UNITED STATES
Patrick J. Wall
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so — Mark Twain
Experience tells me that Twain’s words are wise. Heed his warning to reconsider and reevaluate your core assumptions and beliefs.
Most people in the United States were born into one of the monotheistic religions. The three most common are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. I emphasize being born into a religion because our belief systems are planted into our core from birth — almost akin to a reptilian response.
Religion vs. Spirituality
Judaism, if boiled down, is about Righteousness; Christianity is about Salvation; and Islam is about Surrender. All three are core elements of western spirituality. Each share different “holy buildings”: Temples, Churches and Mosques. Each religion has a Holy Book or books interpreted with authority by Rabbis, Priests/Ministers and Mulah’s. They have different initiation rites, liturgies, languages and cemeteries. And each proposes to teach their youngest followers what to think and how to live a religious life.
But the spiritual life is very different. The spiritual life, in complete constrast from religion, demands that we question our basic beliefs, ditch the bad habits we have picked up over the years and consider that sometimes we have to go into exile in order to find our way home.
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