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With The Imperfections of Man, Is There Any Value in Religions?

The first thing we must recognize is that religion was created by man and not by God. This does not take away from the validity or the importance of the religion. It merely states the fact that religious doctrine is based of information received by man through inspiration or by his interpretation of scriptures. This information, of course, is filtered through the limitations of the physical man and is changed over time.

God inspired man and man in wishing that all share in this inspiration, creates a religion. Religion is created to give man guidance in his pursuit to return to his Father. They may have been high-minded people with good intentions, but they were still men with limitations. Also those that came after them may not have been so high-minded or have as good intentions as the founders. Things may have been changed or reinterpreted to suit their own needs.

Edgar Cayce, in his work, was warned against starting any religion or following of any kind.

Hence the ideals and the purposes of the Association for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., are not the function as another cism [schism] or ism. Keep away from that! For these warnings have been given again and again. Less and less of personality, more and more of God and Christ in the dealings with the fellow man.

To be sure, those phases of the activity of the Association, in the material plane, must take concrete evidence and present concrete evidence of its being grounded in mental and spiritual truth. But not that it is to build up any organization that is to be as a cism [schism] or cult or ism, or to build up money or wealth or fame, or position, or an office that is to function in opposition with ANY already organized group.

How did the Master work? In the church, in the synagogue, in the field, in the lakes, upon the sands and the mountains, in the temple! And did He defy those? Did He set up anything different? Did He condemn the law even of the Roman, or the Jews, or the Essenes, or the Sadducees, or any of the cults or isms of the day? All, He gave, are as ONE-under the laws! [254-92].

The purpose for religious institutions was not to create dogma or doctrine, but to nurture and to provide as a support system. It was intended to aid and supplement the spiritual quest of the individual. It wasn't intended to lay down rules and regulations by which the individual must live. Chuches provide a place for those that are seeking to attune themselves with the will of God. Anytime when those of the same mind are gather together, it can be a great power. As it was recorded in Matthew,

For where tow or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).

Edgar Cayce also echoed this sentiment of the power of those one in purpose of mind gathered together.

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in the midst of them." These words were spoken by Life, Light, Immortality, and are based on a law. For, in union is strength. Why?

Because as there is oneness of purpose, oneness of desire, it becomes motivative within the active forces or influences of a body. The multiplicity of ideas may make confusion, but added cords of strength in one become of the nature as to increase the ABILITY and influence in every expression of such a law [281-24].

Since the congregation of a church is basically made of people who are on similar roads in their spiritual growth, it gives you a wealth of individuals to provide support and help. The fellowship shared between members adds a great boost to your spiritual happiness and progression. Not only the congregation of your church provides a means of support, but those of other religions and faiths can provide the same to all.

To allow this to happen, first we must put aside our differences and focus on those things that are in harmony with each other. When we fail to do this and condemn other faiths, we miss out on the wonderfulness of God's glory among all of His children. It's a shame that even the different Christian denominations quarrel among themselves and fight each other for membership, when they should create a wonderful harmony that would transcend their differences.

Association in a church provides you with many opportunities meet, associate, and work with people of a like mind and cause. It provides you with a readily available means to do works of charity within the congregation and the community.

From my childhood, I was taught that the church that I was raised in was the only true church of God that had God's authority or priesthood. The years that I have spent away from the church and religious organizations have helped me to realize that this kind of thinking is audacious and false. There isn't "a true church" or "a true religion." They all have truth and they all are fallible to the limitations of man, also. No one church or religion has a monopoly on truth and no one church or religion has all of the truth.

Just like Israel is not just a nation, but all those who follow the One God, so it is the same with the Church of God. It is not a building or a religion. It is within, because this is where God has promised to meet us.

The Church is never a body, never an assembly. An INDIVIDUAL soul becomes aware that it has taken that Head, that Son, that Man even, to be the intermediator. THAT is the Church; that is what is spoken of as the Holy Church [262-87].

Remember that a source of truth is yourself. Through prayer and meditation one can receive guidance and truth. Some people call this self-knowing when you just know that it is true. The Bible and the Edgar Cayce readings call this the "still small voice."

Then only as has been indicated may that found from those experiences, those associations, arise from the still small voice from within. Not that any individual turns itself away from the cry of those that seek for bread, the cry of those that seek to know the way, but rather that it may be guided by those forces from within than by those temples that were builded or may be builded in various lands as sects or activities that become as modes or manners. For modes and manners change, but the purposes remain [1159-1].

So the overriding source of truth is from within, from listening to the still small voice that speaks to your spirit. If what you know to be true from inside is contrary to your religion, that does not negate the usefulness of your religion. This is the mistake that I made so many years ago.

You can still be an active part of your religion and realize that they may not be the last word in truth. Whatever you have come to know through study, prayer and meditation should always be the overriding information. Religion may help us in that study and search for truth. The oneness of purpose is also powerful and strong.

Just as today you must be informed and proactive with your health care, you must also do the same thing with your spiritual care and growth. You should not leave your spiritual welfare in the hands of others. You must take control of it for yourself. In fact everyone has be given the commandment to do so.

Just as you may find something that is contrary to the prescription of your doctor, you may also find something that is contrary to what your religion prescribes. This of course does not lessen the need for doctors and it shouldn't lessen the need for religions, too.

When I was a missionary in France some of the members of the church were also believers of the prophecies of Nostradamus. Although the church did not recognize Nostradamus as a prophet, those members did. I couldn't understand how this could be so. I can now understand. We must integrate our belief system to encompass that which we feel and know to be true, revealed to us by God.

Edgar Cayce Readings (c) The Edgar Cayce Foundation