Sermon for Sunday - April 13, 2014: The Mystery that is God

"The Adherents.com collection of religious adherent statistics now has over 43,000 adherent statistic citations, for over 4,300 different faith groups, covering all countries of the world. This is not an absolutely exhaustive compilation of all such data, but it is by far the largest compilation available on the Internet."  

-- Excerpt from http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

Think about the 4,300 different faith groups.  Think about the statement that "this is not an absolutely exhaustive compilation."  I have heard numbers that stretch upwards to significantly more.  Only a dozen of these can be classified as "major" world religions, and even this number might be disputed as they argue about where to draw the line.  I think a larger larger number would take into account all of the spiritual groups that do not classify themselves as religions, per se, but I also think no one really has a firm handle on an exact number.  So, tell me, who is right? Nobody?  Everybody?  Only you?  Personally, I chalk up all these faith differences to the mystery that is God.

Truth be told, everybody is probably right in the eyes of God.  Why?  I think it's because the followers have faith.  I temper this statement by offering the codicil that I think this only hold true for those practicing faiths that are steeped in peace, love, tolerance, understanding, forgiveness and such.  I just have a deep seeded feeling that God abhors violence.  I also think some of these hapless souls are too lost to find their way out of a brightly lit room with one door, and a map.  Which faith is right depends solely on what you choose to believe.  If God had wanted only one true religion in the world God would have removed all of the unbelievers with a mere thought.

"Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him."

-- Mahatma Gandhi 

There is a real problem with any religion that would dare to think their way is the only way.  There is a bigger issue when they condemn you for not adhering to their interpretation of faith.  When your belief system approves of unforgiving condemnation, filled with a lack of peace, love, tolerance and understanding, I really think it is incumbent upon you to reevaluate your faith.  When you spiritual leaders approve of this belief system, I really think it is incumbent upon you to say no.  There are no virgins waiting in heaven for lunatic suicide bombers.  Do you really think it is God's plan for 4,300 faith groups to wage jihad against each other?  Be real.

Whose fault is this?  Pointing fingers is what everyone likes to do, so let's be different and not.  This is all on God.  God made a mistake?  Not what I meant at all.  This confusion may be part of the grand scheme.  God's plan to make mankind find their way back to Paradise.  God is waiting for us to discover we haven't seen the forest for the trees.  We have read so much into the voluminous amount of scripture we have lost sight of the simplicity of God's word.  God sent Jesus in order to restate this simplistic view and we ended up with a New Testament that, once again, allows for a multitude of interpretation.  Any time you open a door for interpretation, you risk misinterpretation.  In this case we risk 4,300 misinterpretations of  "God's word" to all of mankind.  Lucky us.

So, who do you believe?  I would ask, why do you have to believe anyone?  The basis for all scripture is the basis of God - do what is right.  If you study many of the major religions you will find they have similar "paths" to enlightenment and salvation.  The "10 Commandments,"  the "Eight Fold Path," and the like.  The similarities are striking, and for good reason.  It just makes good sense to do that which is right.

"And what is that ancient path, that ancient road, traveled by the Rightly Self-awakened Ones of former times? Just this noble eightfold path: right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration...I followed that path. Following it, I came to direct knowledge of aging & death, direct knowledge of the origination of aging & death, direct knowledge of the cessation of aging & death, direct knowledge of the path leading to the cessation of aging & death...Knowing that directly, I have revealed it to monks, nuns, male lay followers & female lay followers..."

-- Nagara Sutta, on the Noble Eightfold Path

In conclusion I would have to say the best path is your path.  Learn what you can from all faith based systems.  If it sounds right, it probably is.  Develop your own belief of what is right.  If you're looking for fellowship, pick a faith that welcomes differing viewpoints without judgment.  What you believe is only important in the sense that it is peaceful, loving, understanding and forgiving.  I think it is more important to God that you believe.  Try to remember, when all else fails around you, have faith and do that which you know in your heart to be right.

"This is my simple religion.  There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.  Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the phiosophy is kindness."

Dalai Lama

May the God of Abraham shine blessings on us all!  May your own spiritual journey be fruitful this Sunday, and forever more.