Gandhi said, "God has no religion." People have made much of that statement, much of it based on a misunderstanding of both the nature of God and of religion.
God is the All, the essential Being from which all things, all concepts, all beings emanate, including us creatures whose innate impulse to seek the sacred is expressed through religion. Religion therefore arises from that fundamental spiritual desire for, and experience of the Holy. It is not, and should never be mistaken for, the Holy, the Divine.
Religion arises from the fundamental spiritual desire for the Holy
Love leads the Pilgrim out of the briar, from Love and the Pilgrim. Edward Burne-Jones
Rather, religion is the process of seeking, and in its true form, serves as a Way to participation in the Divine --- the Way of Tao, the Way of the Christ, the Buddhist Way and so forth.
Religion is the process of seeking, and in its true form, serves as a Way to participation in the Divine
Whenever an individual, group or society formulates, promotes and (hopefully) follows a consistent pattern of spiritual seeking based on esteemed values and attitudes, they are practicing religion. The truth is that few do. And those who most loudly profess to be religious are often the most un-religious of all! In a great many cases, what can be clearly seen from their actions and attitudes is that they are really worshipers of money, prestige or power.
Religion is not meant to be dogmatic, but too often is turned into dogma, and loses its innate capacity for being a true spiritual guide. Remember that Gandhi was a devout Hindu for all of his life, and practiced his religion, not as THE way but as a tradition built on profound spiritual knowledge and devotion. Jesus said, it is not following the law that matters (referring to the laws of the Judaic religion into which he was born), but adhering to the spirit of the law, the deep inner impulse to God and Oneness with our fellow humans.
Whenever an individual, group or society follows a consistent pattern of spiritual seeking based on esteemed values and attitudes, they are practicing religion.
Parsifal and the holy grail. Edward Burne-Jones.
I see much value in religion as a personal discipline to help awaken us and support our awakening, but not in the institution of religion with its dogma, laws and authorities. It is the institution, though, that is mostly taught, the man-made religion that demands loyalty to this or that institution, and twists the teachings of its master to suit its own purpose.
Though I do not worship some old man in the sky or follow church laws, I do follow as closely as I can the Way taught by the Christ because those values and ideals are values i want to live by, and ideals I aspire to. Others follow different ways, also not out of ignorance of the true nature of God, or the need for rules and laws, but as a spiritual discipline practiced in companionship and mutual support with others.
It is a great pity, therefore, that for most, being religious is something like nationalism, where the 'not-one-of-us' are either rejected or the enemy, and condemning, judging or even harming those who are not-us is called loyalty or devotion. It is this, which has gone on for centuries, that has given religion its bad name, and has made religion almost a dirty word.
Religion is not the church, the temple or the mosque. Nor is it the master, the teacher or prophet. It is the practice of living one's spiritual values as closely as one can. When I light candles, say prayers for the world, ask for guidance, try to live according to my highest ideals, give thanks to the Holy, and for the Christ who suffered so much to teach us lessons that have been largely misunderstood or forgotten, I am practicing my religion, re-connecting with the divine.
Detail from The Star of Bethlehem tapestry. Edward Burne-Jones.
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