The essence of religion is personal experience. In terms of that personal experience, there are no written rules of behavior for that experience. There is no required sacrifice for that religious experience. There is no necessary deprivation, nor flagellation, no corporal mortification for that personal religious experience. There are no rules of restraint. There is no special clothing, nor special hair styles required to create the personal religious experience. Nothing is required to facilitate the personal religious experience. There are no choices of, or abstinence from, foods or drink for that personal religious experience. You may experience God while washed, or unwashed. There are no choices of, or abstinence from sexual experiences for that personal religious experience. It is particularly important to emphasize that there is no abstinence from sexual experiences which is required. At the time such ideas were being promoted, two philosophies were struggling for dominance: one exulted in all sexual experiences, even to excess. The other was a rejection of all things sensual. I believe that sex is an experience patterned into us at the DNA level as human beings by God Himself. Human designed behaviors are not a God approved method of worship. People created these ideas, not God. These ideas serve the purposes of people, not God. Their purpose is to control you. Some religions proscribe sexual relations during menses. Why? First, I do not believe that because you are living in primitive conditions, that this means automatically that you are unobservant, or stupid. The unobservant and stupid do not survive in primitive conditions. The human race has been around for a long enough time for simple observation to tell the astute that sex during menstruation has a lower likelihood of resulting in pregnancy. Second, it is important to realize that political leaders a long time ago figured out that there is strength in numbers. Third, in primitive times and places "wife stealing" was a common reason for war. Fourth, a man with many wives could have many children. Many children made it more likely that more would survive to protect the group. Fifth, complete the circle, prohibit sexual relations during a time of low fertility. Sixth, reinforce this prohibition with the force of religious law. Seventh, add the adornments to the law. This is easiest when the government is a theocracy. God does not disapprove of something perfect that He made. This would be a denial of Himself. God does not deny Himself. If God didn’t want sex around, He would not have created it in the first place. These ideas of deprivation are perverted human constructs by organized religion. Their purpose is to control your behavior. Usually this control is for the benefit of the religious or social leaders. It may be a practical reason from some point of view. It might simply make their perverse and squalid minds and egos feel good. They feel good to know that they have that much power and control over you. These reasons are without any spiritual validity from God. Sacrifices are, in organized religion, a form of public bribery. They are a form of proof of devotion for public relations purposes. They are a way for the leaders to enjoy a good meal at your expense. They move your coins of wealth to their pockets. They seek to control your behavior in every possible way. They continue to do this to the point that a slave actually has more personal freedom. Speak aloud in prayer to God if it clarifies your thinking. Do not pretend that God is listening. God never gives us any promises. God gives no guarantees. It is extremely doubtful that God listens to, or answers prayers. God probably has more important tasks to concern Him. God does not listen to the childish whimpering of billions of spoiled brats. Brats who want someone else to take care of them. I find the idea that God does not answer prayer strangely very comforting. At least we can be assured that God treats us all the same. God is consistent and dependable. Some folks believe that they have a friendly, interested, paternal God. A God who takes care of His children type of Father in Heaven. A God just above the blue sky. A God beyond the horizon. This is is nothing more than a childish fairy tale. It is a security blanket for frightened, insecure nursery school children. “God” for most people is an egocentric anthropomorphic construct. Maybe people need an “idol” of familiar form to be able to visualize God. As we live and have experiences, we will become different. We will change. Our lives, our own self-imposed rules will change. Our understanding of who and what we are will be changed. We will be molded into something new. In this process, a closed mind is a deadly weakness. An open mind is a deadly weapon. The way to failure lies in familiar assumptions. Do not blind yourself by limiting your beliefs. Do not allow blinders to be fitted to you. The next step is chains.
(c) Copyright 2006: George Wallace recently published a book on religion which lashes out at nearly all of the comfortable ideas about God, the trappings of organized religion, and the priesthood. His pithy comments and suggestions for a return to a God-centered personal religion will interest everyone. This article may be freely reprinted so long as all copyright attributions, and the full content of this resource box are included. www.OhGodIsThatYou.com
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