This is not my complete lecture from Sunday March 10th's Divine Gathering, but it is the bulk of the message. Please feel free to comment or question. As always I look forward to hearing from you!
Love & Light,
Truly
How many people actually know what spiritualism is? Do people know that spiritualism is not only a philosophy, not only a science, but in fact also a religion?
Philosophy is defined as:
1. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
2. Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.
Science is defined as:
1. a. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
2. Methodological activity, discipline, or study: I've got packing a suitcase down to a science.
3. An activity that appears to require study and method: the science of purchasing.
4. Knowledge, especially that gained through experience.
Religion is defined as:
1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion
So the question then becomes, How many people in our community actually know who we are and what we are all about?
I was saddened to discover that the community that I grew up in, Durham Region, is actually one of the leaders in the spiritualism movement. Did you know that by having the choice of 4 different Spiritualist churches we have the 2nd most options in all the regions/communities in Canada. By the way, the City of Toronto has the most options with only 5 Spiritualists churches to choose from. I was saddened to hear that this is the extent of our choices. How did that happen? Why is it that on my way here I passed 5 or 6 churches of different denominations? All of them had buildings of their own with budding church communities. By the way, none of them were spiritualists. How did they become so big?
I was married in August 2008. What most of you don’t know is that I had to correct he clerk at city hall when I wrote down my religion. As she was reviewing our application for our marriage certificate, she pulled out another copy and said ‘you’ll have to re-do this.’. When I asked her ‘Why?”, I nearly fell over at her response. “Spiritualism is NOT a religion”. After taking a moment to collect my thoughts (think cool down), I replied,, ‘ Actually dear, it’s a GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZED RELIGION, and they have their own ordained ministers. The church I attend has been in this community for over 50 years.” Her response was typical, ‘Uh, I’ll have to check into that.” Now if I had to educate the clerk that processes the paperwork at city hall, how many people before me were told that their religion wasn’t a real religion?
Over the years I have often thought about who we are as a community. Why is it that when the topic of religion comes up most of us just stay quiet? I’ve done it. Why is it when people ask us what we’re doing this weekend we don’t say what were really looking forward too? ‘I’m going to church!:” or I’m going to divine gathering!” Why don’t we stand up and say, “I’m a spiritualist.” Really what’s so wrong with being a spiritualist anyway?
We of all people should not be afraid of what others will think or say. By being a spiritualist you know we are all connected, we are all one. What you may call GOD, I may call BUDDHA, or ALA. You know that we all come from the light, and are the light.
As spiritualist, you know that even thought I might not be accepted in a Catholic church, or a Buddhist Temple, no matter what I believe, I am welcome here. We even leave our seven principles open to interpretation. We are probably the most accepting religion in western civilization.
So I ask you, what are you afraid of? We allow people from all other religious backgrounds to find that there is an ability within our organization to worship in an unrestricted environment. We encourage you to learn at your own pace, and in the direction you choose. We ask that you give what you fell you can and we allow you to hold the beliefs that ring true to you.
I think that its time that we as a community start writing down on our government documents, where it says choice of denomination, ‘Spiritualist!’. Not what we were baptized as, or what we once were. Its time we stand up for ourselves.
Its time for us to come together as the community we are to lift the veil of shadows and secrecy. To grow, we need to expose our beliefs and have faith that by doing so we WILL grow. We need to be more vocal about who we are, and what we believe. We will attract more like minded people and we will be come one of the leading spiritual communities of the world.
Today I challenge you. Take the pamphlet in your hand (DLSF pamphlets were handed out) with you. Give it to someone. It could be a neighbor, it could be a friend, but give it to someone who you know doesn’t know that you’re a spiritualist. Try it.
We have the opportunity to change what people think about RELIGION, and Its time we started.
Thank you
Love & Light,
Truly
How many people actually know what spiritualism is? Do people know that spiritualism is not only a philosophy, not only a science, but in fact also a religion?
Philosophy is defined as:
1. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
2. Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.
Science is defined as:
1. a. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
2. Methodological activity, discipline, or study: I've got packing a suitcase down to a science.
3. An activity that appears to require study and method: the science of purchasing.
4. Knowledge, especially that gained through experience.
Religion is defined as:
1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion
So the question then becomes, How many people in our community actually know who we are and what we are all about?
I was saddened to discover that the community that I grew up in, Durham Region, is actually one of the leaders in the spiritualism movement. Did you know that by having the choice of 4 different Spiritualist churches we have the 2nd most options in all the regions/communities in Canada. By the way, the City of Toronto has the most options with only 5 Spiritualists churches to choose from. I was saddened to hear that this is the extent of our choices. How did that happen? Why is it that on my way here I passed 5 or 6 churches of different denominations? All of them had buildings of their own with budding church communities. By the way, none of them were spiritualists. How did they become so big?
I was married in August 2008. What most of you don’t know is that I had to correct he clerk at city hall when I wrote down my religion. As she was reviewing our application for our marriage certificate, she pulled out another copy and said ‘you’ll have to re-do this.’. When I asked her ‘Why?”, I nearly fell over at her response. “Spiritualism is NOT a religion”. After taking a moment to collect my thoughts (think cool down), I replied,, ‘ Actually dear, it’s a GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZED RELIGION, and they have their own ordained ministers. The church I attend has been in this community for over 50 years.” Her response was typical, ‘Uh, I’ll have to check into that.” Now if I had to educate the clerk that processes the paperwork at city hall, how many people before me were told that their religion wasn’t a real religion?
Over the years I have often thought about who we are as a community. Why is it that when the topic of religion comes up most of us just stay quiet? I’ve done it. Why is it when people ask us what we’re doing this weekend we don’t say what were really looking forward too? ‘I’m going to church!:” or I’m going to divine gathering!” Why don’t we stand up and say, “I’m a spiritualist.” Really what’s so wrong with being a spiritualist anyway?
We of all people should not be afraid of what others will think or say. By being a spiritualist you know we are all connected, we are all one. What you may call GOD, I may call BUDDHA, or ALA. You know that we all come from the light, and are the light.
As spiritualist, you know that even thought I might not be accepted in a Catholic church, or a Buddhist Temple, no matter what I believe, I am welcome here. We even leave our seven principles open to interpretation. We are probably the most accepting religion in western civilization.
So I ask you, what are you afraid of? We allow people from all other religious backgrounds to find that there is an ability within our organization to worship in an unrestricted environment. We encourage you to learn at your own pace, and in the direction you choose. We ask that you give what you fell you can and we allow you to hold the beliefs that ring true to you.
I think that its time that we as a community start writing down on our government documents, where it says choice of denomination, ‘Spiritualist!’. Not what we were baptized as, or what we once were. Its time we stand up for ourselves.
Its time for us to come together as the community we are to lift the veil of shadows and secrecy. To grow, we need to expose our beliefs and have faith that by doing so we WILL grow. We need to be more vocal about who we are, and what we believe. We will attract more like minded people and we will be come one of the leading spiritual communities of the world.
Today I challenge you. Take the pamphlet in your hand (DLSF pamphlets were handed out) with you. Give it to someone. It could be a neighbor, it could be a friend, but give it to someone who you know doesn’t know that you’re a spiritualist. Try it.
We have the opportunity to change what people think about RELIGION, and Its time we started.
Thank you
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