It is as you say in your last paragraph about what most people think religion is, that sits with me at the core about why most of us just hide behind a label and think everything is ok.

I too am inspired by the Native culture, especially their views of nature and connection to inner spirits. I think there is a lot of value that we can learn from them today as many of us did get lost in the material world.

I think people often forget the true meaning of religion and that’s where souls get lost. I attended a Native American Pow Wow yesterday, a celebration of friends & family. The first hour and 1/2 was dedicated to honoring those before us, those that have fought for us and those that sat among us.

This base, is what I call religion – I pray, I believe in a higher power, do I know at this point in my life what to call him/her. No, I am still searching, but I do know and sway more towards the Native beliefs that there is a great spirit, and creator of all, if we can continue to believe in this, and continue to pray, we have a base camp, within in that statement I would hope that religion would survive.

I was given the gift of drawing, I try to give to my community by donating pieces for charity events. If we all took the time to do this, and listen to our hearts, this is where a community is conceived. This is where religion grows stronger.

So many people think organized religion is the solution, let’s go sit in church for an hour 1 day a week, and that absolves everything that I do for the remaining week. Speaking poorly of those less privileged, not taking the time to care for elders. Its a little dis-heartening when the material world gets in the way to such magnitude.

Great Post Evita, it truly made me think!

I am not sure if my article came accross wrong, but the message that I was trying to convey is that in today’s evolving times, religions are not moving people forward but keeping them stagnant and this is what I wonder about, whether religions will be able to evolve or not? For example Tomas as you talk about stumbling and putting oneself against a religion, this article in no way is meant to put oneself against a religion but try to move religions forward through a unifying perspective and on a personal level understand how and IF a personal religion is leading to deeper growth or not.

I also think that serving “a” community is great and I actually wish more people did it, but they don’t and escpecially if they are religious. However I also feel that serving “your own” community has the tendancy to put up a boundary of “us” versus “them”.

I think the world is moving towards a more unified existance and hence every person around you is your community, not just that of your particular church or religion.

Personally I have also felt that in my own journey I became more understanding of the so called “threatening future” much more when I was able to go deeper into the understanding of God, spiritual energy, etc. It has helped me understand for example the trinity better than I could have ever imagined by just listening to the limited messages I was getting out of my own previous religion.

Every major world religion at the core has the same set of beliefs as the other, but outwardly tries to validate itself as the righteous one by its own rituals and practices. And this is what my main thoughts are still focused on, as long as religions keep being stubborn and holding onto their own rights and wrongs, we will not be able to heal the world and move on living out the highest versions of ourselves as human beings.

Again a long discussion could continue on this… so I will stop there for now, perhaps it will inspire more articles regarding this in the future.