There is not just one correct religion. When a person is involved in a religion which suits them then it is a good religion. My idea of a good religion is one which is organized but not restrictive; one which will teach me how to live a peaceful life in harmony with God, nature, and my fellow man; and it must guide me on a path of enlightenment so I may once again join the Creator. All of these criteria must fit my religion. Fortunately they are found in many religions around the world.

A good religion should be organized so its members will have a sense of unity and security, but each member’s personal freedom should be a concern. All races and gender should be allowed to join. Its established dogma should be used only as a guideline. Each member should be held accountable for only their action or inaction and not deemed heretics for interpretations of the dogma or holy scripture which barely differ from the majority. Rituals practiced within the religion should be consistent to establish a sense of order. The ritual should be simple and not obsessively elaborated with gold or other precious metal because the focus of the ceremony should be on the spiritual and not the physical.

Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan said: Our religious ceremonies are but the shadows of that great universal worship celebrated in the heavens by the legions of heavenly beings on all planes . . . (Fisher, Living Religions p. 25)

Any leaders of the religion should be seen as people and not as lesser deities who know all and see all. The leaders should be more like teachers and keep the organization united through their guidance.

The second two criteria are the most important to me. They are connected because I feel that my actions while alive will determine when I will return to the Creator.

Man is striving constantly to find ways of living peacefully. A good religion should be a major tool in this quest for peace. Therefore, it should not have racist or sexist views or claim superiority over other religions.

An ideal religion should not be based on dogma alone. It should teach techniques, such as meditation, to transcend the physical and spiritual realms so its members may be enlightened and discover the anwers to life’s ultimate questions:

"Who are we?"
"Why are we here?"
"What happens after we die?"
"Why is there suffering and evil?"

The mystics and mysticism itself should not be shuned. Instead, the ideal religion should encourage people to seek out spiritual truths and build their own mystic path with guidance from leaders and scriptures available.

To quote Albert Einstein: The most beautiful and profound emotion that we can experience is the sensation of the mystic. . . this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness . . . (Fisher, Living Religion p. 22)

The ideal religion should teach that the earth is our home and nature is a sacred treasure, one to be cared for and protected. After all, there is only one earth. "An Appeal for Joint Committee in Science and Religion" issued by scientists around the world partially states:

We understand that what is regarded as sacred is more likely to be treated with care and respect. Our planetary home should be so regarded. Efforts to safeguard and cherish the environment need to be infused with a vision of the sacred. (Fisher, Living Religions, p. 22)

There is not just one correct religion. A good religion is one which fullfills your spiritual and emotional needs. How can one religion suit all the billions of people on our planet whose basic argument is over dogma? True religion allows you to become a better person by providing guidance and permitting you the freedom to be yourself and discover God on your own. True religion, good religion, preaches freedom of the mind and soul.

Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. Prentice Hall, Inc.: Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1991.

Come follow my thoughts.

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Copyrite 1997 Tara L. Miller This document is not to be distributed for profit.