the journey of a short life where we just get a small slice of the total reality.

If only we could realize the beauty of all natural phenominum and seek to establish a life in harmony with the universe and their fellow man, the world would be a better place in which to live. Give me spirituality and less religion if you please.