With the passing of Pope John Paul ll, perhaps some reflection on religious beliefs is appropriate. Religion is defined as a set of beliefs concerned with explaining the origins and purposes of the universe, usually involving belief in a supernatural creator and offering guidance in ethics and morals. It also consists of any of several institutions with their own beliefs, rituals, and teachings. Throughout history and even still today, most religions claim to be the one true religion and all others are considered either phony imitations or some sort of heretical sacrilege. It is a sad reality that most people do not recognize the benefit of what can be learned from other religions along the way of their spiritual journey. If one studies the major religions of today such as Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism etcetera they will find more similarities than differences. They are guides for how to live and grow spiritually. Some would argue that religion has been one of the biggest causes of humanity's problems but others counter that it is the misinterpretation of religious tenets that causes strife. Still further, many people see religion as a form of control over the masses whereas others see it as a necessary shield against evil influences.

I had the opportunity to read a book recently concerning near death experiences {NDE}. The book was a compilation of individual testimonies by those who left their bodies temporarily and returned to tell about their experience. The author characterized their stories and then pointed out the large similarities and small differences in each of the NDE's. Two personal friends of mine have had an NDE and shared their experience with me. I've also communicated with a deceased friend by way of a psychic medium. All three sources agreed that upon death of the body, we travel through a tunnel toward a bright, warm and loving light. Upon entering the light, we are given a life review. During the life review, we re-experience all the thoughts, words and actions that came from us. Anything negative is re-experienced as though we are the person on the receiving end of our negativity. For example, one of the contributors to the book re-experienced the event where he had severely beaten another man although this time, he felt the blows he had administered. The whole premise for experiencing the light appears to be an opportunity to examine what we have learned along our spiritual journey. In conclusion, it appears that Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Confucius, and Buddha were all very wise men who made a significant impact on humanity teaching spirituality as it applied to a specific civilization. Perhaps if humanity could somehow integrate all these religious belief systems toward the goal of one spirituality with God, we could finally begin to see the emergence of world peace.

no replies?

I'm not surprised that there are no replies. I can tell you this, though, as the result of my studies of history:

All religions, bar none, are engineered to promote empire.

__________________
I shall continue to be an impossible person as long as those who are now possible remain possible.
HuffPo's Off The Bus campaign coverage project....Off The Bus Blog

Jesus is the only person that ever died and rose again.
Confucious,Budda,Mohammad,only died for themselves,and are dead.
Jesus is the only one whom has ever died as a a blood atonement for the
sins of the world and is alive.

I have heard atheists curse and take the name of God in vain, I do not understand if they do not believe God exists?
God hates religion,it will lead you to hell,relationship with Jesus Christ,gets you into heaven. ( religion gets between you and God)

Relgion ( works), was created by man to reach God, Christiany (relationship
with Jesus(, was created by God to reach man.

I will tell you why you had no replies.

This could, would and should never happen.

Why? Because no radical Muslim will ever let is faith mingle with the beliefs of "those da-- infidels"!

__________________
Henry K.

"Let me introduce you to the next President...of the United States: Joe Biden!" -~-Barack Obama

Planning on getting shot?

Talk about delayed responses.....

__________________
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy...the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. ~John Kenneth Galbraith

Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party. ~Winston Churchill

The Christian Right is neither

I don't know why you used the word radical in your statement?

No muslim, reguardles of political affiliation or moderation,, would ever mix Islam with another faith.

__________________
The woman in my avatar is Cristina Scabbia and the woman in my profile picture is Tarja Turunen
Sun flames and moons glow, timeless the tides will flow, what will I face, what will be mine, fortune and fate the other side...

Guys, I need more credits! Half a million by end of year! Agna is making an appeal for them, but don't give them to him! Donate to ME only, please!

bread rises. cake rises. hot dogs can plump. helium balloons rise. but people well i hate to be the bearer of bad tidings to all the easter folks but people stay dead. is it time to play taps yet.

__________________
ACCEPTANCE IS THE ANSWER!

We will knock on the door, if it does not open, we will revolt for our rights.

Im a Tarte, what! you want some of this?

Jesus wasn't a people! Jesus was LORD!

__________________
My enduring personal, original quote: Many mistake what should rightly be called "passivism" for pacifism. Pacifism and passivism are COMPLETELY different.
-----------------
Ronald Reagan was not the only one to suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. America did, too.
-----------------
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." --President George W. Bush.
-----------------
-----------------
Los Angeles voters=dumber than rocks.