In Part 1, I was discussing the fact that the believers of each religion think that their religion is the “only true faith.” I know that, at best, only one group of believers could be right about that, but how could someone know if he or she was in the right one? Most people practice their religion because it was the one they were raised in, so they accept it without question and are afraid to look outside of it. But what if the full truth of God lies outside of the particular religion you are stuck in? Where should your loyalties be, to God or to the religion?
While you think about this question, consider this story of The Five Toms….
Imagine, for a moment, that your name is "Tom." And imagine that instead of just one of you being born, you are one of five quintuplets. Also imagine that the five of you were separated at birth and raised in different countries....
The first Tom was raised in the USA.
The second Tom was raised in Saudi Arabia.
The third Tom was raised in Thailand.
The fourth Tom was raised in India.
The fifth Tom was raised in Russia.
Now imagine that you, the American Tom, grew to have an interest in God and a desire to be a good person, so you sought out God in the world around you. Because you were raised in the USA, everyone you consulted about God told you to go to church. "If you want to be with God," they explained, "you need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Accepting these views from the authority figures and peers around you, you went to church and became a devoted Christian.
The second you, the Saudi Arabian Tom, also grew to have an interest in God and a desire to be a good person, so you sought out God in the world around you. Because you were raised in the Middle East, everyone you consulted about God told you to go to mosque. "If you want to be with Allah," they explained, "you need to follow the writings of Muhammad, Allah's True Prophet." Accepting these views from the authority figures and peers around you, you went to mosque and became a devoted Muslim.
The third you, the Thai Tom, also grew to have an interest in God and a desire to be a good person, so you sought out God in the world around you. Because you were raised in the Far East, everyone you consulted about God told you to go to temple. "If you want spiritual enlightenment," they explained, "you need to study the teachings of the Buddha." Accepting these views from the authority figures and peers around you, you went to temple and became a devoted Buddhist.
The fourth you, the Indian Tom, also grew to have an interest in God and a desire to be a good person, so you sought out God in the world around you. Because you were raised in South Asia, everyone you consulted about God told you to go bathe in the sacred water of the Ganges. "If you want a spiritual life," they explained, "you need to follow the teachings of the Vedas." Accepting these views from the authority figures and peers around you, you went to the Ganges and became a devoted Hindu.
The fifth you, the Russian Tom, also grew to have an interest in God and a desire to be a good person, so you sought out God in the world around you. Because you were raised in Russia, everyone you consulted about God told you to not believe in such superstitious nonsense. "Religion is just a collection of fairy tales," they explained, "and it is the opiate of the masses." Accepting these views from the authority figures and peers around you, you rejected the idea of God and became a steadfast Atheist.
So, in each place you grew up, the people around you had a unique set of ideas about God, and each you grew to accept the ideas you were raised with. But which Tom has the right ideas? Which Tom are you?
Now imagine that the five Toms have a reunion, and you all meet around a table. When the subject swings around to God, conflict erupts. Each Tom is utterly convinced that the others are embracing false faiths, so you begin to deconstruct each other's religions, idea by idea. One by one, you disprove each idea that is scientifically false or spiritually questionable. The debate rages for days. Eventually, as you analyse each myth and absurdity of your differing faiths, you come to see that they are all wrong. And in losing your religions, you find God.
It seems to me that God gave each of us eyes to see, a mind to think, and a heart to feel, and "he" gave us those things so we might use them. He did not give us those gifts so we would cover our eyes to the truth, close our minds to new ideas, and ignore our feelings about what we find. This being so, I feel glad that after all the time I wasted, I finally used the gifts he gave me.
When I finally decided to abandon established religions and find the Truth for myself, I opened my eyes, mind and heart as wide as I could, and I lifted up a prayer asking God to guide my steps. He did. And as I've walked the path he prepared for me, I've seen beauty like I never imagined, encountered ideas that boggled my mind, and felt love that has brought me to tears. Having seen all these wondrous things, I'm happy that I finally set down my fear, sought the Truth, and opened my mind to what God wanted to show me. This has led me to see that my empowerment comes from within, not necessarily from the gurus out there who eagerly await my donations to dispense their truths...
Even though Life still hurls its usual curveballs my way, I now have the ability to go inward, to connect with the godliness within me, and find peace and self-love, regardless of religion.
If you take nothing from my little story, it is also okay, since my Truth is not your Truth.
It is all perfect as It is...
Thanks Ken - www.redefininggod.com – for your inspiration and your help.