Does Religion Hinder Growth?

I'd like to start out with an impressive Zen saying. "Great doubt: great awakening. Little doubt: little awakening. No doubt: no awakening". I had a difficult time deciding what to title this paper. My personal feelings on religion are greatly divided. I was raised a very strict Southern Baptist and my quest for personal enlightenment have not stemmed from being angry and rebelling against a system of belief. I feel my personal experiences with Christianity have been a powerful stepping stone in my growth as a person, an intellectual, and a spiritual person. I consider myself to be a very spiritual person, but I don't know if I would define that as the same thing as being a very religious person. After 20 years of being a devout Southern Baptist, I went against many engrained beliefs to explore Catholicism. I attained more faith and hope in the Catholic religion than I ever had in the Southern Baptist faith. I then began to branch into studying Buddhism, Taoism, and came to my own blended belief system. In a very small nutshell, I believe that all humanity shares interconnectedness. I believe that there is a universal energy that we can tap into to influence outcomes in life. For example, whether you choose meditation, prayer, or rituals, you are tapping into this energy to heal someone who's sick, or get that promotion at work. It's almost as if you're helping to shape history. If you start a prayer wheel and have 50 people praying for the same event, there's more energy being put into the effort and it's more likely to happen. I also feel that a lot of prayer is mind over matter. Mind over matter could also be tapping into this universal energy. I believe that we can attain enlightenment or heaven on earth by being decent and compassionate people. I believe all humanity is linked in spirit. I believe in God. I believe God is this energy. I believe we all worship the same God, we just interpret the details differently.

In my quest for spiritual knowledge, I have concluded that organized religion has shown through history to be a system which instills fear into its followers and inhibits growth in science, society, and people. How many wars have began over religion, only to harm and slaughter innocent people by means of crucifixions, burnings, etc.? Our military is currently fighting against an enemy who has declared a Jihad or spiritual war, to rid the world of all infidels, which they define as someone who does not share their same belief.

Horus of Egypt is the first I would like to share. His story on earth was written in the Egyptian Book of the Dead in 1240 B.C. He was born of a virgin on December 25^th in a manger. His birth was announced by a star in the East, and was attended by three wise men. He was a child teacher in his temple and when he was 30 years old, he was baptized. He was baptized by a man named "Anup the Baptizer" which translates into "John the Baptist". He had 12 disciples and performed miracles which included walking on water. He raised El-Azar-us from the dead. He was transfigured on the mount. He was crucified, buried in a tomb, and resurrected. He was called the. "Way, the Truth, and the Light, the Messiah, God's Anointed son, the Son of Man, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, and the Word". He was called the "Fisher", and was associated with the Lion, the Lamb, and the Fish. He was called the "Anointed One".

The second god is Krishna of India. He was born of a virgin. His father was a carpenter. Angels, wise men and shepherds attended his birth and presented him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. He was ensued and persecuted by a tyrannous leader who ordered the slaughter of thousands of infants. He came from royal descent and was baptized in the River Ganges. He worked miracles including healing leapers, curing the blind and deaf, and raised the dead. He used parables to teach his messages to the people, of charity and love. "He lived poor and he loved the poor". He died on a tree between two thieves. He then rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. His disciples called him "Jezeus", which means "pure essence". He is called the "Beginning, the Middle, and the End". He is to return to battle with the "Prince of Evil" who will destroy the Earth.

Both of these accounts took place, and were documented before Jesus lived and walked the Earth. Pro-Religion supporters state that they know Jesus is the Messiah because they have faith. They have no scientific evidence to support their beliefs. It is all based on a feeling of faith. I have experienced my share of faith and what I would call miracles, so I've experienced that side too. I just believe there are other explanations for things other than just faith.

I feel I could be swayed by either side of the coin as I am still in my quest for spiritual knowledge and growth. St Augustine of the Catholic faith, which is documented to be a branch off of Judaism, and the first Christian religion, said "Doubt is but another element of faith". Donovan Hall said, "Any religion which prohibits doubt abandons any hope or growth of development. A religion without doubt is fixed and unchanging. Such a religion is useless to dynamic thinking individuals who are curious about the truth of reality". I believe that if people want to be spiritual that's their prerogative, but it's time to stop using religion to make arguments for change in medicine, politics and society when it cannot produce any evidence of truth other than a feeling of faith, and radical emotion. It creates intolerance for others, racism, and prejudices. We have world leaders who will declare war based on their religion of choice that they believe to be the one true religion, when other world leaders have the same opinion of their religion. I do have doubt right now, and as stated in the quotes above, doubt is necessary for growth. Hopefully I won't go to hell for writing this paper, though I'm sure some may think I should. Maybe, through my doubt and soul-searching I will become a more devout Christian, or my belief system may change drastically in another direction. Either way, I don't want to be persecuted or witnessed to which has proven detrimental in history on larger scales. I have been gifted with the capability to research and soul-search, and come to my own conclusions.

www.religioustolerance.org

www.procon.org

www.wikipedia.cm

www.sanfords.net

Documentary: "Religulous". By Bill Maher.