Originally Posted by
Jimbo
I was brought up in the Catholic religion, but not hard core like some people. As a kid, church every Sunday, and catechism on Thursday afternoons. I kind of sat through it but wasn't that into it. I began to pull away from the religion in my teens, but always maintained a strong belief in a Divine Creator/Divine Intelligence. Just not the angry, Caucasian, bearded giant sitting on a throne up in the clouds, waiting for any little infraction on my part to throw a childish tantrum and punish me.
I began to see things differently, not only by opening my mind, but through various personal spiritual experiences throughout my life that taught me that much of what is taught in organized religion is (for me) not applicable. I began to see that, although there are many great people in every religion, that there are also a high percentage who use religion as a way to feel superior to or manipulate others. There are also some self-professed religious people who don't even believe in spirit. I've heard so-called "God-fearing Christians" who could quote bible verses at will, but who state that common, simple things like ghosts and psychic experiences are a bunch of nonsense. Or that they're all the work of the devil. Those types can't even see their own hypocrisy.
IMO, there are people in power in every religion who have perverted the original intentions of the teachings to suit their own agendas, and many who blindly follow them. People talk about martial arts students who blindly follow certain traditions or teachers, but with religions, that potential is ten-fold.
Again, I've known some awesome people who are religious, but such people invariably accept others' beliefs as equal to their own. They don't see the need to 'convert' others to their beliefs. They can even, without judgment, accept those who are judgmental or negative towards them and their beliefs. That last one is a tough one. I'm still working on it. Anyway, in the end, beliefs are only beliefs. Actual personal experiences create knowledge within yourself of your own truth, and IMO, those truths are ultimately universal.