Religion

What is religion. Is it a set of philosophical beliefs such as Hindi, Christian, Muslim, etc.? Is it a personal set of concepts, perhaps even convictions. This seems to be what religion has come to mean today. This is in fact a modern rendering of thought and meaning that evades the reality of what religion actually is. Historically no such superficial definition was possible.

What effects us emotionally? What events do we participate in? How do we spend our time? Who do we associate with? What choices do we make that affect our life? All of this is what creates the spiritual condition we live in. This is religion.

What we might believe. What we participate in as regards some organized religion. All of this is a side show.

Television, music, literature, and other forms of media affect and form our consciousness largely. This is the creative matter of what religion really is.

Our relationship with nature, our relationship with other people, how these proceed are the foundation of spiritual awareness and are the real basis of religion.

The civil law that we are subject to affects all of this far more than a church we attend or a religious society we participate in. Sectarian churches are either legally and formalistic instruments of the state, or are just the same informally, not legally Incorporated. Even if not formally incorporated they still constitute an instrument of the state through contract and association. Our relationship to the land and to each other are controlled and contrived through the civil law. This is religion.

The power of the state to determine these things are in fact the power of religion.

Since the days of Abraham Lincoln the state has increasingly become the supreme power in determining matters or religion. It is the Supreme Court, not sectarian religions that define the substantive basis of religion. The executive and legislative bodies likewise manage the civil law and civil concerns of our lives. They together constitute the supreme power over our lives and affect more directly all matters of religion in our lives.

Self Government and civil liberty are the only conditions men will ever live in where freedom of conscience and self determination in religious matters will exist.

In the mean time we are granted by government many choices of so called religious belief and worship. Unfortunately none of these choices are the choice of a true religion with a true relationship with a true God. The State itself is the summation of the choices of religion we have made and that is truly our unreal and present religion.