The Spiritual Journey
By Bret Burquest
There are a multitude of spiritual paths, including numerous
religions, conceived by the human race.
AGNOSTICISM: The view that any ultimate reality (such as
God) is unknown and probably unknowable. They do not believe in the existence
or the nonexistence of a God or gods. They simply don't know.
ANIMISM: Considered to be the original human religion, as
practiced by aboriginal and native cultures. They believe in multiple gods and
the existence of spiritual beings. Animals, plants and celestial bodies have
spirits.
ATHIEISM: There is no such thing as a supreme deity. To
believe in God is to have blind faith (wishful thinking) in something that
can't be proven to exist, therefore it's only logical to assume it doesn't
exist.
BUDDHISM: The essence of existence is suffering. The cause
of suffering is pleasure of the senses. You grow through meditation. To end the
suffering one must give up the craving for pleasure (both joy and sorrow).
CHINESE TRADITIONNAL RELIGION: A combination of
Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Although Communist laws prohibit religion,
an estimated 350 million people still practice this divergent faith privately.
CHRISTIANITY: Through a wide variety of differing
denominations and practices, they believe Jesus Christ was the son of God who
came into being through an immaculate conception and was crucified for their
sins.
GNOSTICISM: God is found within the self as well as outside
the self. The soul suffers in this delusional, evil world. Each person has a
divine counterpart watching over us. Essential spiritual knowledge comes from
within.
HINDUISM: Human and animal spirits reincarnate, returning to
earth many times in different forms. Your devotion goes to the god you choose.
You go up and down a Karmic hierarchy while seeking Nirvana.
ISLAM: There is one true God named Allah. Their doctrine is
the Koran, written by Muhammad, and they must pray five times per day. Those
who follow Allah will go to paradise, those who don't will go to hell.
JUDAISM: The world was created by an all-knowing divinity
and all things were designed to have purpose. God's will was revealed to Moses
on
OTHERS: Other belief systems (# of followers) include:
Secular (1.1 billion), Primal-indigenous (300 million), African Traditional
(100 million), Sikhism (23 million), Spiritism (15
million), Baha'i (7 million), Janeism (4.2 million),
Shinto (4 million), Cao Dia (4 million),
Zoroastrianism (2.6 million), Tennkyo (2 million),
Neo-Paganism (1 million), Unitarian-Universalism (800,000), Rastafariansim
(600,000), Scientology (500.000) and so on.
I never wanted to write a column about such a sensitive
subject but several people have asked me to join their bandwagon of posting the
Ten Commandments in public buildings. They believe their religion is the true
path to divine salvation and assume the world would be a better place if
everyone believed as they believe.
However, there are a zillion different religious points of
view in this world and adopting the dogma from a particular branch of a
specific belief system would clearly be offensive to those who believe
differently. This world has shed enough blood over religious differences
without adding more fuel to the fire.
Religious freedom in
Life is a journey. Many people get stuck in the trap of
seeking pleasure or riches, but once you start the spiritual aspect of your
journey your self-indulgence is replaced with simple pleasures (a beautiful
sunset) and a sensible lifestyle (living within your means) as the glory of
your spiritual awakening becomes far more rewarding.
Being whole isn't a matter of having money or fun; it's a
matter of appreciating your existence.
Your spiritual journey is a profound individual experience
of everlasting discovery. While you may rejoice in this discovery, your
personal religious principles do not belong on the walls of public buildings.
Treating others as you wish to be treated includes
tolerating other points of view.
* * *
Bret Burquest is an award-winning columns and author of four
novels. Contact bret@centurytel.net
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