Thank you! Thank you!! (As always) I needed these positive and peaceful words. The flow of your expression and connection through these thoughts came so natural to how my mind. I’m printing them out so I can reread this often when I feel alone in how I see things❤️🩹
In my religious journey I started out with Judaism and then spent years as a Unitarian Universalist. I stepped away from the latter about 5 years ago. What struck me after reading this essay was the realization that some UUs who claim that a belief in God is not necessary act in a way that demeans those who still believe in God. These UUs do not act out of humility and seeking. Their pridefulness is an attempt to put themselves and *their religion above the "incorrect" beliefs of others.
I admit to being that prideful in the past, and laughing about Christians who walked into a UU service holding their Bibles.
I'm glad I found your posts. They have helped me start questioning my beliefs (or lack of them) in a gentler, more self-forgiving way.
Thank you. There was a gentle offering of a mirror in your words, and I accept it, especially after these past few days when rapture rumors were rampant. I admit that I found myself amused by the videos and their doubling down that the rapture was going to happen. There’s a fine line between believing in the rapture (which is only a several-hundred-year-old theology concocted by John Nelson Darby) and believing in Jesus’ return. I no longer believe in either, although I still seek a deeper understanding of who Jesus was outside the rigid dogma of my childhood. My experience of witnessing an elder in the Presbyterian church (a history professor) mock a letter one of our fellow elders had written, claiming that to be taken seriously and appear professional, all correspondence should pass through her, came to mind as I read your response. Arrogance hides just under the surface of our human experience. Humility may be elusive, but it is always waiting to take the driver’s seat. Its very nature means it must be invited, while arrogance struts in and demands attention. Thank you for your comment. It more than likely inspired a future writing.
As Virgin Monk Boy says, you’ve found God. Not as you once imagined and most people conceive of God today. You’ve found spirit and love. God is spirit and God is love. God = love. It is the sacred vastness of just being — being who you really are, authentic. And, it brings the knowing and understanding of oneness.
You call it godless spirituality, but what you’ve touched is the same God the mystics followed. Not the angry patriarch with parking-lot preferences, but the quiet current that breathes in your body, in stardust, in your grandmother’s gospel mornings.
Eckhart would nod in recognition. Teresa would laugh at the freedom. The Cloud of Unknowing would whisper that you’ve stepped into its pages. This isn’t absence. It’s the holy without the mask.
Strip away doctrine, burn the idol, walk out of the cage. What remains is not void. It is the Love that doesn’t demand belief, only your presence.
In my book I write, “When I released God from rules, I fell gently into the arms of the mystics.” Somehow I’ve let go of that phrase, although it speaks to me. Perhaps my untangling from Christianity needed reconciling before I return to feeling the words of the mystics. Teresa calls to me :) Thank you
Thanks for sharing your experience and words. The fear, anxiety, and judgement that is built in and so pervasive in that belief system is appalling. Until there is a fought for exit, those feelings reside. Freedom is a wonderful feeling!
This feels so healing 🤍 thank you!
Beautifully written! Godless does not mean meaningless... there is still much sacred to be found in the search.
I like to say God is Love: the rest is just hearsay (or heresy for the still religious!).
This was so healing. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Thank you!! (As always) I needed these positive and peaceful words. The flow of your expression and connection through these thoughts came so natural to how my mind. I’m printing them out so I can reread this often when I feel alone in how I see things❤️🩹
I love to hear how my words land with others. Thus affirms me. Thank you
🫂❤️🫂❤️🫂❤️🫂❤️🫂
I so appreciate you , your thoughts, your kindness, your supportive and loving nature . Dust to stardust , may you always twinkle .
That is the sweetest. Thank you✨
In my religious journey I started out with Judaism and then spent years as a Unitarian Universalist. I stepped away from the latter about 5 years ago. What struck me after reading this essay was the realization that some UUs who claim that a belief in God is not necessary act in a way that demeans those who still believe in God. These UUs do not act out of humility and seeking. Their pridefulness is an attempt to put themselves and *their religion above the "incorrect" beliefs of others.
I admit to being that prideful in the past, and laughing about Christians who walked into a UU service holding their Bibles.
I'm glad I found your posts. They have helped me start questioning my beliefs (or lack of them) in a gentler, more self-forgiving way.
Thank you. There was a gentle offering of a mirror in your words, and I accept it, especially after these past few days when rapture rumors were rampant. I admit that I found myself amused by the videos and their doubling down that the rapture was going to happen. There’s a fine line between believing in the rapture (which is only a several-hundred-year-old theology concocted by John Nelson Darby) and believing in Jesus’ return. I no longer believe in either, although I still seek a deeper understanding of who Jesus was outside the rigid dogma of my childhood. My experience of witnessing an elder in the Presbyterian church (a history professor) mock a letter one of our fellow elders had written, claiming that to be taken seriously and appear professional, all correspondence should pass through her, came to mind as I read your response. Arrogance hides just under the surface of our human experience. Humility may be elusive, but it is always waiting to take the driver’s seat. Its very nature means it must be invited, while arrogance struts in and demands attention. Thank you for your comment. It more than likely inspired a future writing.
Religions are in place to uphold patriarchy.
Religious texts are written by men, are full of lies.
Patriarchy is about the control, dominance, and ownership of others, especially females.
Dominance requires lies, violence, and abuse to maintain.
This is where war comes from.
People can develop their own intuition, to connect directly with Divine Spirit.
As Virgin Monk Boy says, you’ve found God. Not as you once imagined and most people conceive of God today. You’ve found spirit and love. God is spirit and God is love. God = love. It is the sacred vastness of just being — being who you really are, authentic. And, it brings the knowing and understanding of oneness.
Beautifully said ❤️
You call it godless spirituality, but what you’ve touched is the same God the mystics followed. Not the angry patriarch with parking-lot preferences, but the quiet current that breathes in your body, in stardust, in your grandmother’s gospel mornings.
Eckhart would nod in recognition. Teresa would laugh at the freedom. The Cloud of Unknowing would whisper that you’ve stepped into its pages. This isn’t absence. It’s the holy without the mask.
Strip away doctrine, burn the idol, walk out of the cage. What remains is not void. It is the Love that doesn’t demand belief, only your presence.
Love this
In my book I write, “When I released God from rules, I fell gently into the arms of the mystics.” Somehow I’ve let go of that phrase, although it speaks to me. Perhaps my untangling from Christianity needed reconciling before I return to feeling the words of the mystics. Teresa calls to me :) Thank you
Thanks for sharing your experience and words. The fear, anxiety, and judgement that is built in and so pervasive in that belief system is appalling. Until there is a fought for exit, those feelings reside. Freedom is a wonderful feeling!
a wonderful feeling indeed
im lost for words, but you have just wrote the most beautiful post. Thank you so much for sharing. thank you.
your words warm my heart. thank you
Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful person. Somehow I think she understands all this now. Thank you for sharing this.
I think so, too, Mack. I think so, too.