Ellie Walsh put forward a great idea for the current edition of Law of Attraction Blog Carnival concerning Religion and the Law of Attraction.
Tell me your perspective - your experience - with religion and the Law of Attraction.
Do you practice both?
Do you feel religion enhances or inhibits utilizing the Law of Attraction?
Tell me your perspective - your experience - with religion and the Law of Attraction.
I am a recovering Catholic. I attended Sunday mass every week. Received the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Communion, Confirmation and attended Catholic schools all but 2 of my pre-college years. I seriously contemplated the priesthood and considered myself, not only a good Christian (acting in the ways of Christ), but also a devout Catholic.
While attending Mater Dei High School, my religion classes taught me about the Bible, other religions, Church history and teachings. The more I learned, the more the Church seemed too restrictive, dogmatic, full of conflict and I felt that my relationship with God and the Universe was more peaceful and loving, than to be burdened with rules and sins. But that is my perspective.
Like many young people, I then did some searching. I found community in other Christian churches, less restrictive, but still found no real connection.
I discovered meditation and Buddhism and later yoga. Peaceful and tranquil, but seemed to me, to retard my desires and ambitions. Finding balance was challenging for me and at times, still is challenging.
Then, through a series of events and people (those I attracted into my life, ya think) started learning about the powers of the mind. Then as I read personal development books, studied more religions and metaphysical sciences, I started to see similarities and connections between them. They are not exclusive of each other, they are interpretations and explanations of the grand puzzle of "life the universe and everything"
that priests, philosophers, scientists, monks, thinkers, bloggers and others have been trying to explain as our understanding evolves.
Do you practice both?
No. What follows is my opinion, my beliefs and what I learned from my personal experiences.
I see religion as a stepping stone along the evolutionary path of consciousness. Look back over history and you'll see that polytheism is based upon the personification of the forces of Nature that were observed by early humans. Much like young children personify their toys and bring them to life. Later as the consciousness of humanity matured, monotheism developed and created a greater one and all encompassing force. Again, monotheistic religion personified Universal forces for human understanding. Now, in this New Age, leading edge thinking takes spirituality and understanding beyond monotheism and we find the universal forces and laws apply to everyone and can be used by anyone.
Although not religious, I consider myself spiritual. When I meditate, when the thoughts that wander through my mind are gone, I feel a sense of closeness, sometimes a oneness with everything. It's possible that my practice is novice if one were to compare with others. But those comparisons are a trap, so I will just say that my experience is my experience and fulfilling for me. As it should be for you.
Do you feel religion enhances or inhibits utilizing the Law of Attraction?
Religion can do both, enhance or inhibit.
Religion can enhance a person's utilization of the Law of Attraction when belief in their deity(ies) is strong and their faith that their gods/goddesses will grant them their desire through prayer or ritual. It is that belief and faith that brings about manifestation. Religions provide a good foundation for belief and faith. They provide teachings and affirmations for followers to develop and grow their faith. With an understanding of the Law of Attraction, a religious person can make better use of prayer, for example, replacing "Oh God, don't let me loose my house to foreclosure" with "Oh God, help me find ways to keep living in my home."
Those members who have faith and belief in their god's power to grant their prayers are just as successful in manifesting as those who are non-religious yet have faith in the Universe or even faith in themselves.
On the other hand, religions can inhibit utilization of the Law of Attraction when one is taught that we are sinful, unworthy, inferior, etc. and can only be "saved" by faith and, devotion will bring reward in the afterlife. It is these beliefs in sin, unworthiness and inferiority that cause resistance to receiving abundance. If one believes themselves unworthy (resistance), then those prayers asking for help will appear to go unanswered because of the belief of unworthiness.
The difference is a religious person can take the path of "it's god's will I'm in this condition" whether good (abundant) or bad (lack). The deliberate creator, one who accepts their role in the manifestation of their experiences, acknowledges their own resistances (or at least should acknowledge their role) and can develop themselves personally to reduce and eliminate their resistances and bring about abundance. Resistance is resistance, whether you are resisting God, the Universe or resisting your own deservings of being happy and fulfilled.
For the religious person, I believe that this New Age we are in, can actually make for a better relationship with their gods and goddesses. Just as offspring learn better ways to ask for what they want from their parents, so can followers learn to ask deities for their desires to be fulfilled. Knowing how to frame prayers when asking for divine assistance makes for a better communication process in the relationship with the Divine.
Whether you are religious or spiritual or not, I believe the Law of Attraction is a natural force available for use by anyone.
What do you think? I invite you dear reader to leave your comments or share your thoughts with me.
Other Law of Attraction Carnivals:
Law of Attraction Blog Carnival #29
Law of Attraction Blog Carnival #28
Edward Mills list of Law of Attraction Blog Carnivals
