4 days ago

Written by Bo Lozoff as part of his book of essays entitled "Just Another Spiritual Book," which was first published in 1990.

My Dear Children (and believe me, that’s all of you),
I consider myself a pretty patient guy. I mean, look at the Grand Canyon. It took millions of years to get it right. And about evolution? Boy, nothing is slower than designing that whole Darwinian thing to take place, cell by cell, gene by gene. And I have been patient through your fashions, civilizations, wars and schemes, and the countless ways you take me for granted until you get yourselves into big trouble again and again. I want to let you know about some of the things that are starting to tick me off.

First of all, your religious rivalries are driving me up a wall. Enough already! Let’s get one thing straight. These are YOUR religions, not mine. I’m the whole enchilada; I’m beyond them all. Every one of your religions claims there’s only one of me (which by the way, is absolutely true). But in the very next breath, each religion claims it’s my favorite one. And each claims its bible was written personally by me, and that all the other bible’s are man-made. Oh, Me.

How do I even begin to put a stop to such complicated nonsense? Okay, listen up now. I’m your Father AND Mother, and I don’t play favorites among my children. Also, I hate to break it to you, but I don’t write. My longhand is awful, and I’ve always been more of a “doer” anyway. So ALL of your books, including those bibles, were written by men and women. There were inspired men and women. They were remarkable people, but they also made mistakes here and there. I made sure of that, so that you would never trust a written word more than your own living heart.

You see, one human being to me — even a bum on the street — is worth more than all the Holy Books in the world. That’s just the kind of guy I am. My spirit is not an historical thing, it’s alive right here, right now, as fresh as your next breath.

Holy books and religious rites are sacred and powerful, but not more so than the least of you. They were only meant to steer you in the right direction, not to keep you arguing with each other, and certainly not to keep you from trusting your own personal connection with me.

Which brings me to my next point about your nonsense. You act like I need you and your religions to stick up for me or “win souls” for my sake. Please, don’t do me any favors. I can stand quite well on my own, thank you. I don’t need you to defend me, and I don’t need constant credit. I just want you to be good to each other.

I don’t need you to defend me, and I don’t need constant credit. I just want you to be good to each other.

And another thing: I don’t get all worked up over money or politics, so stop dragging my name into your dramas. For example, I swear to Me that I never threatened Oral Roberts. I never rode in any of Rajneesh’s Rolls Royces. I never told Pat Robertson to run for president, and I’ve never ever had a conversation with Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, or Jimmy Swaggart! Of course, come Judgement Day, I certainly intend to…

Now the thing is, I want you to stop thinking of religion as some sort of loyalty pledge to me. The true purpose of your religions is so that YOU can become more aware of ME, not the other way around. Believe me, I know you already. I know what’s in each of your hearts, and I love you anyway with no strings attached. Lighten up and enjoy me. That’s what religion is best for.

What you seem to forget is how mysterious I am. You look at the petty differences in your Scriptures and say, “Well, if this is the truth, then that can’t be!” But instead of trying to figure out my paradoxes and unfathomable nature — which by the way, you never will — why not open your hearts to the simple common threads in every religion?

You know what I’m talking about: Love and respect everyone. Be kind. Even when life is scary or confusing, take courage and be of good cheer, for I am always with you. Learn how to be quiet, so you can hear my still, small voice (I don’t like to shout). Leave the world a better place by living your life with dignity and gracefulness, for you are my own child. Hold back nothing from life, for the parts of you that can die surely will, and the parts that can’t, won’t. So don’t worry, be happy (I stole that last line from Bobby McFerrin, but who do you think gave it to him in the first place?)

You can call me and my special ones any name you choose, if only you would go about my business of loving one another as I love you. How can you keep neglecting something so simple?

Simple stuff. Why do you keep making it so complicated? It’s like you’re always looking for an excuse to be upset. And I’m very tired of being your main excuse. Do you think I care whether you call me Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Wakantonka, Brahma, Father, Mother or even the Void of Nirvana? Do you think I care which of my special children you feel closest to...

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