Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence. It will fade away when reason and science are adopted as our guidelines. Bertrand Russell
I write a lot about religion because, while it aspires to holiness and does much to inspire selfless acts of kindness, it is also the single most divisive creation in the history of man. Surely it is the greatest threat to any dream we have of world peace. In the last thousand years more than 40 million people have died for their religious beliefs. I hope that by reconsidering what we’ve been taught about God that we might reverse the religious convictions that separate us, that we may all find our way back to him.
If we knew, and could agree on who God is, life on earth could be a wonderfully enriching experience. But generations of believers of all religions have been told by their priests, rabbis, and pastors that their faith is the only true faith. All others are heretical at best, in some cases demonical, and their followers need to be taught the truth. This has naturally divided us all into friends and enemies.
I grew up in a strict Catholic home and was a born-again Protestant throughout my adult life, so I can only speak about the religion I know. Forgive me if it sounds biased. Any religion who cannot live in peace with another must share the same accusations.
There are 8.1 billion people on planet earth. Nearly one third of that number identify as Christian, that is, followers of Jesus. How could it be, with that many people following Jesus, that humanity is so dysfunctional? When, at the beginning of the 21st century, 26 men have more combined wealth than the poorest 3.8 billion on our planet - when 950 million of earth’s inhabitants don’t have electricity, when 700 million don’t have access to clean water - when, in a world with food enough for everyone, more than 10,000 children die every day from starvation - how can a third of the world’s population say we’re following Jesus? We have completely failed at his command to take care of each other. If we’re really honest, what we’re doing is worshiping him and praying that he’ll come back to fix everything.
But worshiping Jesus is not following Jesus. If we say we’re following Jesus but don’t love our Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, gay or transgender neighbors as ourselves, then Jesus himself would say he doesn’t know us.
As it turns out, there is a good reason why we don’t follow Jesus. We can’t. What we’ve been taught about him makes it impossible. The only begotten Son of God? That is a tough act to follow. How can man do the things of one who sits at the right hand of God? Yet Jesus himself said we could... and would. In fact, he said we would do greater things than he did. If it’s not possible why did he say it?
He said it because he knew we are exalted the same way he was. And we are. All of us. Before he died, Jesus said, “One day you will realize I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” Only when we allow ourselves to believe that will we experience it. Can I say that again? Only when we allow ourselves to believe that will we experience it.
When it happens we will see that we’re all one with God. Jesus’ command to love our brother as our self will finally be understandable - and achievable.
We will finally be at peace with one another. And it won’t even take Religion.
