Religion and Beliefs

It is always interesting to read, even if you are not in school. Life is a school itself, how much you decide to research, study and ask questions, is up to you. I always love to find out the how and why, and learn more every single day. Reading books is fun, learning from others is imperative and surrounding yourself with a variety of people where the conscious mind expands in a variety of ways, that's what I call living! Many years back I devoted some time to study religions, especially because my social environment was Lutheran Christian. Other forms of religion always fascinated me, and the idea of God was something that everyone expressed differently. But in my heart it all felt very similar, just the expression of it was culturally influenced, and a paradigm was born. Beliefs are many, expressions of that belief when it comes to religion even more, the intention behind each religion is very similar: love is the most powerful force in the universe, be kind to each other and lend a hand, be mindful of your thoughts, words, deeds and ultimately your own creation because we are made in the image of God, we are droplets of the whole. What does that tell us? Are we happy with our creation and if not, what is stopping us to do different today than yesterday? It all comes down to awareness, inner reflection, challenging belief systems that were ingrained in our brain, heart and soul since we arrived on this planet. Hindus belief that there are many Gods. Christianity only beliefs in one God, Buddhism doesn't belief there is one at all, so who has the answer? Christian's are convinced that they have the answer, some of them belief that  Moslem's are lost. How can that be true if we are all made in God's image? Does God look at your skin color and race and say: You are in, your are out? That can only be a man made concept. I don't even think humans entirely understand what God really is. You can give it any name you wish, but ultimately it's consciousness expressing itself, and even that is such a broad statement that many scientists have tried to wrap their mind around it. Hindu's belief that the sun-the moon-the winds are all gods and the Catholic church teaches it disciples that animals have no souls. How do they know? Every animal I ever spend time with, expressed more love, more compassion, than any human I have ever met. Which human would nurse another creature, entirely different to their own species and give it's milk? Many cats and dogs have done that. When I studied in India I learned that cows are sacred, and it would be a sin to eat beef, but then I found out, that the ancient Indian's ate beef. At the moment we have a big movement in Europe and America to become Vegan. I am sure there is a big debate on either side, I decided to do what feels good to me physically, mentally and spiritually at any given moment. You are not always the same person every single year, you change, you shift, you even reside in many different realities. In Christianity and in Islam we pray, in Hinduism and Buddhism, we meditate. I studied Yoga for over 20 years and I like both. I love to pray and fold my hands and kneel and have a conversation with God, I also love to practice my breathing patterns, dive into the world of meditation and go for a ride in the Astral Realms, both are deeply spiritual. It depends what you think is good for you, or do both, or none at all. Whether you belief anything or not, that's not the point in my opinion, what matters is, if you have a sense of that there is a divine energy, a principle of cause and effect, of right and wrong, of love and hate, of good and evil. All of it has opposites, just like the Hermetic teachings show us, and the Kybalion talks about that good and evil it is the same energy, just opposite ends, and I have learned that this is true. One feels good, the other doesn't. Hurting someone can't possibly feel good, lying and cheating shifts us into a darker existence. Sharing love, giving, protecting and helping someone fills our heart with joy, the question is, which one would you like to experience? I know that much, we do have free will and free choice, but then why aren't we choosing what feels good? I think that's where the problem lies. It all comes down to self love and alignment with your own self, and when you don't harmonize with your thoughts, words and deeds that's when people act out.  There is not US v/s THEM, it is one perceives and understands and is aware, and the other is not or can't open him/herself up to understand the other. We are all colors of an endless rainbow, it is YOU who decides how many rays of the beautiful rainbow you want to take in!