WHAT IS A RELIGION?

A religion is a love relationship between God and human beings. We are in a religion not because we need an explanation for what we see. We are in a religion not because we do not know what will happen to us after death. We are in a religion not because we are fearful.

A religion, as a relationship of love between God and a human being, is unique and very personal. For while God is the same and does not change, all human beings are different from each other, and each human being changes from moment to moment.

There cannot be an automatic and instantaneous relationship between God and human beings. A love relationship has a start, and then grows. It becomes stronger and more intimate. The same is true for love relationships between people. They have a beginning and then they grow more and more.

But there cannot be a beginning and there cannot be growth unless the following conditions have been met:

1. Each partner to the relationship has to feel an initial desire for such a relationship. From this desire the partner explores the other, tries to become acquainted and causes the other to become acquainted. Such a desire has to start and grow in total freedom. Manipulating and compelling the other kills the relationship. In this there cannot be any compromise.

In courtships we sometimes see how a man or a woman tries to force the other to such a desire. Of course, it can be tried, but it will never succeed. It always leads to pain and frustration.

Similarly, God should not force any of us to love Him. If He did your love would die. You would start to hate Him because He took your initiative and spontaneity, and you feel like a puppet moved by strings.

Love and freedom are inseparable companions. Love cannot exist and cannot be called love, unless there is total freedom. This principle has tremendous consequences which will become clearer later.

2. The second condition deals with communication. Love cannot exist and grow without communication between the love partners. The Lord needs to talk to human beings, and human beings need to talk with God. The Lord's talk to us is called Divine Revelation and our talkto God is called prayer. More about these two later.

3. Love dies unless it is acted out all the time. Love needs to be expressed in word and deed. There are two types of love actions. There are actions that express love, and actions that protect love. Between these two actions there is a strong connection. Expressing and acting out love is to do good things - things that come from love to the Lord and love to the neighbor.

4. Protecting love is to shun evil things - things that come from hatred to the Lord and the neighbor, things that come from the love of self and the love of the world. By shunning evil things you protect your love relationship with the Lord, with your spouse and with your neighbor.

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