RELIGION

One of the most beautiful and important events of the past 50 years or so has been the restoration of the true message of both eastern and western religions. Vedic teachings have been restored to their original meaning, form and power. The Vedic scriptures of the East are probably the oldest and the most central sacred scriptures known to the world. Their wisdom has inspired Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, as well as having an impact on western religions.

In the West, the appearance of the Gnostic Gospels has made the deeper more complete teachings of Jesus available to all religions. The recent wide dissemination of Kabbalah has done the same not only for those of the Jewish faith, but for the world at large. The so called 'mystical' branches of all the western religions have gained immense popular interest, and adherence. The teachings of these previously 'hidden' branches of the western religions are having a major impact on the mainstream as their methods and truths become available to the general public. This is true for Christianity, Judaism, and Islam as we;; as others.

The Vedas, the Gnostic Gospels, and the Kabbalah are ancient traditional works. In this awakening they have been joined by a number of other works that are arguably inspired by higher sources. These include the "With God" series, A Course in Miracles, The Urantia Book, the works of Ken Carey among others.

In this awakening we are discovering and selecting the best of our tradition and combining those with new revelations. In this way our religions are being enlarged to contain greater truths that better serve us in our quest to become more fully human. Religion and science will blend to become one complementary source of inspiration and knowledge. Religion is expanding its horizons to encompass greater truths, .preserving what is best, and discarding the rest. The best of the East and the West when combined, create a firm foundation upon which to construct an expanded, evolving religion that will uplift humanity to its true heights, and unite humankind in the reality that we are all ONE. This is happening now.

Religion, in this awakening, is no longer understood to be based on ancient revelations that are no longer occurring. Revelations about the nature of God, human beings, life, and reality are continuous. This must be so because the insights and needs of people evolve. Religion, as a means to assist people in their quest for spiritual development, is itself evolving. Religion must evolve because life evolves. Ultimate reality and ultimate truth may not change, but it does evolve. So religions, if they are to be effective must also.

As varied as these expanding sources are, they all tell of a loving, caring God who lives within us as we live within God, of a God that is directly available to all of us, of the brotherhood and equality of all human beings whose evolution to enlightenment and fulfillment is their birthright, of the nature of reality, of the paths that will raise every person to their fullness, of the fact that the achievement of our quest for perfection is assured, that there is no condemnation nor hell other than the one of our own making, that we are not sinners who need redemption but individuations of God seeking to create our own spiritual growth in the light of our own inner truth.

One of the most amazing aspects of this religious awakening is that the best of the religions of the East and the religions of the West may be seen as complementary rather than conflicting. It is gradually dawning on us that we have two great religious traditions that are based on the same fundamentals, but emphasize different but indispensable dimensions of spiritual truth. As these two traditions begin to join one another a greater spiritual truth emerges that is more than the sum of its parts. This spiritual awakening is truly global, and bids to create a unified world of greater beauty, happiness, peace, love, joy, prosperity, freedom, and abundance then we have ever imagined.

And always remember that one way is not better than the other ways. There are just different ways that fit different situations for different persons at different times. Diversity is crucial, but diversity flourishes most when embraced by unity, a unity that promotes rather than suppresses diversity.

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