Spirituality is not religion. You do not need religion to grow spiritually, but it can help accelerate your development. Different religions cater to different types of people. If you were to take the time to really study religion (objectively), you would see that they are all basically different paths to the same goal. All of the religions have their own quirks and sidetracks but they will basically get you there if you devote yourself to their teachings.

Your specific mention of going to the outdoors with the big questions can be explained. There is a reason why you feel what you feel out there. Seek out the older parts of nature that have endured a great time, and your sense of “God” will be stronger. In many places it will feel as though it is literally wafting in the air.

Consider studying religion not to become a member but to discover the underlying teaching. For example, creating a feeling of devotion in your heart will cause an increase in spiritual strength in many ways. Learning to quiet your mind and focus with your spirit (e.g., prayer, meditation) will help you gain greater control over your body and consequently help you increase your spiritual strength. For me, working on increasing spiritual strength has proven to be very beneficial and rewarding; religion aside.

There are many writings that can teach you the basic, underlying, almost scientific principles of what you have expressed in this article. One author that explained things simply, without leaning towards religion, was Rudolf Steiner. Search Amazon for his book “How to know higher worlds”.

Hang in there. The fact that you can feel that closeness while in nature means you still have a soft heart and good potential for growth. There is a path of spiritual strength ahead of you if you choose it.

Wow what a posting!It is not often that somebody else’s thoughts or writings have such a profound affect on me and make me look deep inside myself. Thank you for such an honest, thoughtful and well written piece. I hope that you don’t mind if I continue to follow your blog.

Best regards,

John

Call it God or god or whatever else you want to call it. That’s really what it comes to… it’s not about taking the definition from a book of revisionist mythology or from someone who claims you must go through him (or her) to reach “heaven”. It’s about knowing “right” when you feel it, and letting it move you to live by those convictions.

My exposure to Nature has shown me that there is a greater “something”, but I defy anyone to paint me a picture of it, or write its story… much less give it a name, a beard, or breasts. It’s bigger than that, more important and more powerful. You’re not going to contain it in a chapel anymore than you’ll fit it into a cathedral.

The outdoors is all the splendor I need to see, and it doesn’t require me to pray to it or give it my money, or cede responsibility for my life and actions in exchange for some promise of “salvation”, and I have no desire for “everlasting glory”. When I die, I’ll die like the deer and the pine… return to earth and nourish new life. There’s my eternal life.

Nothing is forever. That’s something Nature has taught me that no Bible or Koran will ever confess. And everything that happens doesn’t necessarily carry a deeper meaning, much less indicate some kind of “divine plan.” It’s just cause and effect… a breeze makes a ripple, a ripple makes a wave, the wave swamps my boat, I drown.

Living righteous lives and caring for your fellow man are pretty self-evident, and we shouldn’t need books and psalms to tell us that. If we don’t live right, we don’t live long because we need our pack, or our herd to survive. Maybe it goes a step or two beyond mere survival, but living well is its own reward… and the truth of that can be reflected in the religious scriptures of every faith. That’s the natural truth behind manmade religion.

The other stuff… the buildings and the offerings and the power plays and the surrender of self-determination… that’s us trying to cast nature in our own image, and I can live without that.

I mean no slight to those who believe otherwise. For those who find happiness and meaning in your faith, more power to you. I’m sincerely happy if you’re sincerely happy. May the god of your choice bless you and keep you.

I honestly do not find solace in organized religion. But I do find solace in a relationship with a God who was willing to step into eternity – Creator entering his own creation, clothing himself with humanity in order to save it. If that is not love, I don’t know what is.

Man has made religion often into list of “do this” to be saved. However, God in his desire for a relationship with us simply says, “done”

Your friend – Emily

Yep
SBW

Praise be to Jesus for giving you the desire and ability to write it!

I to have struggled with God and sometimes I still struggle with the concept. My wife and I go in circles about the subject ever so often.

Every day I get to be out in the woods or on the lake are total bliss for me. Even taking a walk in the park with my wife, son & dog just make me enjoy life that much more. I wish I had more time to be out in the wilderness, but so is life.