People frequently ask me if I’m religious and of a particular religious faith. I am neither. Although I was born into a family of one faith (Russian Orthodox), yet raised in another (Jewish, of Holocaust survivor parents). And being a very curious child, I was never satisfied by anything religion taught me.

My questions were never answered intelligently or sufficiently enough to make sense. I found that religious leaders often twist either life or religion in order to justify their religious views and why they think we should all live a certain way. Some questions I asked fell on deaf ears, on prejudiced ears, with responses that ridiculed rather than showed care and compassion, and yet there were those who are wonderful people, but don’t know much. It always left gaps, and I felt like I was being handed yet another bunch of holy crappola.

Plus, the words in those bibles weren’t mine, didn’t reflect my thoughts. Why should I have had to say them by rote and with a congregation of sheeple? Towards what purpose? I didn’t know God from those books and classes, and I didn’t think any of those guys knew God, either.

I still don’t think most religious leaders have a clue because they’re so hung up on what books tell them to think, rather than experiencing it for themselves through personal experience, for instance like meditation. There is little balance in most religions between the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional.

Because I was somewhat able to communicate with my higher self and spirits since I was a kid, I knew there was more out there than meets the eye in religion. Since teenagehood, I’ve been a spiritist and metaphysician who shares in the appreciation of some elements found in organized religions. But, I am not a "follower" or "believer" of only one religion, and never will be. After I had my own experiences with spirit and the Source, I know that I don’t need a religion in order to find It, or please it.

Religions are mostly static, living in the past, not open to change. I don’t think we must forget what happened in the past (those events that actually DID occur), but not to relive them year after year. I think if we haven’t learned anything from the past, we have missed the lesson and may need to repeat it until we get it. But for those who get it - get on with your lives. For instance, in Judaism, how long do the Jews want to keep reliving slavery and freedom until they get the point that they are always free?

Example: The Passover can keep a people in victimhood, or it can be seen as a celebration of freedom. I think that most Jews are trying to transcend being victims, but as long as they worship YHWH/Enlil, they’re doomed because YHWH was a woman-hater and a terror who had no problem destroying life (unlike Adonai/Enki).

I do think that children need a strong spiritual foundation early in life. I think having this foundation gives a child confidence, roots, support, and reminds them why they are in their family - shared belief systems. Religious does not equal spiritual.

Egocentricity and belief in God are mutually exclusive. When egocentricity overtakes our consciousness, our professed belief in God may be nothing other than a psychological means of having someone to blame for whatever is going wrong in our lives [Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh]. How many times have you heard of, or yourself used God as an excuse or blame for the problems in the world?

The major religions of the world (not including paganism) began as a way to control the masses and gain power and wealth by instilling fear and low self-esteem, by warping the true messages from the Source by teaching that suffering and self-degradation were sacred and a super highway to the Lord. You were created in God’s image, yet you were sinful.

Love the Lord, but fear the Lord. And if you were born a woman, by the Old Testament you are evil and to be punished and treated as property and cared for as if you’re incapable of taking care of yourself. Your clergy were the only ones allowed to commune with God FOR you. God created you, but don’t be human and have human feelings. Human emotions were then relegated to God. What a mess! Hypocrisy grew in religions to ridiculous proportions, and everyone vied to be God’s chosen people. Want proof today of the hypocrisy?

Just try to talk to some Jehovah’s Witnesses or Born Again Christian and see if they’re open to YOUR views. They’re not. And don’t even get me started talking about Mohammad. Then there is the Catholic Church, The Vatican, the richest gang on the planet who thrives on lying to its masses who support it (while being controlled by it).

Besides lecturing their flocks on what to do or not to do, or ordering them to deny their divinity and humanity and feel guilty for their existence, does the Vatican actually share its wealth with their followers? (Absolutely not.) Do they allow women equality, even though women are more than half the population, and the real Church ironically reveres Mary? Do they allow challenges to their faith? Hardly. Hypocrites. Do you know anyone raised by nuns and priests who doesn’t have at least one issue (conflict) regarding sex?

This Jewish man supposedly died for everyone’s sins. Really? Jesus never said that he did so. Suppose he didn’t even die on the cross. But you think he knew every person who would be born after him and that we’re all sinners that need saving - by him alone? If you believe that, then I have this bridge in Nevada I’d like to sell you.... I also don’t believe this story because I don’t think anything is a "sin," EXCEPT perhaps forgetting our divine source.

Rape and premeditated murder are horrible choices of the lowest level, disrespecting life, and like any choice one must face the consequences of one’s actions. Would God give us a brain, a heart, the ability to choose, to learn and grow as a sin? Since we’re all created by the same energy, how can that energy make mistakes or be sinful, itself? Is someone overriding God?

Okay, back to Jesus (pronounced as Yeshway, in Aramaic). This guy was a Jew, taught Judaism, and had no intentions of starting a new religion, but a new branch of Judaism, led by his wife Mary. But once a new religion was created in his name long after his supposed murder by the Romans, Jews became the enemy rather than brethren. This new religion made Jesus divine (Constantine and the Council of Nicacea), and then God was fragmented into a triad instead of being One. It also made all women into whores and crazies.

Many people today can’t figure out if Jesus is God, or God’s son, or what he is supposed to be. I say, figure out God for yourself and live Godly and stop worrying about Jesus. He can take care of himself because he is a master, and doesn’t need constant harassment. You don’t need his permission or approval for anything. And why would a God need you to kiss its ass? Is God so needy for human acceptance, approval, gratitude? For goodness sake, you have a brain; use it.

The point of the Jesus myth was really the symbolic resurrection, ETERNAL LIFE, not martyrhood, not victimhood, not blame. So if there’s anything to celebrate from the story of Jesus, it is that we are all divine and eternal beings.

Jesus’ mother supposedly got pregnant without having sex. Okay - explain that one logically (without it being symbolic).

Without sex or in vitro fertilization, it can’t happen, I don’t care what anyone says.

• Do you think that a God who created Adam and Eve and the universe and every living thing in it couldn’t find his creation, Adam, in the Garden of Eden?

• Do you think God knew what Adam and Eve were doing and therefore has been playing a cruel joke on humanity ever since?

• Why would God demand sacrifices and run after humans?

• Why would God punish only women by the pain in childbirth if he was pissed off at what Adam AND Eve did by eating from the tree?

• Do you ever stop to think who these beings (Nephilim and Anakim) mentioned in the bibles really were?

• Like, perhaps ETs?

Okay, let’s say you believe in the Jesus talked about in the New Testament, or Krishna (the life of Jesus is interestingly so identical to Krishna’s), or Buddha, then do you do what their example tells you to do? To accept all people; end suffering; to heal the sick; to help the needy; to teach people how to realize their own personal connection to the Creator; to BE sons and daughters of God.

If a person doesn’t behave like Jesus, or God, then they don’t believe in him.

• What about the REALLY ridiculous things religion makes people buy into?

• Like the annual brainwashing for Christmas gifts that begin around October?

• Or bunnies and Easter eggs, and never having to explain the connection between them - oh yeah, sure, it’s about fertility. Or, how about forced starvation/fasts?

• Having to eat fish on Fridays or God will what, kill you?

• Or that Harry Potter is evil (when it really teaches good morals and is fun)?

• Or that all pagans or witches are satanists - not to mention that religions "borrowed" a lot from the pagans, such as holidays based on the seasons and phases of the moon?

Christmas was stolen from the pagans who celebrated the return of the sun, the longer days. It has nothing to do with Jesus’ birth.

Then there is this priceless scene: athletes and artists thanking Jesus or God for winning. As if God couldn’t be with a loser. As if God played favorites in a rap video. Or in a disaster. People say, "God was on my child’s side." Oh - but not on the side of a child who was hurt or killed? People - do you realize how insensitive (and stupid) you sound when you say that?

Religion has been responsible for the majority of wars and deaths on our planet since Ra and Horus fought Seth, with the disgusting excuse that they were waged in God’s name and with God’s approval, if not God’s direct orders. These wars were about families, the need for power and control, and back then those guys WERE seen as being Gods. Every religion has tried that one numerous times, and we know how that always ends. (Think that’s good PR for religion or God?)

We are still experiencing religious wars in the Middle East. And now that we’re in a literal war based on religious views, I think we all need to do some serious thinking. Does it matter which car Jesus would drive, or if Mohammad would pick a beauty pageant contestant for a wife? Have you had enough of being a martyr or victim? Come on! How inane. No wonder so many people question religion.

"An ignorant people is generally a religious people, and a religious people nearly always an immoral people."

--- John Remsburg

Don’t agree? Then please explain suicide murderers and terrorists in Allah’s name, the Catholic church’s Inquisition, the Church murdering 5 million women for being evil, the Salem witch trials, the entire Old and New Testaments and Koran filled with orders to kill or maim, abstinence and denial of you as a sexual being, torture, honor killings or female genital mutilation in Islam as being moral and sane.

Battles continue today even in Israel’s "holy sites", who controls them, who can use them. I have a message for the people in that region, and everywhere there are "holy sites." No matter which religion you keep, I would think that two things are accepted across the board - they’re called SHARING & RESPECT.

• Why is it that the so-called "holy places" can’t be openly shared with whomever wishes to go to them for the purposes of prayer, respect, or education?

• All the major religions believe in God - isn’t that enough to get past petty or even huge differences?

• Can’t holy places be neutral ground?

• Can’t the Arabs accept the existence of Israel?

Geez, even most animals will not prey on other animals while drinking at the only watering hole in the desert. I advise checking your egos, rage, and weapons outside at the gate, and remember why you’re there - to connect with God. Maybe that connection will remind everyone that we’re all creations of that God, or Source, or whatever you want to name it.

Since we’re all created in God’s image, isn’t it high time everyone started acting divinely? And that whatever you do to someone else, you’re doing (or have already done) to yourself? There’s a lot to be said for sharing, respect, compassion and love - could even bring about peace - imagine that.

If religion gives you comfort, or fulfills some need in your life and gets you through the day in a healthy way, great. I’m just saying that it doesn’t work for me, and I have doubts it’s had a general positive influence on the planet. It’s too harmful and shallow without demanding enough independent thinking and self-responsibility for one’s spirituality.

Here’s what I think about God (and I concur with Bashar):
 

We have free will and the ability to choose the illusion of being separate from God. But, our ability to do this, and yet still be supported in God’s creation, proves just how unconditional God’s love really is. How can anyone say that God’s love is unconditional except for this condition and that condition? That shows complete faithlessness.

Humans imposed the limited and narrow view on Jesus (or whomever) and God because they won’t accept themselves as God’s unconditionally loved creations.

"It has been said that the Devil’s greatest trick was in convincing the world he didn’t exist. I disagree. If the Devil does exist, then his greatest trick is also a great irony: he has convinced millions of people to spread judgment and fear in God’s name! He has tricked people of weak faith into believing that God’s love is limited and finite; that God will judge Its children as unworthy and will punish them in Hell for their sins, and he gets these people to preach this gospel of fear IN GOD’S NAME!

 

Even the Christians acknowledge that the Devil can quote Scripture to suit his own purposes, yet the idea escapes them that the Devil (or just plain human fear and greed) could have convinced people to subvert the Scriptures themselves. Let him who has ears hear the truth!

"The real question is: Are YOU willing to take the REAL risk: To see yourself and all others through the eyes of an unconditionally loving God - One who will love you FOREVER no matter what you do? One who loves Its children so much, It’s willing to give them eternity to learn from their mistakes rather than punish them? Are you willing to believe in your own goodness? Willing to "risk" that you can handle that much love FOREVER?"

 

[Bashar]

When you get that, how can you then go backwards and think that saying certain words (prayers) to please God, or offering sacrifices, being superstitious, or punishing anyone, would be the way to God? How about meditating and being a channel for divine consciousness to become more blended with your own, instead? How about choosing divine wisdom and love (that the Source is and shares with you), instead of fear and powerlessness?

If at this point you are still wondering why I’m not part of any one institutionalized religion, why I choose to remain a free spirit, let me be even clearer:

• I cannot support any religion or institution whose goal is to control, or discriminate against someone because of their gender, ethnicity, I.Q., age, etc. Especially any religion that sees women as lower than men, as evil, as property, or as needing punishment just for being female. (Everybody is born through the body of a woman.)
   

• I cannot support any religion who decides FOR me when I live or die, or what I can or cannot do with my own body.
   

• I don’t want to be part of a religion that tells me that they’re the only "right" one and non-believers must die, or won’t get into heaven.
   

• I don’t want to be part of anything I can’t question or challenge, nor one in which I am not allowed to compose my own prayers or affirmations - communicate with God in my own way.
   

• I don’t want to be part of a religion that preaches what they determine is "holy," but can’t walk their talk.
   

• I don’t believe there is only one symbol for God, or that God looks like any one individual.
   

• I don’t want to be part of a religion that abuses, kills, spreads lies, cheats, and steals.
   

• I don’t want to be part of a religion that has no compassion or responsibility, or no love.
   

• I don’t want to be part of a religion that doesn’t get that we are ALL created by God/the Source.
   

• I also don’t seek (or need) some messiah or savior, nor anyone else judging my soul for me.
   

• I trust in my personal connection and experiences with the Source (Higher Self, Nature, Goddess, God, All That Is, Cosmic Intelligence - whatever one wants to name It) within myself for spiritual guidance.