In a previous post, we learned that we are part of the Triune God, in which we as the experiencers help the unmanifested and manifested parts of God to Know and Be Itself. In this post, we ask the question: what is the purpose of religion or spirituality in civilizations?
What is religion?
One definition states: “A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence.” There is a wide spectrum of views about the function and meaning of religion on Earth in the 21st century.
- One side says God is dead and that religion is all bunk or just mind control, the opium of the masses, training people how to think and how to give their power away to others.
- The other side claims that God is most definitely not dead, because two-thirds of the world’s population identifies itself with one of the five major religions, as illustrated in the map below (click to enlarge).
- Some have wondered about the future of religion, but concluded that while our society may be secular, individuals remain religious creatures.
- We’ve also heard the quote that religion is for people who fear hell, while spirituality is for people who have already been there. 😉
Joseph Campbell stated: “Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble.”
Dalai Lama said: “My religion is kindness.” Gandhi also said: “One’s own religion is after all a matter between oneself and one’s Maker and no one else’s. Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion.”
“There is no “right path” to God. Our choices are unrestricted, our opportunities are unlimited, our paths are unending.” – Neale Donald Walsch
What about the rest of the physical universe?
We are not alone. The universe is teeming with life and civilizations at various stages of evolution. According to Lyssa Royal, all species have “homesickness” or a desire to go back home, to remember their true self and God, to remember oneness (unity) with Source.
Many of us have incarnated through physical civilizations whose lessons influence us. For example, 99% of us have had lifetimes in Lyra a long time ago, according to Royal.
- The Lyrans were externally focused on space exploration and outer technology, while the Vegans (a star within the Lyran system) were more internally focused, and developed spiritual practices that spread to other parts of the galaxy, including Earth.
- The Vegans were spiritual warriors and masters of sound, who used tone and sound for everything from healing to warfare, chanting, mantras, etc.
The Vegans also believed in self-sacrifice, self-discipline (purifying themselves through diet, breath, meditation, yoga, etc.), alone time, spiritual technology, and using logic and reason (while repressing emotions) to control the ego, much like the Vulcans (“Mr. Spock”) in the Star Trek series, which we know was not a balanced approach (see What Is Spiritual Bypassing? – Big Picture Questions.com).
- The impact of Vegan mysticism is still seen in certain practices used in Buddhism, Shintoism, esoteric Christianity, and nature worshipping on our planet.
Royal said that the intense drama and polarity warring in the Orion system (similar to the Star Wars movies) is a metaphor for the ego that is deluded and wants total control.
- It was transformed by the incarnation of an “Orion Christ” figure that healed the deep polarity in the Orion system.
- For us this means awakening the Christ within, i.e. remembering who we are, rather than seeking an external savior or allowing our ego (instead of our higher self) to run our lives (see What Are the Stages Of Spiritual Development? – Big Picture Questions.com).
What is the purpose of religion or spirituality?
As discussed in Why Do We Forget Who We Are? – Big Picture Questions.com, Wendy Kennedy said that we, as higher dimensional beings, long ago decided to enter into density, forget who we are and then try to get out of it. We are the ones playing it out here on Earth and elsewhere in the universe.
“Each moment in life was co-created for us by the lot of us to allow all of us to express an aspect of Divinity.” – Neale Donald Walsch
The game is of our own creation, which means we can also exit the game when we have an expanded sense of awareness. That’s where religious and spiritual practices come in. Their function is to help us remember the Greater Reality, who we really are, and how to live in the physical without being of the physical or getting stuck in it, since it’s just a stage for our play.
Walsch suggested: “Do whatever it takes – meditate, exercise, pray, read, write, listen to music, whatever you find that works – to ignite your awareness daily. All things lead us to our innermost truth. That is their purpose. Life is truth, revealing Itself to Itself.
Remembering that you know that you know releases you immediately from any thought of helplessness, hopelessness and haplessness. Souls who walk in awareness choose a different path. They seek to experience all the peace, joy, wisdom and love that Oneness brings.”
What does God/Source want us to know?
According to Walsch, God said to him: You’ve got me all wrong! 😉
Here are a few newer ideas about God/Source excerpted from Walsch’s book, “What God Said:”
- “God wants nothing at all, because God has and is Everything.” That means God doesn’t want or need any sacrifices, rituals or worship. God does not judge or punish us. Our role is to go out, experience, learn and evolve from life within the multiverse.
- “You are not separate from each other, nor from any part of life. Nor from God. The truth of your being knows that you are One with everything and everyone.” That means we are extensions of God, not separate from or abandoned by God. Our goal is not to seek God as such, because we are already part of God and never left.
- You are an “out-picturing of the Divine…God in human form.” That means we are not meant to be cookie cutter versions of the same thing. That wouldn’t serve us or allow us to evolve. Appreciate diversity and express all your unique individuated energies.
- “This is not the Survival Game, the game is The Creation Game.” That means our life is not about every man for himself or about killing others to get more of what we want.
- “The purpose of your life is to re-create yourself anew in the next grandest version of the greatest vision ever you held about Who You Are.” Why?
Walsch explained: “You are goodness, mercy, compassion and understanding. You are peace, joy, and light. Choose to know yourself as these things always.”
“Consciousness is everything. Consciousness – that of which you are truly aware – is the basis of all truth and thus of all true spirituality.” – Neale Donald Walsch
Note: All emphasis is mine.
