Do all religions lead to God? Does anyone ever reach enlightenment?

[last50cobra]

These are some questions I have spent many nights pondering.
Here is a video that makes some good points:
RBOjhMw4-oQ

[Unified Serenity]

I once heard the philosophical comment that Religion is like a many paned lamp and God is the candle within giving illumination. I rather liked that description, and find most religions are focused on finding one's path back to the creator and infinite love.

[last50cobra]

I once heard the philosophical comment that Religion is like a many paned lamp and God is the candle within giving illumination. I rather liked that description, and find most religions are focused on finding one's path back to the creator and infinite love.

I used to think that to..Im not so sure thats what they claim to be doing at all though. I mean, thats not what they say they are trying to do anyway.

[Unified Serenity]

I once heard the philosophical comment that Religion is like a many paned lamp and God is the candle within giving illumination. I rather liked that description, and find most religions are focused on finding one's path back to the creator and infinite love.

I used to think that to..Im not so sure thats what they claim to be doing at all though. I mean, thats not what they say they are trying to do anyway.

Oh, of course not cobra! My God's better than your God, is really an ego thing. I mean if a religion has half a chance of becoming a foundational rock in a culture then it necessitates that it's followers believe THEY are chosen or They have it right, but I have found within all the paths I have investigated a core set of believers often described as mystics who connect with the Divine in another dimension that all see the same light. The light is energy, intelligent, and abounding in unconditional love. It is mankind who perverts the message of peace and love for control through fear and conquest.

I believe one day we will all see very clearly that some very nonspiritual people have abused religions worldwide to further their own dominance and power. The game will end, and the meek will inherit the earth.

[Someoneson1]

I read a book once about a woman who died, went through the void and met the anointed one on the other side. Her very first question was "what's with all the different religions?" "everyone needs a platform" was the answer. Interesting as a platform is something I imagine one jumps from.

I was raised military roman catholic. Very strict. But I learned to read between the lines and decide for myself.

So perhaps religions are the guidelines before we jump.

[Tony]

Buddhism is merely letting go of clinging. This is not the same as having no desire.

[Wiremu2011]

I guess this question will never really be answered until you die. In the meantime, it's just mere speculation and guess work until that day of separation. Finding out really does your head in doesn't it? ..LOL

[Xenos]

Do all religions lead to God? Does anyone ever reach enlightenment?

Does "God" is religious ?

A religious approach of "God" isn't a reverse state to see the world in a total materialistic way ? And stay in a materialistic state of mind ?

Does many religious people are great example in their life ? Mother Theresa (the one in Kolkata) even wrote in her book that she had problem with "God"... and she is a saint... so ... for me enlightenment is a personal goal and not a recipe that you can buy in any religion, sect, group of thinking, beliefs, or any kind... it is just personal.

You in front of... Creation.

[RMorgan]

I´m not sure if any religion leads to anything. I´m not even sure that there´s something out there that could be called God, accordingly to our definitions of God.

[Davidallany]

If anything, religions lead away from the true god within, and lead to an external imaginary god figure.

[Tony]

It might help to call it, God Consciousness. God meaning pure.
Realising pure consciousness, and carrying no luggage, is enlightenment.

[Xenos]

Gnosis Christian scriptures bring to enlightenment... but it is not a religion... no cult, no dogma, freedom, no wedding, no baptism,... You in front of Creation. Their is a concept of baptism, but "God" do it, not a symbolical ritual made by a human...

It is maybe also interesting to stop to the level of perverted dogma in religion ? Maybe that's why so much pain and difficulty in there...

Like the Gnosis scripture say : "The Demiurge (Yawhe, Allah = the matrix) used a false light to bring people in a lost place".

[VaughnB]

Any human being who is becoming independent of conditionings, of religions, scriptures, prophets and messiahs, has arrived home. He has found the treasure which was hidden in his own being.

[Peace of Mind]

Religion (imo) was design to control the people. I don’t see any religion to be accurate and almost all seem to talk about the same God. The all mighty doesn’t care what you name it (Jehovah, Christ, Allah, etc…) the message is what should be examined and practiced.

God is in everyone, but when religion is seen to be one of the main reasons for our separations and wars… there is clearly something wrong.
Our belief systems disempowered us in various ways. One doesn’t have to look far to see this. When the pope thinks you should bow down and kiss his ring, when in fact he hasn’t performed any miracles or provide any godly services to the masses…you have to question yourself more than anything else.

You/we don’t need ambassadors in order to connect to the most high, all you need is courage to go within and give great praise and worship to that person in the mirror. Do this successfully and you will see just how easy it is to love your brothers, sisters and life in general. Any and all Gods would like to see prosperity…there’s nothing of value to gain from chaos and despair.

Peace

[Patrikas]

If anything, religions lead away from the true god within, and lead to an external imaginary god figure.

Sometimes the best teachers are the ones who teach us how not to be .. peace

[Camilo]

Since all religions were created by "man", not God, they are all very good at keeping you chasing your tail. Perhaps someone will achieve enlighment that way some time, or try following your "own" Spirit wthout hesitation, and experience the difference.

[Kristo]

Recently I had an encounter with a patient of mine that caused me to get calm and ask, "Does it matter what belief system we have while on Earth? Do you really care what we believe here?" I instantly saw a vision of a great wheel with many colored spokes (it was an awesome, moving hologram before me). Each spoke in the wheel represented a different belief system and the center of the wheel was God (Universal Consciousness...insert whatever term you wish). Then I clearly heard, "If your child were lost, would you care which path they took to get Home?" I was instantly choked up with tears and said, "No!"... the reply was "Exactly" *cosmic wink*

*I was not referring to 'religion' per say, as I too believe these are man made and a control tool. When I posed the question I was merely referring to whichever method man chooses to get closer to god, creation, answer life's esoteric questions, etc* :)

[RedeZra]

the term religion means to bind Man to God again

this is not control but compassion

so we don't get lost in the world


but there is always the danger of wordly people occupying religious positions


history shows that most of our old cultures used to ritually sacrifice fellow humans in worship to the gods

so who were we serving back then ? who wants human blood as worship ?


no not all religions are from God some are from our Adversary

[Xenos]

the term religion means to bind Man to God again

this is not control but compassion

so we don't get lost in the world


but there is always the danger of wordly people occupying religious positions


history shows that most of our old cultures used to ritually sacrifice fellow humans in worship to the gods

so who were we serving back then ? who wants human blood as worship ?


no not all religions are from God some are from our Adversary

Well... it is a point of view... but does "God" is innate or acquired ?

The Coran is full of sacrifice... it is written that liars lies because Allah tell them to do it and then... kill them all. In islam everything is made by Allah and how many dead do we have every day ? Islam loves sacrifice... so it is not a matter of old culture... and islam is JUST 1400 years more or less... so it is nothing.

[zebowho]

Religions only point to God. The only thing that "leads to God" is his call and our listen! Our spiritual feet are under nobody's control but our own.

-z

[Unified Serenity]

Recently I had an encounter with a patient of mine that caused me to get calm and ask, "Does it matter what belief system we have while on Earth? Do you really care what we believe here?" I instantly saw a vision of a great wheel with many colored spokes (it was an awesome, moving hologram before me). Each spoke in the wheel represented a different belief system and the center of the wheel was God (Universal Consciousness...insert whatever term you wish). Then I clearly heard, "If your child were lost, would you care which path they took to get Home?" I was instantly choked up with tears and said, "No!"... the reply was "Exactly" *cosmic wink*

*I was not referring to 'religion' per say, as I too believe these are man made and a control tool. When I posed the question I was merely referring to whichever method man chooses to get closer to god, creation, answer life's esoteric questions, etc* :)

That's really beautiful Krista. I read so many negative comments about religion and yet they do not reflect my experience at all. Now granted I am no longer a fundamental Charismatic Christian, Roman Catholic, Lutherin, Messianic Jew, but an amalgam of them on a mystical path which I have always been on. I do not regret my Roman Catholic upbringing (though I do regret sister Ann's tirade in first grade math) because I have such fond memories of Mother Superior and the nuns and priests who my family knew very well, had over for dinner, and I even stayed at the convent on several occasions. My Catholic upbringing instilled a strong moral code, fed my love for God, and taught me respect. I believe one of the things the last couple of generations have lost is a sense of respect for life and quite possibly a moral code. Religion can be a prison, but it can also provide a very needed sense of belonging and boundaries which make us feel safe to explore within sensible means. When I was an Adjunctive Therapist and worked with 6 to 12 year old terribly abused children, it was a very big part of the therapy to provide consistent boundaries and rules. A child with no boundaries or rules intrinsically feels unsafe, unloved, and uncared for. There are so many today who though meaning well have made it very hard to instill discipline and respect and the end result is a lost generation who doesn't now where it fits, is trying to find it's way and the end result are drop outs, drug addicts, lost opportunities to share their gifts. Now, I am not saying everyone born the last thirty years, but I wonder how many lost opportunities in all fields of endeavor have occurred because of a loss of foundational aspects the prior generations received.

I have certainly carved my own path and I have always been called peculiar and unique in every spiritual and educational or work endeavor I have pursued. I also had a supportive family which I believe is also very important. I have an insatiable thirst for truth and knowledge and feel a day is wasted if I have not learned something new, no matter how small that may be. I carry this over with my children each time I pick them up from school or when we have dinner at the table each night. I ask them what they learned today. They roll their eyes and pick their brains to give me something that enlightened them that day. If they don't report something, then I will try to provide something for them to ponder.

Religions don't just pop up overnight. They form over many many years or even generations. Mankind has always pursued the question of who am I, where am I going, what is my purpose which inevitably goes to a spiritual aspect. Some are blessed with divine inspiration and know it when it happens and share they share it. Others then say, Yes that happened to me or I want that, and seek it. Someone shares a meditation technique, groups gather and pray together. In sharing this sense of connection spiritually a path forms. A like minded community begins and again that sense of belonging is made. Somewhere down the line dogma sets in, and the community becomes set in it's ways and anything that smacks of change scares them and we find groups opposed to one another form. The point I am making is it all begins with our striving for truth and connection. I believe there is a great divine source who loves each and every soul here. That there are many ways to experience this divine presence, and that is often expressed as a religious path. I left the Catholic Church when I was 21 because it did not provide the information I was seeking. However about ten years later because of a divine experience I had and synchronicity I was drawn back to the church as I knew a third order Carmelite, and she introduced me to St. Teresa of Avila's writings and in reading her autobiography I identified with what she experienced in her divine moments as what I experienced, and I read more of her works like "The Interior Castle" or "The Mansions" as well as St. John of the Cross' "Dark Night of the Soul".

I was also blessed in reading A.W. Tozer's works, all of them! I believe I have been led each step of the way with my seeking whether within Christianity, Secular works, Messianic Judaism, and my varied experiences with others of different faiths and paths such as Muslims, Pagans, Buddhists etc.. I see the beauty in each path and the love each has for God or whatever they want to call the Divine. It is only those who work their way into leadership within a religion who are seeking power and control who cause many to fall away. I do not believe it is the fault of the path in itself. It is the leadership, their affect on dogma and rules that cause it to falter and thus we see the negative comments about religion. Any foundational aspect of our lives can be destroyed if we simply look at the poorest examples within that foundation and say, "See how bad ____ is". You can apply this idea to marriage, work, and education. I may be going off point here, but I believe God is everywhere and religion in it's purest aspect is born from our primary desire to answer those age old questions which we need answers to. If you have experienced the worst side of a religion I say look at the man directing it and then look at it's foundation. If it was a good solid foundation then it probably had a pure purpose. If it was simply a way to gain control then move on, but for the most part most religions foundations came from a sincere desire to grow closer to the Divine.

[letmedanz]

this reply may not be entirely inline to the question but am trying to relate a couple of things here.. and eventually get to the point ")

Hear of an oxymoron?
here it is in the title of the thread "Do all religions lead to God? Does anyone ever reach enlightenment?"

Religion is nothing but a system to keep the animals in check by the zoo keepers who actually are worse and more dangerous animals.
They speak, we listen (voice of God remember)

Enlightenment is something which i believe can never be complete .
It's like the universe, once you discover a portion of space, you realize there's more.
similarly once you are 'enlightened' in your reality or dimension, you move forwards to find yourself completely 'un-en-lightened" lol

But anyways, enlightenment is good.. it is the way forward... it leads to critical thinking, understanding of life etc etc etc
religion.... need i say... it's just the backward process... only dumbing ppl down, creating fear in them to be indoctrinated...

so.. that leads us to the important point that IF god exists (i believe there is some superior force somewhere which is probably well beyond our imagination, nothing like the self proclaimed prophecies), religion takes us in the OPPOSITE direction.

If you do really find any aspect of the true 'god', that would lead to enlightenment..

stay away from the religions existent today (barring very few... i wont take names in order to be politically correct), you will then move closer to enlightenment & GOD

[Godiam]

If a religion tells you to seek God outside yourself, If a religion judges a lifestyle (sexuality), If a religion has any rules that they claim are Gods law..... They are trying to control!!

God wants nothing, needs nothing, God is an energy, a conciousness, not a being in some imaginary place called Heaven, God is LOVE! UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!!!

We are all an extension of the conciousnessof God, some of us are awake to this, while others are totally ignorant of this fact!......We are all one with the source of creation, one race, the human race..... but living in a world of duality it is hard to get past the drama and emotion that makes us seem seperate from one another!

I dream of the day when humanity wakes up and can finally see the sheer folly of judging others because of race or belief systems....I am over the hatred and intolerance that humans show to each other, sometimes I think death would be better than living in a world of pain and drama.....and I look forward to going to the great unknown, and finally finding out if my beliefs about the continuance of conciousness are based in fact!

If a religion preaches any thing about being seperate it is WRONG!! IMO!

HUGS Godiam

[Xenos]

God wants nothing

Maybe he would like to see you revealing yourself... to rip the veil.

[jorr lundstrom]

Wait, have I missed something? Does any religion lead to God?

Do anyone now, 2011 believe that the purpose of any religion

is to guide you to God. Are you kidding?:faint::faint::faint:

[Seikou-Kishi]

Wait, have I missed something? Does any religion lead to God?

Do anyone now, 2011 believe that the purpose of any religion

is to guide you to God. Are you kidding?:faint::faint::faint:

I completely agree Lundstrom, old bean. Marx might have been a tool, but he was right when he said religion was the opiate of the masses; one man's morphine is another man's heroin.

To my mind, the only people close to reaching enlightenment are those who have decided that 'religion' is an unnecessary middle man in their dialogue with divinity.

[jessamy99]

My religion is about being/living in the Supreme Consciousness/ God.
We are all enlightened already, we just have to realise it and live it. :)

With love,
Jessamy.

[Someoneson1]

You know I often say that even though the Romans captured the run away freedom of gnosisim with things like the nicene creed. The message was carried forth for those who seek within religions.

No matter how frustrating it may be tO listen to the repetitive triad of misrepresented metaphors.

To know in your heart that no matter how many incarnations it may take. Home is assured. Is the answer to my frustration. Hence my peace is assured as is every other being through my vision of finality. And in turn my salvation is assured in my perceived enemies hands.

No worries. Grin,grin

[58andfixed]

From my perspective there is an essential difference between the personal religious experience, and "Organized Religion."

- 58

[PathWalker]

Religion is way beyond philosophy.
It is a about a codex or rules (delivered by god, via humans).
Eventually religion is aiming to be the life's user manual.

But due to human nature, religion turned into control system.
That is OK, some of us require and grow in controlled system (polarity).

[Tony]

Religions are travel brochures.
How would you know a realised being?

l3YfquGrHR0

[58andfixed]

I'm not the first to say this, but it makes my point quite clear.

"Going to church doesn't make someone a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes them a car."

Too bad this thought isn't more apparent to more people sooner.

The damage that some assumptions caused children ..... :(

- 58

[benevolentcrow]

I'm not the first to say this, but it makes my point quite clear.

"Going to church doesn't make someone a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes them a car."

Too bad this thought isn't more apparent to more people sooner.

The damage that some assumptions caused children ..... :(

- 58

I remember as a child having my mother take me to her mother's Pentecostal church. Being only 8 years old and seeing this scary minister preaching hell fire and brimstone was a terrifying experience. There were people speaking in tongues and rolling in the aisles. Straight out of a horror movie for me at that time. For years I had nightmares of burning hell. Is this what we are suppose to teach our children FEAR? As a child I decided right then and there I would never go back! I never did. Even at such a tender age of 8 I felt more enlightened or aware that this is not God/Creator's message . I still have many relatives that are Pentecostal and they are very nice miss-guided people, in my humble opinion... Not all religions teach that you must FEAR God. If religion is FEAR I want no part of it!

[58andfixed]

This is so beautifully and succinctly said to reflect a subtle and necessary discernment.

And it has been an experience I could relate to. :)

I simply had to endorse this wonderful thought.

- 58



Religions only point to God.

The only thing that "leads to God" is his call and our listen!

Our spiritual feet are under nobody's control but our own.-z

[jessamy99]

Quote: "Going to church doesn't make someone a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes them a car." Unquote

I heard a lovely saying once.

A dog can run through a field of cotton, and come out without a suit of clothing.

I agree!!

With love,
Jessamy.