I grew up in a religious family. First Catholic, then "Born Again Christian"

Both religions were clearly not for me. I've dealt with some people doing crazy things in the name of God. The Christian school I attended lied to their in-school therapist and had her forge papers saying I had learning disabilities (which I didn't have) in an attempt to get my parents to medicate me. The principal, I later found out, molested one of the students.

Later, I had an aunt tell me I was hell-bound and needed to repent because I had a boyfriend (something I am, ironically, unable to get these days).

Anyway, I've had it up to here with religion. I think it's appalling that some people behave so reprehensibly in the name of God. For example, picking outside abortion clinics and churches where gay people should have the right to marry. It's one thing to have an opinion, but it's really disgusting to me when people say "God wouldn't like it."

God's not speaking. You are. Think for yourselves... Do you really think it's okay to scare young girls by showing them bloody fetuses? (I'm against abortion myself but I'd never do any of those things). Do you really think it's okay to tell two consenting adults they don't deserve the right to marry, but YOU do?

I'm not saying I'm opposed to people who are religious. I'm sure there are lots of decent people out there from all walks of faith. And I certainly don't mean to offend. But I myself am done with religion.

Good for you. I am certain you made the right decision.

Welcome to Mingle, Violeteyes. It sounds like you have been through a lot. Just remember, the search for your own spiritual truth is a never ending journey and everyone you meet has something to teach you.

Take a look around here and you will find many here who can help you if you so desire. Its also a nice place to just hang out and relax. Again, welcome.

Thanks!

I think it's wonderful that you were able to recognize that religion is not God.

So many people who see the hypocrisy of religion tend to flush God down the toilet with the religion when they leave and they become unfortunately become complete hardened-off atheists.

When I left Christianity I took Jesus with me. Not as a God, but as a mortal man who was unjustly crucified in the name of religion.

Jesus was in the same boat as you and I really.

The Jesus that walks with me is the spirit of the actual mortal man who was crucified in the name of the ficticious God of Yahweh.

I also walk with the spirit of Siddhartha Guatama and some others.

All of whom I see as mortal brothers.

So how do I "envision" God now?

Well, for the longest time I saw god as a totally formless genderless 'spirit' that pervades everything and everone, including me. In fact, I've recognized that I am so much a part of God that the very idea of being 'seperated' from God, as the Christian are so anxious to do to everyone, is basically impossible. How could I possibly be separated from that which creates and sustains me?

To suggest that I could exist apart from God would be to suggest that I am a God in my own right.

So for me, God is truly omniscient in a way that can never be removed from my presence. I can never be without God. Not even if I tried with all my might. It's just not possible.

I can mistakenly follow something that is not exactly "God" though. Well it is a facet of God, but it's not the same exactly.

Allow me to try to explain.

As a human being in physical form I have both a physical body and a physical brain. That physical body, and physical brain are not me. They are simply tools that God gave to me so that I can experience being human. They are part of the human condition.

My brain will process whatever thoughts I use it to process. But it is also a 'machine'. It's a biological computer. I (the spirit) am the programmer. I can program my brain to fall into ruts we call 'habits'. This is easy to do. All I need to do is just keep repeating a particular behavior and my brain will build up pathways to make that behavior both easy and enjoyable.

That's what happens if I place all my attention on my brain.

However, if instead, I place my attention on "God" I have a whole different perspective on things. After all, recall how I'm viewing "God". God is the omniscient spirit that is in everything and everyone. Therefore if I'm neglecting to respect my environment and those people around me, then I'm neglecting to respect God.

Jesus, my good mortal buddy, once said, "Whatever you do to the least of your brethen you do to me".

This is because Jesus knew that he was God. And that we are all God.

In fact, Jesus, my good mortal buddy, also once said, "It is not written that ye are also Gods?"

Yes Jesus was both spirit and mortal, just as you and I are.

Jesus was both man and God just as you and I are. Well, in your case 'man' means 'woman'.

Sorry if I sound like I'm pushing "Jesus", I'm not. Siddhartha Guatama said exactly the same things long before Jesus was ever born.

These are just fundamental truths of life that many sages have recognized over the millennia.

The real point to "real" religion is that we can either follow our brain (the ego of our physical body), or we can follow "God" (have respect for, and appreciate, all living things as well as other humans).

This is the real teachings of the sages. It's not about being punished for being selfish or overly egotistical. It's just that in being selfish or overly egotistical we end up punishing ourselves, we create our own HELL when we do that.

So don't be thinking of "God" as a mythological person who sits on a throne in the clouds. Instead recognize that God truly is omnipresent in everything you touch and in everyone you meet.

Hope this helps.

Great post, Abra.

It might have been had I not made so many typos.

I wrote: In fact, Jesus, my good mortal buddy, also once said, "It is not written that ye are also Gods?"

I meant to say that Jesus said, "Is it not written that ye are also Gods?"

Me baad.

I make a horrible preacher.

Saint Typo, they'll call me.

I knew what you meant.

organized religion === the root of evil