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(Religious V.S. social events)
(Religious V.S. social events)
MICHAEL: Yes, my daughter. There is no necessary qualitative difference. There is no direct correlation between spirit and--shall we say--some relatively reoccurring event as in every religious establishment on earth, no correlation because these events can be attended almost devoid of spiritual sharing. They can be social requirements of the folks around one who demand these outward observances be made, so they can be made begrudgingly and with much inner cynicism and fraudulent emotion, and so forth. Whereas two friends getting together in the holidays after perhaps years of not seeing each other, just that kind of thing is really a holy day for them.
MICHAEL: Yes, my daughter. There is no [[necessary]] [[qualitative]] [[difference]]. There is no direct correlation between spirit and--shall we say--some [[relatively]] reoccurring event as in every religious establishment on earth, no correlation because these events can be attended almost devoid of spiritual sharing. They can be [[Tradition|social requirements]] of the folks around one who demand these outward [[observances]] be made, so they can be made begrudgingly and with much inner cynicism and fraudulent [[emotion]], and so forth. Whereas two friends getting together in the holidays after perhaps years of not seeing each other, just that kind of thing is really a holy day for them.
From our viewpoint, religion is exclusively the relationship of an individual personality to God. This is the sum total of religion. What you call your religions, your religious groupings, are the socialization, the sharing of that relationship. So there has to be this something inside, this inner life, this inner relationship with God, which Mother Spirit and I spoke about the last few times. As you say, when people with this inner sense of spirit get together, then that is the quality, the qualitative difference that may or may not coincide with so-called religious festivities. If you will, that’s the religion within the festivities, and what these festivities hopefully help to bring about.
From our [[viewpoint]], religion is exclusively the [[relationship]] of an [[individual]] [[personality]] to [[God]]. This is the sum [[total]] of [[religion]]. What you call your religions, your religious [[Groups|groupings]], are the socialization, the sharing of that relationship. So there has to be this something inside, this [[inner life]], this inner relationship with God, which Mother Spirit and I spoke about the last few times. As you say, when people with this inner sense of spirit get together, then that is the quality, the qualitative [[difference]] that may or may not coincide with so-called religious festivities. If you will, that’s the religion within the festivities, and what these festivities hopefully help to bring about.
This is such an individual thing in its essence, my daughter, we have to keep aware of the level of generality on which I’m discussing these things. In each living son or daughter of God this relationship with his or her Creator is the basis of their religious life. It is this that is being shared, or not, in their get-togethers that denotes the truly religious character as different from other social functions, although both may be full of love and fun. Deep calls to deep, and deep responds. That is what makes the holidays truly holy days. That is the spiritual reality being experienced that fills the soul. Does this give you some sense of the inner difference between religious sharing with others as contrasted with more casual occurrences?
This is such an individual thing in its [[essence]], my daughter, we have to keep aware of the level of generality on which I’m [[discussing]] these things. In each living son or daughter of God this relationship with his or her [[Creator]] is the basis of their religious life. It is this that is being shared, or not, in their get-togethers that denotes the truly religious [[character]] as different from other social [[functions]], although both may be full of [[love]] and fun. Deep calls to deep, and deep responds. That is what makes the holidays truly [[holy]] days. That is the spiritual reality being [[experienced]] that fills the [[soul]]. Does this give you some sense of the inner difference between religious sharing with others as contrasted with more casual occurrences?
Student: Yes. So everyone grows and develops their own inner relationship with God, and then it’s in our nature to want to share this with one another. That’s what you taught us. That’s your religion as you practiced it.
Student: Yes. So everyone grows and develops their own inner relationship with God, and then it’s in our nature to want to share this with one another. That’s what you taught us. That’s your religion as you [[practiced]] it.
===='''''[[Joy]], [[Love]]'''''====
===='''''[[Joy]], [[Love]]'''''====
(The delight of love)
(The delight of love)