The Need for Progressive Religion


In a world of increasing religious conflict it is essential that we reevaluate the many ways people relate to God. This review is the responsibility of those who understand the destructive nature of dogma: moderates in all faiths comprise the greatest power. Recognizing that there is strength in diversity does not take precedence over the knowledge that we are one race - the human family - all of whom stem from the same source. Essential for global peace is recognition of this unity in the world’s religious teachings.

The people living at any point in time have a greater responsibility to themselves, the planet, and the future than they do to abiding by dictates from the past. Humanity is evolving and we each have an obligation to actively participate in the process. As individuals we are expected to integrate new knowledge - academic and experiential - into our decisions: this is how we grow. In our spiritual practices the same evolution needs to occur.

Fear has been our world’s base construct. Whether necessary for maintaining loyalty, social order, or raw power the use of fear to control and motivate people is dominant in today’s world. We understand history often repeats itself. Prudence would suggest that given the carnage of our past, the advanced level of technology we now possess, and the rising antagonisms within and between religious groups that we need to be searching for a different approach. If not, will we not continue to repeat the same mistakes at even greater levels of destruction?

People of all cultures have experienced the transformation that occurs when we put aside our animal nature, manifested as fear-based emotions, and embrace our divine potential – traits grounded in loving action. As many people no longer need the motivation of money to fuel their ambitions, neither do those who have found higher levels of consciousness need fear to direct their lives. We have shown that we can each guide our own evolution; hence that of our planet. Growth is our way forward: peace will come as a result of our achieving a higher order of conduct, not by remaining static.

Concepts of wrathful gods litter humanity’s history. In ignorance our ancestors fashioned that divine after that human. By giving our god’s mortal traits people had excuses to act accordingly: if it is right for God to become angry, condemn and pass judgment, or favor one group of people over another then it must be okay for us to do likewise. While the level of everyone’s religious beliefs varies, these are the constructs from which the institutions governing our world have been fashioned.

The problem is not diverse religions, but rather primitive ways of understanding God. Almost all religions are bound by dogma: the belief in the infallibility of ancient scriptures that allows for no human reasoning. Debate, compromise, and tolerance - essential elements for peaceful conflict resolution - are not allowed. Those without schooling are accepting these beliefs without critical thought, while many with education are being expected to disregard scientific advances, documented history, and their own inner voice to assume blind faith in ideas that do not bear scrutiny. These contradictions degrade the concept of God, allow fear to remain our refuge, and work to keep humanity separated by untrue boundaries.

Our hope resides in more people understanding God as a loving parent, not stern judge. If people pattern themselves after a Creator exemplifying eternal truth, divine beauty, and infinite goodness they will never claim a god’s name in acts causing others harm. When people realize that their relationship with Deity is personal - that a fragment of God resides within them and all other people with minds capable of moral choice - then the unified nature of humanity becomes apparent. Teaching that spiritual progression is based on the quality of the choices someone makes helps us learn to become more like God, and less like animals: our world improves. We advance only through our own efforts; through this plane and those to come: no one goes directly from being a base human to pure spirit.

This does not mean conformity between the religions: many diverse cultures must have the ability to worship as they so choose. Embraced, diversity can bond community: understanding others better helps us to release our fear of that unknown. No one religion possesses’ the whole truth: all scripture contains human error. Many people, though, of different faiths report similar experiences when practiced at their highest levels. Serenity, greater compassion, and a sense of joy in being part of something larger than themselves have come to people across time and in all ways of belief. This shows that while we all follow different paths, our goals are similar. This inherent commonality offers us our way forward.

Worship - communion with God - is personal. Known to many as that quiet voice within our hearts it results from direct contact with the spirit indwelling the person: it does not require acceptance of any faith or even belief in God, only a willingness to follow the way of God – that path known as loving action. This results in spiritual growth – always. No one else - human or otherwise - can come between the person and their ability to evolve in consciousness. Yes, just being a good person does count. In fact, nothing else is required than learning to love one’s fellows as a divine parent would have us do.

Religious ceremony reflects doctrine: dogma is reinforced. This can be good, or not. Provided it does not promote concepts of superiority, divine favor, or an angry God -ideas that work to keep humanity in conflict - the members have the right to worship as they choose. Church functions provide social interaction and can bond a community: fellowship among people believing the same way is natural. It does not, though, determine one’s spiritual worth. For God, the church one belongs to means nothing. No clergy in any religion has divine favor – they are humans serving their brethren, not our Creator.

We have the right to live without fear. We do not have to accept the past as our future. This world is for the bulk of humanity that just wants to live without troubles: those people who wish to enjoy their families, participate in their communities, and grow into older age with the assurance that their children are inheriting a better world. Expecting peace is not unreasonable. Those who want war - who promote violence across the globe - are few: but it is we - the majority - who have granted their control of the world and we bare greater responsibility for today’s problems than those officials we often blame. While difficult to accept, it also means we have the power to change our planet.

Most believers of all faiths are of moderate persuasion. Every group has its fanatics, but they are, in a relative sense, few in number: they do, though, by virtue of their more assertive - often aggressive - nature, work to exert control over the greater whole. The task before those wishing more tolerance within and between faiths is to refuse to embrace old beliefs that separate us from one another: anything that cannot withstand scrutiny under the light of divine truth, beauty, and goodness is no longer acceptable to progressive religious thought. The people - the membership of any faith - have the greater power: preaching is a profession that needs followers and those in the business will adapt or see dwindling congregations. Love those who preach fear, but give them no support: their day is over. Most people are reasonable: if given the hope for life without war, they will take it – even if that means changing their holy books.

To live together in peace requires an interfaith treaty: an agreement between the people that recognizes diverse ways of worship - or none at all - under the sovereignty of an original creative source. This is possible: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity already share the same God; Santana Dharma - Hinduism - at its highest level of understanding submits all to a Supreme Being; Buddhists, and those following systems not recognizing an actual god can find agreement with the concept of unity, whether qualified by divine or not; animists, and those of Pagan ways can take comfort that regardless of how we believe, what is most important is how we conduct ourselves with regard to others and our environment. Everyone, except those working to maintain the status quo, benefits.

Scripture that denies our unity - that says one group of people has God’s favor over any other or that condones violence for anything other than appropriate self-defense - needs to be refuted, changed, and then used to help teach new believers the errors of the past: to hide our mistakes is to not recognize our right - better, our duty - to evolve. We have nothing to fear, everything to gain. But, expecting those in positions of authority to admit to error, or to make changes in doctrine that reduces their power, is naïve: we have few examples of this ever happening. People bear ultimate responsibility not only for their own actions, but also for the teachings of the institutions they support. Change must happen in the membership first, and then church leaders directed to follow suit. The world citizenry allowed the past, and it is only we who can change our course: we must first, though, have the courage to love.