LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

The spiritual world has both a covert and and overt side to it. The average individual does not have the time nor the desire to spend time alone pouring over sacred literature (whatever it may be called) and seeking things of the Spirit When one looks at the religious and denominational landscape today, you have to realize that not all of them are right since most contradict one another. There are three conclusions that can be drawn here.

Could it be that ONE is right and all the others wrong? Most would take that position, especially the Catholic church since it’s been around the longest and has the largest following by far. Or secondly could it be that they are ALL WRONG and no one has yet to get it right? The third option would be that the differences and contradictions are only on the exoteric level.

Simply speaking God’s final word is LOVE!

When you look at some of the core and basic aspects of Christianity particularly (my experiential perspective), all denominations to some degree or another have in common the general good of mankind, humanity. This is similiar to John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian concept of life. All religions seek to maintain a moral compass and direct people to a righteous life. For most the goal is some definition of perfection.

Closely adhered to by all religions is the attainment of right living, wisdom, enlightenment, and the various concepts that are attached to that (can you say salvation?).

But, how and why Jesus was sent is another dividing point.

With the varied approaches above also comes the difficulty of the attacement to a “method and motivation”. Too often the cherished core concepts become shoved off cengter court by the local church leaders’s demand for conformity and control. The manner in which one attains the lofty goals is seemingly more important, and means are elevated over ends. Personal relationships where these esoteric concepts can be put into practice are over shadowed by the exoteric rules and formulas.

We can appreciate the diversities in love!

And how can the world that knows nothing of God, Jesus, or spiritual principles ever come to an understnading when there’s so much division, intolerance, and lack of love? How indeed?