A Question of Love

[cliffy1]

In my late teens and early 20s I rejected the bible, god and religion in general. Then I was introduced to the Moody Blues. Their lyrics and music inspired me to start my spiritual journey. I became ravenous to devour all I could concerning spirituality and our relationship with Life, the Universe and the Creative Force behind it all.

What I found was so far beyond anything I was taught, I looked at the world and saw that 2000 years of Christianity had got us no where. We were still barbarians, still killing each other over doctrine and dogma. There was still suffering, starvation, and war. Christians had learned nothing from the teachings of Jesus or the bible. Everything in this religion is about personal salvation and everybody else be damned. So I looked into the teachings of all the other religions I could find.

I spoke to numerous people of a wide variety of religious persuasions. I went to prayer meetings, healing circles, ceremonies and rituals, always looking for what would bind us all in spiritual union. What I found was that religion is the singular most disruptive force on Earth that separated us, each thinking that their way was the only way.

What I found was that there is a unifying principle that does bind us all as humans. It has nothing to do with religion or beliefs. It is only about loving ourselves as we would like others to love us. Love is the only unifying principle in the Universe. Religion does nothing toward this end. It only promotes exclusivity. There is no faith in religion, only belief.

There has always been those who found faith through the path of religion, but they are few and far between. Faith can only be found with an open mind and heart. Thinking that you have found the answer is a sure way to stop your spiritual growth, which is an evolutionary process that never ends. Even the Creative Force evolves as we do. God is not a stagnant being and it is not separate from us or any other part of the Universe. It is everything and grows with everything in It.

[LoneWolf_53]

Smoking a fat one by chance while you were listening to The Moody Blues?

Everyone I know was.

[cliffy1]

Smoking a fat one by chance while you were listening to The Moody Blues?

Everyone I know was.

Sometimes, not always. I haven't smoked in decades and the universal truth of it still touches me deeply.

[LoneWolf_53]

Universal Truth? Is that what we're calling it now?

Back in the day we just called it flashbacks. 8-P

[cliffy1]

Universal Truth? Is that what we're calling it now?

Back in the day we just called it flashbacks. 8-P

Now you are just being cynical.

[Queen K]

^^ ooohh what a surprise from LW,

Cliffy, sounds like you and Thinktank have a lot to talk about.

[baconbits]

^^ ooohh what a surprise from LW,

Amen to that!

[Glacier]

I remember my dad listening to the Moody Blues when I was young. Definitely psychedelic music.

[Fancy]

I remember listening to the Moody Blues when I was young - brings back great memories.

[LoneWolf_53]

I remember listening to the Moody Blues when I was young - brings back great memories.

They did a show at Prospera back when it was still called Skyreach Place.

[ronnewman]

One of the greatest gifts I feel I have been blessed with in my life is my connection to the source of my creation. I have come to believe that I don't know anything and that I am constantly amazed that I am able to accomplish anything by trying to force it. I am constantly reminded that letting go and opening up to the flow of life has created and manifested amazing opportunities that I could have never created without the grace of the source of life itself. The beauty of the universe is that it manages to organize total chaos intricately in the universe. It is beautiful and magnificent, and it does all of this effortlessly. The grass doesn't strain to grow, and an acorn effortlessly grows into an oak tree.

[WhenWhatWho]

Smoking a fat one by chance while you were listening to The Moody Blues?

Everyone I know was.

I would need a huge fatty to listen to the world's suckiest prog band. So many better bands in this genre.

[BelieveNothing]

Cliffy1 thank you :)

I appreciate very much you sharing some of your experience and your sentiment.

I completely agree.