Michel, can you explain what religion is?

Many religions have an aspect of separatism and disdain for other religions. There is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religions are the social and political structures that reinforce ideologies that are written and maintained by individuals within regional areas. They set forth standards of beliefs, telling you what to believe, and the moral implications associated with those beliefs. People group together to reinforce these beliefs and ideologies based on their own perspectives, and they find strength and comfort with like-mined thinkers.

Spirituality is the deeply personal and oftentimes esoteric approach to understanding your relationship with your own higher power. Spirituality can offer and celebrate belief through faith, but it is more associated with a way of viewing your relationship with God, of your higher power outside of a structured and socially or politically based set of ideologues.

Power, Belief, Faith, and Self-Esteem

So, what is religion? Is it some set, structured belief system that says God punishes and that you are damned? Well, perhaps — for some. We suggest to you that this is fear-based, humaninduced, and control-oriented. And truly, isn't that why so many of you left "the church" and dislike the notion of the term "religion"? Religions reflect so much more than spiritual concepts. They reflect the topography, regionality, and even ethnicities of people throughout the globe and world. This is a tough topic to undertake. Even Christ was a man until Constantine, a then-pagan emperor, granted him divinity in order to secure his position within the growing church and Christian populace. The Nicene Council, through its powers and influences, granted status to the deceased Christ, making him the religious martyr and son of God you know him to be today.