Religion
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INTRODUCTION
I do not class myself as religious, but I do consider myself deeply spiritual. The former is, to me, a social interaction of shared belief, whilst the latter is a bond you feel inside to your fellow man and environment. This bond can, I’m convinced, be found in all religions once you take away their culture, suggesting there is an ‘under-religion’ we can all tap, whereas the above definition of religion suggests culture is a form of ‘over-mind’ which fragments the bond. However, culture, like a God-form, is above our individuality, so is it a form of god in itself? Further, when a whole society reacts as if a God exists, doing real physical things in society, does this give a God-form an element of reality? These are the issues that fascinate me about religion.
Anthony North
The following essays are on this page:
The Christ - Taking a look at the life and work of Jesus, this essay asks if there is a difference between ‘Jesus’ and ‘Christ’. One could be a life, the other an iconic image, very different to the former.
The Creation Account - In this essay I take a look at Chapter One of Genesis to see if there is anything of a scientific nature in Creation. It may surprise you.
A History of Christmas - From its early pagan influence to the modern consumer society, our ’story’ of Christmas has always changed to reflect our culture of the time. It is a universal story about us as much as about the birth of Christ.
Native American Mysticism - This is an area often ignored, but as one of the last surviving great tribal traditions, it can tell us much about the genesis of religion, and how it changed to adapt to changing circumstances.
Creation and Meaning - What is meant by Creation? Is it the physical manifestation of existence by God, or gods, or is it more to do with perception?
What Happens In the Old Testament - In this essay I look at the history and mystery of the Old Testament, and attempt to define just what it was about, and its effect on western culture.
Scared To Obedience - Morality seems to be integral to religion, but was this a process decreed by a god, or did it find its roots in a contract between man and nature?
Under-Religion - Religions seem to be many and varied, but when culture is stripped away they are all remarkably the same. Here we examine the possibility of a shared religious impulse below them all.
The Spirit of the Thing - The materialist shuns spirituality. One central reason for this is the idea that religion caused so much trouble in the past, and continues to do so today. But are religion and spirituality the same thing, or are they totally different? And if so, could we understand a means to accept spirituality without the dangers the materialist fears? Indeed, can we only know ourselves when we do so?
Him Almighty - What is the concept of God all about? Does God really exist, or is He a fallacy? Maybe the argument is wrong. Maybe it is our belief in God that creates Him.
The Natural Umbilical Cord - The first religions were said to be nature-based. How deep was this connection? Could cave art give us a clue? Indeed, could it be that in the cave, prehistoric man communed with his gods in a psychological sense as well as spiritual? Further, could that link between man and nature be identified in a deeply psycho-sexual symbolism that exists in religion to this day?
WORLD FAITHS
Christianity …….. Hinduism …….. Buddhism …….. Islam
Related essays elsewhere:
Environment page:
The First Spirits - Eco-Consciousness
Mysteries page:
Holy Grail
Society page:
Icon Fever
Science page:
Evolution
…….. and lots more essays still to come ……..
June 15, 2007 at 12:47 pm
u r right.there is a big difference between religion and spirituality.we need religion and it’s morality as most people are still operating from the lowest denominator. you will notice that the people with the worst tendencies are normally religious and without some form of religion we may have hell break loose. MOST OF US OPERATE FROM A NON-AWAKE (unconscious) point and unless our education and the general social infrastructure starts an awakening process, unlikely possibility in a society where the coffers are filled by the majority’s present state, spirituality is our only hope.May be the buddists and the hindus are right that this planet is karmaland,a place where we come to grow in conciousness.there will be no respite for the human race, only on an individual level is there hope.To complicate things i am not too sure about this idea of going back home to god-head that most gurus talk about.The whole exercise in evolution is pointless if our only purpose is to know god(the creator).WHAT IS ALL THIS ABOUT.Is god some kind of egoist.MAY BE AN ALIEN who intervened in our really primitive state?Yet evolution (richard dawkins type)
June 15, 2007 at 12:49 pm
doesnot answer so much about a lot of human behaviour.
August 12, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Well, define religion in your own sect or cult. I will define mine, can I?
August 12, 2007 at 6:13 pm
When we talk about of deep spiritullity, we cannot take away religion because it is one of the fruit of the spirit. Now it depends on your definition of the two subjects.
Love or charity is one of the fruit of the spirit(Galatians 5:22) and religion is:
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
So, if you entertain different religions, sect, or occult in your mind, like a man that buys prostitutes, then, this different beliefs will linger in your mind and becomes your own belief. I think you need to stick to one foundation that way you will not be blown by the winds of different doctrines.
May 13, 2008 at 12:15 am
In our time the belief in God is the sign of mediocrity.
May 13, 2008 at 7:13 am
Hi She-Liger,
In our time, as in all times, a belief is what inspires us. The problem is, too much certainty can make you think you don’t have a belief.