Religion, when used as a spiritual tool to springboard one higher, can be a wonderful path of discovery. It is important for the discerning spiritual student to be mindful that our greatest examples of spiritual masters, followed no one. Their search and ultimately their mastery took place within themselves. Religion is what happens when we worship the enlightenment of another often at the expense of foregoing our own spiritual evolution.
There can be great advancement in opening our understanding of the benefits of religion. It
truly can provide an organized focus to your spiritual practice in an
environment which is supportive, comforting and loving. When operating properly, religion challenges individuals to give until it hurts, to love bigger and bolder, to show compassion, tolerance and gratitude toward all living beings. When operating
in dysfunction, religion teaches separation, creates
dependence, makes irrational claims of
righteousness and views any other attempt of enlightenment outside itself as an abomination. Religion is but one road amongst several that directs you to God, though should never be confused as God itself. Allowing religion to define, control and shape your complete God experience, places limitations on your soul's evolution- the biggest pitfall of any institutional setting.
LGBT seekers, many accustomed to social prejudices, often allow the dysfunction of religion to negate their spiritual fulfillment. It is important that our community awaken from this damaging pattern. There is absolutely nothing wrong with an
adolescent understanding of God, as long as you're an
adolescent! Our community needs to move beyond adolescence-beyond the primitive, segregating, self righteous groups who hide behind their archaic definition of God, in false divinity. See them as a spiritual opportunity for mastery-they are an illusion, a personal demon so to speak-open your hearts to the lesson they teach by rising above. It is time to face the
Bogey man fearlessly. Cast them out of your hearts and minds, remove them from your spiritual path and silently bless them for forcing you to choose another road. Be mindful of what the master Christ taught when he said "
all the wonders you seek are within yourself" there is no greater signpost directing you to God than this profoundly simple truth.
