Religious Leaders

In the annals of time much has been written of the divine nature of man. Yet the ultimate truth of man's nature has never been totally revealed. I speak here of the diverse convictions and beliefs that the world knows in its many religions and various dogmas. There is much truth in some of the tenets of organized religion, and yet no church has wholly grasped the nature of the relationship between God and man. Much has been written about the nature of man. Even more has been written about the nature of God. There has been much soul searching, much academic dispute and proclamation. There has been much written to prove that man is an accident and that God does not exist.

There is a certain value in all of man's searching for what he regards as the ultimate truth of the universe, the only world known to man empirically. Yet, in his striving, man has in his statement of personal beliefs and rules of conduct tended to create division and discrimination among his fellow human beings. Each man who is absolutely sure that his is the true answer to existence automatically pronounces all those who hold differing views erroneous and not to be regarded as equally insightful. Over the centuries man has in his searching and in his proclaimed beliefs perhaps done more harm than good. In his zeal he has found certainty for himself and regarded all his fellow men with intolerance. They, in turn, equally sure of the truth of their own certainty, return his intolerance and close their minds further.

Let it be known that God regards those who would use the search for divine truth to promote themselves regardless of consequence as deplorable, a true injustice in the eyes of the divinity. Man is meant to embrace his brother in love that knows no boundaries, no divisions. Man needs to recognize that the mysteries of human existence, what comes before and what comes after, do not lend themselves to easy explanation nor to reliance on ancient texts held to be divine truth. Much that has been written of God and man over the ages contains some truth valuable as a guide to man's understanding and conduct, but there is no immutable absolute truth in these various books held sacred by those who embrace their tenets. These books are both in their interpretation and in their amendment the works of man, not of God.

It is time to recognize the innate limitations of man's understanding of things beyond his immediate sensory awareness. It is time to recognize the truth that while man's mind is incapable of absolute certainty about the nature and reason for human existence and man's relationship to God; he is possessed of a soul that speaks to him. This soul does not need instruction, does not need dogma. This soul, come from God, at all times retains this close connection. When God speaks, the soul hears and hears joyfully and correctly.

Let it be known that God deplores the injustice created by man's efforts to claim knowledge of truth absolute and to impose his beliefs on others, deeming them less wise and worthy. No single sect has all the answers, and the more rigid the dogma the further removed from God each becomes. The time has come for brother to embrace brother in full acceptance and awareness of the human limitations each knows. The time has come for religious leaders to be aware of their first responsibility to their followers.