Religions - A Work in Progress
The world's religions - the many schools of thought and spiritual practices.
Each, in their own special way, contributing to the evolution of the human
consciousness and to the
shaping of the world as we know it today.
Many of the major religions share common similarities.
Each provides its practitioners with a moral code to follow.
Each promotes, self-purification and right association, individual and
community well-being.
Each attempts to address the fundamental questions
pertaining to the meaning and purpose of one’s life, one's place
in the universe,
the reconciliation of endings and new beginnings, and the interconnectness
of it all.
Spirituality is a life-energy, a molding and moving force, egoless and pure.
And this life-energy is within us all. Religion, is a contrived manifestation, reflecting the times of its well-meaning and brilliant founders, entailing to a certain degree their imperfections, short-comings, and limitations. And just as there is the ongoing need for an individual to apply him or herself... to remedy the defects of their character, so too - with a religion. Change or fade, grow or perish, a religion if it wishes to endear and endure needs to be viewed as a living process - awake and alive, progressive and relevant - receptive to ongoing discoveries and revelations. A great religion, like a great love between two people, embraces both endings and new beginnings.
Each major religion, I have discovered, is a “work in progress,”
rediscovering itself in both old and new expressions; be it
Orthodox (historic), Conservative (moderate), or Reformist (visionary.)
Orthodox believers take the traditional fundamentalist approach and
resist change.
Conservative believers acknowledge the need for some change,
reflecting a changing society while honouring fundamental doctrines
pertaining to their faith.
Reformist believers embrace new discoveries. And take a progressive approach realigning and redefining themselves with the realities of a changing world.
Throughout recorded history, every major religion has been responsible
for unspeakable cruelty and violence, innumerable bloody conflicts,
atrocities, and wars; the degrading and abuse
of women and children, the violation of human
rights.
Just as the planets and the moons of our solar system have a dark side,
so too - a religion.
Every generation is given the task and responsibility for addressing
this darkness. This darkness unless addressed becomes a sickness. Sickness, as we all know, unchecked only leads to morbility.
In addressing this (and often at the peril of one's life) will require awareness, courage, compassion, wisdom, honesty
and a dedication to academic truth while at the same time honouring our spiritual nature.
May they come together and in a spirit of cooperation work to resolve
important issues,
the previous generation's unfinished business, reconciliating the old
with the new.
May we all be equally valued and united in our humanity;
the good of it and the advancement of civilization will depend on it. In achieving this, it will also require the members and leaders of all the religions to
step forward; end the
age-old rift between them, connect being to being, and become emissaries
for positive change.
May the world's religious community direct its energies with intelligence. Free itself from: avoidance, denial, and outdated ways of thinking; its members from having to live with a distorted reality or compromised personal integrity.
May it use its collective power, influence, and wisdom
to move in a positive healthy direction - set things right, making it,
a better world for us all.
To transform and transcend is within us, whether it be as an individual,
as a society, or as a religion.
To study religions is to study ourselves.
May we become more than what we thought we could be - I know I have.
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