Why people need a religion based on probabilities and science

"I'm beginning to believe, consider even, that the vast majority of people actually need a religion because they are incapable of being responsible for themselves and to themselves, nor are they capable, either by nature or nurture, to have independent thought. They need religion to control or to justify being controlled. If this is true, then they need a better religion, one based on probabilities rather than impossibilities, science instead of snake oil." ~Timm Chambliss

Yes, Christianity is dying right now before our eyes, and I believe those who hold on to mainstream Christianity or evangelical Christianity are doing so only because they are used to being controlled by the church leadership, as noted by Tim Chambliss. Even so, they would be better off choosing a better religion that is built on probabilities (or possibilities) and science, instead of dogma and superstitions.

I also wonder how long the existing preachers can continue to keep up their facade and pull the wool over people's eyes with their fear-based and separatist doctrines, in order to keep the religious business going. Whatever it is, more and more people around the world are indeed starting to question and reject status quo and compliance to norms in the church world and in society at large. We can only keep on sharing edifying materials that are helpful to ourselves and others concerning our innate oneness in the meantime, and witness the freedom being experienced by more and more people around us.

Also, the universe has its own way of getting the message across to people in their awakening process, so in the meantime, it is wise to keep a distance for the time being from those who are unpredictable and have yet to come to terms with their own shadows, so to speak, for our own safety. Each of us has to deal with our own shadows and is not responsible for others' shadows. Though we may still share thought-provoking and liberating materials with others from time to time, through our blogs, emails, etc, it is up to them to decide whether and how they allow themselves to be inspired and awakened. The old system of classism is dying, and people need to either evolve and grow along with the new system of equality or eventually die (with the old system), or at the least become irrelevant in the new era of higher consciousness and unity.

How Great is the Divine

The Divine was expansive, but religion was reductive. Religion attempted to reduce the Divine to a knowable quantity with which mortals might efficiently deal, to pigeonhole it once and for all so that we never had to reevaluate it.
With hammers of can't and spikes of dogma, we crucified and crucified again, trying to nail to our stationary altars the migratory Light of the world.
~Tom Robbins

 Yes, the Divine is expansive and cannot be contained within the restrictive confines of religion. The expansive nature of the Divine reminds me of the Universe, which is also ever expanding. So are we, for we too are the Universe, and we are ever on a journey to know ourselves. The more we know ourselves, the more we discover there is so much to know, for there is an infinite depth to our soul. We are deep calling unto deep, and marvellous co-creators with greatness, power, beauty, wisdom and love within us that is endless. Hence, religion can never be able to do justice to the wonderful Us/Divine with their dogma. God/Us are like the new wine that cannot be contained in old wine skins, and we are like the unending spring that flows unceasingly with rivers of life. 

Why we fall prey to dogma

 

"We fall prey to dogma because we are living in fear and seeking security, seeking to be "right" and "correct"; but the most we accomplish with dogma is to keep our minds buzzing with ideas and confirmations, constantly guarding what we've learned, constantly defending positions, fearful of what we hear, of what we see. Thus, dogma is simply a religious path formed of ego, it's footing established through fear of eternal punishment and desire for eternal security."
~ Bobby Hinkle (from Free Believers Network)

Random thoughts on universalism and war

On universalism

Someone wrote:

"So sad that we allow the deception of a Christless "universalism" to hijack words like 'inclusion' and 'universal,'
These words powerfully and significantly describe the masterful genius of God when Jesus died humanity's death! This is the mystery that none of the rulers of this world understood, otherwise they would never have crucified the Lord of glory!"

How is universalism a deception when it promotes peace and unity?

"While we argue that all would be OK regardless, we still miss the point! The urgency to communicate this gospel is not compromised thru speculations about the future, but constrained by the revelation of how God's faith included hostile indifferent mankind in the sacrificial death of Christ, and his triumphant resurrection, when he represented the entire human race; multitudes are living in torment right now because they have never heard the truth of their redemption; what a waste to postpone redemption to life hereafter if it can happen now! How all will eventually discover what they have missed and how they will be 'judged' is none of our business anyway; it is our business to live the living epistle to be known and read by all men! And to give everyone within earshot on this planet the opportunity to hear truth that ignites life-changing faith!"

While I agree we are living epistles (in fact, not just believers, but every single human being), the gospel is not about ultimate reconciliation. It is about here and now.
Pagans, new age believers, etc are enjoying peace, because they are free from the "judgment in the afterlife" dogma.

On war

People spent millions of dollars building bombs and warcraft (tanks, fighter planes, navy ships, etc). Then, they destroyed millions of dollars' worth of property and infrastructure. Does it make sense?


Hitler - was he "evil" or was he deluded by his own propaganda and ideologies (of superior Aryan race, etc)? Nevertheless, attachments to dogma, ideologies, etc are dangerous. We are all meant to live in love and freedom, not religion or politics.