Religious Dogma

All religion will claim that theirs stand up to any scrutiny. And you will have those who say this religion failed them but this one supported them. Funny thing is, some other person would say the same thing but for the exact opposite religion. Also, a Staunchy from a particular religion would say that for a religion to stand it must pass this test, that test and that all the rest flunk it when put under the microscope except the one he is in. Well, guess what? To another Staunchy from another religion, he says the exact same thing but for his religion. It doesn't take a genius to see that they are both talking bullcrap. So really...what's the deal?

On one side, the universal practices that advocate peace, compassion, loving kindness etc etc that all religion preaches are good practices that we should all follow. In that sense all religion advocates good.

However, religion is still man made. Therefore many of the so-called laws were also man made and they fall apart if you remove any of their central pillars. Notice how advocates of any religion says theirs stand up to scrutiny but when you question some of their key central pillars, they steadfastly say that those are non-negotiable? Well, if it stands up to scrutiny, then those pillars need not be non-negotiable conditions.

Example: Christians believe that it is only through Jesus that you can enter the kingdom of God. Well... Jesus didn't exactly say that. To put it in simple terms, what he basically said was that you follow my path, you will get there. In other words, practice the way of life that I've shown you, and you will get there. He is also not the only "Son" of God. He is like us all... sons and daughters of God (or supreme source or etc). Remember? We're eternal beings created in His likeness. the difference between Jesus and the rest of us? He is far more spiritually developed than us all i.e. an Enlightened being. If you remove that exclusivity pillar "only through Jesus", the religion collapses. The truth is that, you don't need to go through him. Heck... many before and after him have done it without going through him. Therefore you can develop yourself spiritually to the extend you can achieve what he has achieved. You just need to follow his "footsteps"... or any other prophet's footsteps for that matter.

The moslems got part of this right. They consider Nabi Isa as another prophet which is truly spot on! It is the Christians, after 2000 over years of church exclusive control, who have been blinded to this fact. They even started a few crusades too with blessings from popeye (The Pope). Geez, why does Jesus or God need you to fight for Him? against His own children some more... duh...

I can imagine the staunchies going up in arms with what I just said... well, tough luck. You really need to relook at your faith. I'm not asking you to discard it. No. I'm asking you to relook at it and question what if this pillar (e.g.: Jesus being son of God) is removed, would it still stand. Even if it doesn't stand, don't leave. You should be there because of the prophet's teachings and not because some loud mouth relative, pastor, priest or monk says their religion is "the only way". Remember...All rivers lead to the ocean. Furthermore, the holy books and the Avatars/Messiahs talk in Parables and leave clues ot their meanings. One has to develop oneself spiritually and one will decipher the meanings. Also as we grow, the same parable will give us differing meanings as higher truths are revealed.

Anyway to put some humor into this topic... At the start there was Catholicism, then some horny king decided he didn't like certain rules and so he protested and so we have protestants. Of course he can't tell the masses the real reason for him protesting was because his  was horny right? Then from there, more divergence came and now if you are Lutheran, your firm believe is all the rest go to hell (WTF). For the moslems, the Sunni and Shia sects came about from an internal power struggle that basically saw the Prophet's descendants being killed so that certain people can usurp/remain in power (haiyayai). Lets not forget the Buddhist. The Mahayana think their way is the right way and that the Theravadas are lesser vehicles. The Theravada on the other hand says their way is the purest way. etc etc etc and the followers all go ya ya ya with no mind of their own to discern (duh...). Oh, lets not forget the Taoist... when you pass away you go thru so many hells and you need to bribe countless officials to get to heaven (walaowei... are you fucking kidding me?)

But you know the funny thing? Actually all the teachings of all the prophets do add up (if you remove the man-made portion aka religion and their different sects)

When the Buddha was still around 2500 years or so ago, he said in 1 period (that's 500 years) another teacher will come in the west. Approx. 500 years later, Jesus of Nazareth (spelling correct ka?) was born and we have the story of the 3 wise men from the east. There is also a period of missing years during Jesus life. Well, missing from west but not missing in the east. I cannot remember which historical record was this in, but it was reported that about 500 years after Buddha's ascension, a great teacher came from the west to learn (or rather to remember) from the disciples of a certain MoniSyakya (don't know the exact spelling). Now, there is NO teacher by the name of MoniSyakya in the east at the time of Jesus's life. But western and eastern names have different arrangements to it. So MoniSyakya could have been Syakyamuni which coincidentally is the name of the Buddha when he achieved enlightenment. These same records also later recorded the east's great disbelief and appall that this great teacher was crucified.

Now the Buddha also said, in 5 periods of 500 (I don't know why he like to talk like that. All these prophets like to talk in parables) this same teacher's consciousness will return. Now is about that time. The Christians and Moslems say Armageddon aka judgement day. Well... sorry to burst your bubble but its sort of 12 years late don't you think. Oh I see... it is 21 dec 2012 like the Mayan says... ooooo... duh, lets see shall we?

On the other hand, if you look at Humanity as a whole, we have risen against injustice. Our collective consciousness have expanded (though not big enough yet). There is more good around though we also hear more evil (probably because information is at a click away so we hear it faster and of course no news sells as hot as bad news :-)) ). We are evolving as a race. The Arab spring is no accident. It was something bound to happen. More of us are doing charity work and spiritual work at a younger age (remember a time when this used to be majority older people?). Humanity as a whole is moving towards an era of self governance of equality, of accountability, of just... etc etc etc. 

In the coming new era, I think the masses' approach to religion would change and the "powers that be" within each religion really needs to come clean. The Vatican themselves have admitted that there are aliens (duh... beam me up scotty, tell me something I don't know. What makes us think we are the only talking animal in this universe?). Some daring christians pastors have admitted that some of the rules in christianity are to control people. Same goes for other religions. But understandably.. it is difficult. Imagine telling millions of people after a few thousand years that some of the things that they were taught are actually hullabaloo... whoa... all hell breaks loose man. But really.. do you rather they find out themselves face hitting the wall? Jury is still out on this one.

All the great Avatars/Prophets of our time: Moses, LaoTze, Syakyamuni, Jesus, Mohamad etc all preach that we follow certain way of life. That would be our guidance. Not what the church or temple tells you to do.