Clinging to Separation, 4

Spirituality—a non-dogmatic belief in a benign, universal power inherent in all human beings, is the thing itself, religion, its various brands. Appeals to fundamentalist, traditional, judeo-christian religious beliefs seem to be working for the current Republican brand. But the fact is that the demographic trends of those who carry those beliefs are against that brand. Hopefully, we are seeing the last hurrah of that kind of thinking.

Meanwhile, people of all demographics, even those favoring the Republicans, hunger for spiritual connection and succor.  The kind of spirituality I've been posting about is politically Progressive spirituality, connecting Science and Spirit, heart and mind. It is cutting edge spirituality, not religion; compassionate, non-dogmatic, inclusive, non-ideological, pragmatic, and emphasizes love over fear. By learning about this kind of spirituality and practicing it, Progressives claim the future.

In the separated experience of living in the ego’s nightmare, if I want something, I have to give something. Nothing is for nothing; it’s dog-eat-dog, the bedrock of the current Republican brand. But according to the Course in Miracles: “God thinks otherwise. (Of course, the spiritual version of ‘God’ doesn’t ‘think;’ thinking is a human activity used here to anthropomorphosize God – to make God more comprehensible to us by making God in our image, instead of vice versa.) Sacrifice is a notion totally unknown to God. It arises solely from fear, and frightened people can be vicious. Sacrifice in any way is a violation of (spirit’s) injunction that you be merciful (and forgiving) even as your Father in Heaven is merciful (and forgiving).”

So the ego’s thought system of punishment, vengeance and sacrifice, that we so strongly identify with, is quietly undone through forgiveness, which restores to our awareness our reality as spiritual beings having earthly experiences. “The mercy and the peace of God are free. (They) and salvation have no cost. (They) are a gift that must be freely given and received. Heaven’s love is not diminished by our belief in the hell of judgment.”