by Bernadette Curtin, Australia
Last week I attended a presentation by Serge Benhayon where he and a linguist discussed the ancient and original meaning of the word “religion”. The latin root is religio, devotion for oneself and everything, and religare, to rebind or reconnect – our connection to God.
With Christianity, the meaning changed to define an organised body; it became something outside to connect to rather than to connect to one’s inner self. And it went from being to doing.
It felt very beautiful to return to the original meaning, it felt harmonious and true, to work on oneself with diligence and love for self and all others.
Recently I have been reflecting on how I, even as a grown woman, have been affected by a childhood indoctrination into the catholic religion.
What does being “good” really mean? And “obedient”?
What were the ideals and beliefs taught to me by religious authorities and my parents?
What were the role models and rituals I was given as a child that cemented beliefs and ideals, and a certain way of living and doing in my adult life?
The role models I remember being taught or shown were rather limited for women: there were martyrs, who endured torture and suffering for defending their faith; there was the Virgin Mary and the prostitute Mary Magdalen, whom Jesus befriended. The martyr and the prostitute were not really an option to my young mind, and the virgin was beyond the realms of possibility.
What about in real life? Well, there were no women priests or bishops or popes, so what was wrong with women and why were they somehow lesser? It was very confusing since somewhere in the teaching there was the idea that God loved everybody equally.
The rituals that further cemented a child into the catholic religion were baptism, confession or penance, and confirmation.
We were told that baptism was necessary as all new-born babies are born sinful, with a stain on their heart, and they needed to be cleansed.
Confession was a frightening ordeal: I remember feeling sick and frightened when I had to make my first confession, which is when you go into a black box and confess what wrong you have done to a priest who sits behind a screen. Sometimes I made up a list of sins as I didn’t really know what to say! I gradually developed a suitable list.
Confirmation involved the bishop placing a seal on your forehead to confirm your commitment to God by following the catholic religion.
All these rituals confirmed to me that I was not a worthy person, that I was born quite unacceptable to God and that I must work very, very hard at being “good” in order to get to Heaven when I died, which could happen any day.
I see now, how even though I have not been investing time and money and energy into being a good catholic woman, the ideals and beliefs have caused me to drive myself to “get it right” and “be good”.
But what if I can simply allow myself to be the true me?
What if I already know in my innermost heart what love is and I just return to being that?
This feels like a path worth following – my own way.
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The Truth about Universal Medicine 
True Doug, we are here to live who we truly are.
I find the Catholic Church very hypocritical, they want you to be ‘good’, and confess your sins, and yet many clergymen/priests have been paedophiles, so living a life of pure evil! These paedophlies, once caught, were forgiven, and moved on to again rape and molest children in another area, shame on you Catholic Church, what are you reflecting to the world?
Thanks Bernadette as so many words have been taken away from there root meaning so that we are now starting to understand the true energetic state of any word and how vital it is to understand truly what a word is sharing so we can evolve.
If we live a lie we need others to also adopt the lie or crush them. The truth doesn’t do that, it just is and lets others be. This is how I see religion now and how to work out which is true or not.
When we are compelled to conform to dogma and the rules and regulations of others it is the polar opposite of the freedom to connect to truth in the stillness of your inner-heart.
The consciousness of the Catholic Church has spread far beyond the religion itself as it has seeped into the fabric of our society. For example we all still experience guilt and shame, right and wrong, feelings of not being good enough and that sex or making love is somehow a little impure…
Doug it’s amazing how we will all get behind something that doesn’t truly work, yet dismiss in full the message of simplicity, love and brotherhood of teachers like Jesus.
Imagine if the soul took over the running of the Catholic Church – the confession box would become an appreciation box, the priest would reflect the truth we all are as divine souls, and confirm the equal Son of God opposite them, who would be appreciating all they had deepened into in their recent cycle of evolution.
Melinda there is so much investment in maintaining the status quo, I feel that true change comes from each of us when we connect to our soul, we no longer need a church or confession to make us feel ‘better’. The direct connection is so divine and empowering to feel and live.
I love the alternative picture that is there for us to claim, and how shallow and twisted the teachings the church feel by comparison!
Throughout history every effort was made to separate religion from human life. The bastardisation of the word itself played a big part in this, while religion is really just about our relationship with God which is in the very fabric of our existence including ourselves. How can we not know God – unless we are willingly playing that role of unknowing?
The summit on childhood sex abuse and paedophilia by priests in the catholic church has just finished. What if the pope had invited the people protesting outside, or at least some representatives to join him and the hundreds of cardinals and bishops and listened to what they had to say? I did not see one woman in the conference. Let’s see if there is any real change, for example in the training of priests, allowing women to become priests, allowing priests to marry, for bishops and priests to report instances of paedophilia, and for the clergy who abuse children or rape women to be treated the same way that other citizens are treated. We are all equal sons of God after all.
Yes, these priests who are paedophiles need to be held to account the same as any other paedophile.
So many of our experiences as children can shape our personality and the way we see things as adults. That is only if we remain victim of it, if we feel sorry for ourselves and think that there’s no way out. But, if we adopt a different mentality, one where we seek to understand why those things have affected us, why we still let them affect us there’s an empowerment, and with that a possibility for a different way.
Bernadette I agree with all that you say here and I feel there is more to say. What if all those ideals and beliefs were a form of consciousness that we carry with us life after life, not aware of the impact that the consciousness is having on our bodies, until the what if is asked.
We do not have to go regularly to church or live as a devout catholic to hold the beliefs of being ‘good’ or ‘getting it right’. I used to go to chapel and even though I do not attend today, the behaviour of ‘getting it right’ or ‘being good’ can show up on occasions. Thankfully I am becoming much more aware of its evil energy and how it plays out in my life.
Yes, the consciousness of being good, or getting it right, can still creep into our lives even if we have not been a regular church attendee, it is an evil energy that needs renouncing.
‘Sometimes I made up a list of sins as I didn’t really know what to say! I gradually developed a suitable list.’ This sounds incredibly bewildering to a child. Indeed, it sounds bewildering to anyone because there’s such a strong message that we are sinners and need to confess and repent for being intrinsically bad.
Now I’ve felt bad about myself all my life and my parents, being the very loving people that they are, didn’t raise me religiously – they’d had unsatisfactory experiences of organised religion and felt it best I chose for myself when I was older. However this idea that we are intrinsically flawed is in the water. Thankfully, I’ve connected to my essence (through listening and putting into practice the presentations of the Ageless Wisdom) and know there is nothing sinful about me, yes I can choose to align to what’s not love and act accordingly, but my essence is divine.
So, it seems to me a lie has been sold and marketed to its fullest to keep the liars in business – say to someone you do bad things therefore you are evil in essence so you need to come to us constantly as we’re the only ones who can relieve you of your sins. But, because your’re a sinner you will keep sinning and keep coming back. They are not in the business of putting themselves out of business and presenting the fact that, if you live from your essence then you’ll not be impulsed to do the things you do because you’re missing that essence.
“It felt very beautiful to return to the original meaning, it felt harmonious and true, to work on oneself with diligence and love for self and all others”. I also have really enjoyed discovering that my issues with religion were with the man created re-interpretations, not the true meaning, which is simply my steady inner connection I had as a child.
I have always been surprised by the fact that Catholics are supposed to go to confession and afterwards they get a penance, the reason I find it difficult is because how can we be sinners when God does not judge, everything about religion seems to get complicated because they have rules and rituals, yet for me religion is simply to open up my heart and to feel the connection of God, and being who I am.
When we understand the true meaning of a word it is like that word literally comes alive.
There is nothing more disempowering and outright fraudulent than being made to believe that we are born sinners; on the other hand, this business model guarantees an endless supply of willing adherents who keep looking for salvation outside of themselves.
I love the understanding presented here of what the word religion means at it’s root … ‘religio, devotion for oneself and everything, and religare, to rebind or reconnect – our connection to God.’ That devotion you speak of, to oneself, to God, to everything is something I am exploring anew after letting go many ideas of what religion and indeed what devotion is … and now I am learning that to be devoted to God involves being devoted to myself, for my body is of God, and that is huge given all I took on during a childhood raised in Catholicism. Thank God for the Way of the Livingness and the understanding it’s brought to me and many others of what religion truly is.
If one ever has the opportunity or, the privilege, to hold a new born baby then it will be clear that there is no stain of sin. That they are of the purest love.
It seems like we can go a long way to complicate something that is very simple, our connection with God.
Yes Matts, it seems that some ‘religious’ institutions have shaky foundations, built on complication and unsound purpose.
It’s interesting how the role models you grew up with were martyrs, what if instead of having role models who sacrificed themselves we had role models that held steady in knowing who they are and lived constantly developing their purpose in life.
I so agree Elizabeth, regardless of the man-made religion, they manufacture followers who then become imprisoned. always looking outside themselves. Yet Yeshua taught “the kingdom of God is inside you.” We just have to uncover the layers we have put upon ourselves over lifetimes, to find the gold waiting for us inside.
“But what if I can simply allow myself to be the true me? What if I already know in my innermost heart what love is and I just return to being that? This feels like a path worth following – my own way.” I love this. No rules or gurus or priests to follow to tell us what to do, but simply following the wisdom of our own inner heart – which every single one of us has.
It seems to me that it is time for people to wake up and take responsibility for connecting to their own divinity, as the current exposes of child abuse by the church clergy are an indication that we need to be very discerning of the energy of others who place themselves as authorities on divinity.
Absolutely, we always need to be very discerning of what energy is at play, ‘ we need to be very discerning of the energy of others who place themselves as authorities on divinity.’
“All these rituals confirmed to me that I was not a worthy person, that I was born quite unacceptable to God and that I must work very, very hard at being “good”. – In order to keep people needing the Church as a conduit to finding God, there must be a belief system that is in place to install a feeling of not being enough themselves (and certainly avoiding the Truth that we are ALL Sons of God), therefore people then look outside of themselves for someone to show them the way back to God (enter the Catholic Church) when all along God is living inside of them.
“ when all along God is living inside of them’ – beautifully said Michael, and doesn’t this truth expose the separation that is created with constructed beliefs that deny us our innate divinity.
The perfect business model, methinks. The church instigates and founds the demand and then offers the supply and thus, keeps turning and turning the wheels for the sake of their own vested interest.
This really shows how important it is to be aware of what we are saying and doing because it can contribute to a person living their life feeling lesser or not worthy if we are not careful and loving.
The true meaning of the word religion is not just a pathway to God, but to us as part of the whole and in relation to it. We can of course limit the whole to a corporation and some beliefs. This is a choice.
The bastardised version of religion starts with the idea that we are ‘tainted’ and need to be ‘purified’ whereas the true religion allows us to feel that we all have a spark of God in us that remains pure and untainted no matter what ideals and beliefs we layer on top to muddy our awareness of this.
When something is precisely the opposite of the truth the intention is revealed.
Very interesting to read how you made up a list of sins because you didn’t know what to say in confession – like, how we reduce ourselves to satisfy the protocol and that seems to be a common occurrence. We are very quick to figure out what is being asked of us and make that more important than what we know to be true.
Yes, really crazy to make up a list of sins because you were meant to have them, and so are reducing who you are to satisfy the Catholic Church.
We think we understand the effects of false religious dogma – but the concepts like martyrdom and being ‘good’ are so far reaching. You might never go to a church but the fact is our society still reveres these qualities. Thanks Bernadette for the reminder that we need to bring a new understanding to how we live life.
Being obedient to a catholic version of God is a way of living that I have personally not experienced, however there are people that I know and love who have experienced this, and in them I can often see a great sense of guilt that they carry. A guilt which does not seem to come from anything in particular, but simply from being who they are, and so no matter what they do to redeem themselves they always feel at fault or at least not good enough. And this is sad because in these people I see their beauty and their immense love which is at times being kept hidden from view due to this blanket of self deprecating thoughts.
I have seen the same thing, a guilt for existing and a cycle of low self worth endorsed as a truth by the Catholic religion. It seems to go like this – tell people they are sinners and unacceptable to God, then tell them your religion has the answer and can save them, and introduce how = followers. It’s not unlike the beauty industry that introduces images of an ideal of how to look, infers you’re not living up to that impossible ideal/image, then advertise that you have the solution to attain that image (beauty products and services), and receive money and popularity (followers) when you’ve actually the energy behind the issue. Both dismiss the divinity and inner beauty of people. Until human beings begin to trust how they feel and question these things they will give their power to a corrupted model.
I have noticed this sense of guilt that seems to hang round those who were in some way connected to the Catholic Church, even if their connection was slight, and in their younger days.
What a set or sets of ideals and beliefs have we ended up with.. those who fully detract us away from what is true, logic, real and powerful. To make life about sins – right and wrongs is actually the most evil play we can set ourselves up with. As we know that our love is unconditional.
We are only scratching the surface to know what “good” means and the impact of wanting to “do good” and “doing good” has. Its a foundation to how a lot of us live life and it is looked up to. Raising questions about being good certainly raises a few eyebrows.
When presented with the true meaning of religion, I knew right a way the this is what I had already deeply sensed religion to be from a very young age, and that this was our natural way of being. The Way Of The Livingness offers us a way to live and maximise our relationship with God, which is innate and inescapable, through everything we do, as such deepening our relationship with who we are, all simply through our connection the our Soul.
Wow – how could anyone look at a new born baby and believe they were tainted in any way? I did not know that this was the reason for Catholic baptism but it explains why it always felt awful to me.
You get a great feel for organised religion reading your blog. It has so many ideals and beliefs that are all held outside ourselves putting us in the doing instead of just being.
I know only too well what it feels like to be brought up a Catholic, I remember the church, an old creaky, cold wooden church feeling scary and so very uninviting. The main thing that struck me also was that it was a place to act holy but when you left you didn’t have to act holy anymore.
I cannot imagine growing up under a Religion, I was however raised to know there was a Universe and that God was everywhere and was pure love. When I was taken to Church for Weddings or family events occasionally, I did not feel the love and joy that I felt in my home, in those Churches. I also saw and felt things were not as they appeared. I think that we all have the best intentions but we can get lost on our road home.
So many of the reinterpretations in life that take us away from our natural way, turn being into something we need to do. For instance, being a woman has become a huge tick list of things we need to do and the power and beauty of our being is lost. Same goes for our relationship with God. There is nothing we need to do, we just need to be his equal reflection.
Beautifully expressed Fiona thank you.
We are here to reflect who we are in truth, nothing less.
Recently I attended a Catholic service due to work. The whole thing felt very imposing on my body and senses (especially the strong incense wafted into the crowd). This was a very far cry away from and what felt like the complete opposite I know of being connected to God as I know from my body.
It is deeply settling experience when we re-connect to the true essence of religion…
What an important blog that set straight the lies and falsities about the man made catholic religion. As this reveals the ill ways we have been “rightly” exampled and lead by..
There is no love in that which is telling us that we are not okay, that we are wrong and should do better — no ounce of Love is in that.
It requires us to be an outsider, to become the betrayer of illusion to start to see that how we been living (from being Good and Bad, right or wrong) is actually causing harm to our species, that has never been love. Hence we are our greatest healers as we seek to set ourselves free from the lies..
Gosh, reading the list of duties one must perform in order to be considered a catholic just knocks me sideways every time. It pains me to know that there is a belief that we are born sinners.
So great that you started the conversation about these rituals and their affects on us. The church proports that it is based on love and that God is love but the more I experience true love in my relationships and way of living as I have grown up the more I come to ask where the love truly was as none of what I experienced in the church made me feel loved.
It is interesting to note how hard the catholic church works at making everyone less, less than the priest, archbishop and pope. But essentially less than God. Is this all a very deliberate reality to hide the fact we are the Sons of God, and that our only true way to be with God, in equalness, is to nurture, love, respect and support our bodies, so that we can live with responsibility. Knowing no other can do this for us, but ourselves.
Choosing to reject the dogma and control of organised ‘religions’ is a first step in being open to and aware that true religion is a connection to God through the inner-heart and expressed in the way we choose to live.
This is a hot topic and has been for a long time. I was raised in the Catholic faith and it was a very confusing way to live. In saying that and now as an adult I am no less confused. If I look at all the rites and rituals we conducted and are still conducted they don’t make sense and how we have accepted them is even more confusing. Is it just the case that because it’s been deemed as being around for so long and because the majority have accepted it that that makes it ok? If we look at the Catholic faith alone, the wealth, corruption, child abuse scandals etc etc, is that really something we support? As I said and I am speaking from experience, our world and how we see things like this don’t make sense to how they actually are and I am bringing understanding why this is the case.
Being religious as a student of your-self by connecting to the inner-heart seems a very simple way that provides the space for us to evolve and when there is respect for others and what they hold then love is being shown.
I can so relate to this blog Bernadette as I also brought up in the catholic religion and struggled even as a young child to make sense about what this religion was saying was true. Most religions see women as being lesser which is a very deliberate attempt to control and reduce the true power and wisdom that women bring, for I am sure if women were in positions of authority within the church they would have exposed the corruption and abuse rather than sweep it under the carpet.
Religion can only be a movement that confirms itself and grows in that confirmation.
That’s terrible. It leaves an empty feeling in my stomach that I have filled up with food ironically to numb it out. I’m pleased I have connected to my innermost where true salvation and fullness is found.
Than you Bernadette for sharing your experience of organised religion and true religion, I had a similar experience to you in the church and the effects of the churches teachings stayed buried within me for most of my sixty years of life, even after embracing The Way of the Livingness as my true religion I still found after all those years of leaving the church that the idea of the stain of sin was still in my body. thank fully no more as I embrace myself as a divine son of God.
It is evident that we have walked far away from the true meaning of religion. My first encounter with organised religion was with the catholic church, where we were taught that we were born sinners. That is heavy going for a child to have to endure, as this was the opposite to what I was feeling. And so we learn to doubt our inner-knowingness from very young age and seek to discover the sense we give up through following doctrines and the recognition of trying to be good. Yet I now know that we can never discover who we are, our inescapable relationship with God and the universe, through what we do in the world outside of ourselves. For is not the rules and doctrines that we follow or the good we do that define who we are, but rather it is the quality of connection to our inner-heart that reveals the majesty of our Soul, the truth of who we are in essence as the Sons of God no less. To live in this way, guided by our inner-knowingness, is to live in a direct relationship with the quality of oneness, where God, the universe and all are no different and not separate, giving rise to a truly religious life that allow us to live the Soulfulness that we are here to live.
Call me naive but I didn’t really clock how sexist the Catholic Church was until this blog. I mean what role models does a young devoted Catholic girl have to aspire to if they wanted to take a lead role in the Church? Words are empty unless an action follows; a well-known book named the Bible saying we are all equal but then having a male dominated staff doesn’t really send a message of equality.
The fact that many religious institutions in the world today want to say what religion is and what it isn’t tells us there is a problem. Does religion belong to organisations, or does religion belong to each of us, representing our own person re-communion with God?
This is a very poignant question Heather, and what feels true is that religion belongs to all of us. Wisdom is always so simple. And for everyone.
I have found from my own experience how easy it is to give our power away to the church in the belief that they know God, and we are not worthy of him, yet in truth God does not judge or discriminate and he walks with us wherever we are, to know God is simply to know ourselves, with no ideals or beliefs.
I like the idea that we are always being obedient, obedient to one consciousness or another.
All the man-made religions miss the key aspect of connecting to our divine essence within where we know we are at one with God and instead focus on good and benevolence which is far from the truth and abusive to our bodies.
‘What if I already know in my innermost heart what love is and I just return to being that?’ – The indoctrination to an organised religion does the opposite to what the true meaning of religion is. These institutions are set up to separate people from who they naturally are and then spend the rest of the time telling them they are not worthy. Claiming and living the love we naturally are is a reflection to the world that we are all amazing, loving, equal and Children of God.
We all know how general conversations can circulate and the facts of what occurred can be changed into fictional accounts in the blink of an eye, and subsequently, passed on from the misunderstanding, misinterpretation or even the deliberate changing of what was originally shared. Why would we not think the meaning of words we use in our every day language not have been reinterpreted too?
An article to be read not from the point of catholic religion alone, but of all mainstream religions. An offering to ponder on what we each truly support if we choose to be a part of the doctrine that they bring, and to ask the question, does this bring us together as a humanity to live equally with everyone, or are there parts of it that actually divide and cause one to think they are superior because they are a part of that particular religion? As is shared above there can be nothing but equalness for all if the true meaning of religion is lived.
Thank you for sharing this here Bernadette. I have had very similar experiences in the Anglican Church. What really struck me in what you express here is how we still denigrate women in our society, how women are still treated unequally, how the male has dominated the female – especially within the religions such as Catholicism. I can feel how this energy pervades our thinking and our attitudes and approaches to life. Yet this is plainly not the will of a God who created all his children equal. Neither is it the truth of our own inner hearts where equalness is the very cornerstone of everything. In fact I can even feel the impact this has on my own being, my own body where maleness dominates femaleness. There is much healing to be done.
Why do we still call Catholicism a religion? It does not honour ‘religio’, (devotion for oneself and everything), and it does not really help to ‘religare’, (to rebind or reconnect – our connection to God).
Reading this article again tonight I felt my body cringe at the rediculousness of confession. So many confess things they havent done, tell half truths and don’t accept any responsibility for their behavior. Confession doesn’t support another to adjust their ways. It only confirms the lies and falseness we as humans would rather abide by, than taking a true step and accepting responsibility for our actions, and making choices to bring a greater quality of integrity to our lives.
“What does being “good” really mean? And “obedient”?” – Great questions and well worth pondering on what they mean to us or what we may have been told they are… Serge Benhayon has helped me to understand and be much more aware of the way we use words and to consider what they mean to me on a deeper level.
Baptism is a heavily charged practice given that it tries to cleanse the fact that babies are born sinful, with a stain on their heart. Have we ever stop and discuss what lasting effects this ritual has on the body of a person?
We have allowed ourselves to look at religion as a form of worship, as an organised body, as a place of salvation rather than purely a way to reconnect with the Absolute Truth, Love, Harmony and Stillness that we innately are.
Beautifully expressed Elaine Arthey.
We are born pure and divine and then we go to church to…what? Confirm and keep growing in that connection or do we do all sorts of things that is supposedly done to get closer to God? God wouldn’t make it hard for us. If it’s hard then it must be us that cannot yet accept how easy it can be, and I put my hand up to say that it’s not easy all of the time to let go and realise that I’m already everything, that I just have to let it out.
Thank you for sharing about the origins of the word religion, religio and how “it felt harmonious and true, to work on oneself with diligence and love for self and all others.” It feels true to me as well, it feels honouring of the walk the talk approach in life. It we do not know ourselves as love, what love feels like below the marketing sell, then how can we possibly be love with others?
Bernadette I can so relate to what you have shared here, having also been bought up Catholic I was often confused by the Religion and it’s teachings and the obvious lack of love of most within the church. The most empowering and pivotal point for me was claiming to my mother that I was no longer going to attend church, as I was sick of all the false ideals and beliefs that I could no longer pretend was ok. The feeling in my body was one of expansion and true freedom and began the search for truth and true love.
All the established religions, including Catholicism, make women to be of lesser value, in fact they denigrate women as being sinful and dirty. The Way of The Livingness however teaches us that the quality of femaleness (stillness) that is embodied in the female form, stillness is what will lead us forward and out of the mess we are in as a human race. Isn’t that interesting then how much women are suppressed in our societies when they can in fact bring us salvation so to speak?
There is much in what you share here Judith. Until we truly honour the place of women – and femaleness – as equals in our world and within our own hearts, we will struggle and live with the disharmonies this brings.
Thank you Bernadette for sharing, I can so relate to what you experienced growing up in the Catholic Church, though I left that religion some forty years ago only over the last few years has the indoctrination of the good, and being born in sin, resulting in unworthiness, come to the fore to be seen as the evil of separation that it truly is. I have at last come back to me, to know that it is not in the good that I am defined but in the being, being connecting to, and living from my innermost heart of love, that defines me as a divine Son of God.
The Catholic Church consolidated a role as a religious ‘broker’ and as the maker of an idea/an image of religion and God that are simply not true. Powerful as they are, one day this empire will crumble under its own weight.
Simple… “But what if I can simply allow myself to be the true me? What if I already know in my innermost heart what love is and I just return to being that?” You have captured the essence of true religion thank you Bernadette.
Letting go of getting it right or being right and of being good according to the standards and expectations set for us as we were growing up is huge. Recognising that religion is not a system to follow but an inner calling to reconnect changes everything . We are no longer bound to anything outside ourselves but can begin to deepen the connection we have always had, however tenuous it might seem, with our true selves, the love and wisdom we hold within that is not tainted by beliefs and ideals we have taken on.
‘Recognising that religion is not a system to follow but an inner calling to reconnect changes everything .’ Yes it does Elaine, as you have beautifully explained, we already have the love and connection to God within us, our essence, our soul.
Well said Elaine – it is true that as the innermost connection is deepened, we are no longer at the mercy of everything outside of ourselves.
Hi Bernadette, I was also bought up a catholic with good and bad, and right and wrong instilled into me from an early age. Now I focus on being with myself rather than beside myself, being real, and bringing myself back when I find I am lost in my head.
Militaries throughout history have used young men to fight in wars and to me this is because they are pliable and can be shaped and moulded to do things that contradict what we know is not right. The church selling us that children are born with sin seems to me to be a master advertising scam. But they are doing God’s work so it must be true, right? The Catholic Religion is slowly being exposed for what has been hidden away for far too long. We only have to feel into what feels true and the illusions begin to dissolve.
I find it crazy how ‘main-steam institutionalised religion’ has got it all so backwards. To say that a baby is born sinned and needs to be cleansed is pretty outrageous in my opinion. From what I know, can feel and have observed about babies is that they are totally tender, harmless and absolutely at one with the universe, you can see it in their eyes. To tarnish this as anything less than divine is a tool to control the minds of many from the get go.
What a beautiful piece Bernadette, Thank you
I thought I grew up in a family where none of us practised or followed any religion or religious beliefs, however I have discovered even in a situation like mine there is no escaping the false religious indoctrination as society is riddled with it – it is simply everywhere in one way or another.
Reading this blog I can see the big dogmas that are created by the religions that have been ruling over the aeons. It is incredible to feel how this is holding us from the truth of who we are.
What good is good if it only serves to butter your bread and that of others but not nourish your relationship with your Soul? Show me a person who has spent a life of good and I will show you a person who’s frustrated, has been so ignored it has turn bitter with age, and whose anger has been so deeply buried that it festers unseen even unto themselves.
Very true Adam, under the guise of living in a ‘good way’ of self sacrifice (which was ultimately for a reward of approval and being accepted into ‘heaven’) I have come to observe and feel the frustration, bitterness, anger and deep sadness that I myself have carried, for living life in a way that while seemingly good was not true and void of me in it, and lacked living the innate connection with God that is already within us. Knowing that this is not judged, and that I am not ‘a sinner’ as a result, but that I do now have an alternate choice to take greater responsibility and let go of the shackles of good and piety and live and express my truth is amazing.
So beautiful when we finally come to this question “What if I already know in my innermost heart what love is and I just return to being that?” So simple really – we just need to be LOVE!
There feels no guilt or shame or doing in this – “What if I already know in my innermost heart what love is and I just return to being that?”. Much simpler.
Yes Sarah, thank you for re-iterating this gem, and noting indeed how simple it can be.
It’s very interesting how those rituals come with an idea that there is something fundamentally wrong with us. In a way, the fact that we made a choice to separate from the Divinity – which was against what was true, deep down we must all know we made a big ‘Whoops!’ somehow – but that choice doesn’t change who we are in truth.
When we are repeatedly told that we are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under thy table, it’s not hard to understand why people spend lifetime after lifetime feeling unworthy of love and therefore resisting the grandness of the love we are from and which is our very essence.
Reading your very informative blog about the catholic religion and what seems like it’s very controlling dogma. I am so thankful that my paternal grandfather denounced the catholic faith as a young man. He then chose to bring his children up with a very deep connection to nature and the universe, but with no connection at all to God, which then my father continued with his children. To me, experiencing this deep connection to everything around me and being told there was no God, just didn’t make sense; but I deferred to what I saw as my father’s wisdom and lived my life in this disconnection, to God and to myself, until very recently. Now I know that what I felt as a child was true; that God is in nature, in the universe, and in me.
Bernadette,
I can remember a time in my life where I was looking for God, so I took myself off to church. I can still remember the judgement that I felt coming through the minister as he delivered a sermon on the harm of prostitution. The absolute dis ownership of women who were in this line of work. At this time I somehow just knew that what was being delivered was not from God, for I knew deep down that God loves us all, and that we too are the same, all of us.
The true meaning of the word religion does feel very normal indeed and if I had experienced it from it’s true meaning growing up, I wouldn’t have such a negative reaction to it today. Thank you for clarifying Bernadette.
The Way of The Livingness is the true religion as it encompasses the whole being of who we are and our connection to the Universe, it makes us feel the responsibility we all play equally in our evolution without following any dogmas or rituals only the openness of our hearts.
Thank you for your blog Bernadette, I can so relate to your experience which was the same as mine in the Catholic Church. Though I have left the church long long ago, I still found un be known to me, lurking in the shadows, the belief that I am still a sinner, I had thought that was dealt with long ago, it was great to see and feel it , let it go and claim for my self that I am a divine son of God within my essence just waiting to come out and to be lived.
It is great to question what does being “good” really mean? And “obedient”? As these are some values taught by the Catholic church I also grew up with. To me good and obedient as being presented by the Catholic church when I was young was about a way of behaviour that was subordinate to God, the priest and any ‘religious’ person from that church. These teachings made me unaware of my inner knowing and always looking for answers and acknowledgement from the outside instead. It made me a good member of the Catholic church, but I know now that it did not do any true good to myself or any other member of that church either.
Exactly as you write Nico van Haastrecht, the ‘good’ and ‘obedient’ way encouraged subordination to external authorities, whereas The Way of the Livingness leaves us free to confirm and celebrate our connection to God that we all have equally within, our inherent divinity.
It is refreshing to feel the truth of the word “religion” as a devotion for oneself and all, and a rebinding and re-connection with the greater whole or God.
Yes I agree Victoria, when you hear the true meaning of the word ‘religion’ it shows how far many religions are from living this truth.
It need not be complicated though; Religion is as natural to us as breathing, it is in our relationship with everything in life and can be beautifully and harmoniously simple.
So true Victoria for it takes away all the misinterpreted dogma and judgment that is associated with the word religion.
It is great to question what beliefs and ideals we have adopted while growing up and how some are just simply ridiculous.
We only need to stop, take a look at the many religious rituals still being practised today – explain why they are practiced (because we so often don’t even talk about it, they just happen) and before you know it, we all start questioning what it is we’re doing. They don’t make any sense whatsoever. Everything is so habitual…we pay no attention to ‘why’ we are doing it. The ultimate lack of responsibility.
Bernadette, I actually had no idea that you were baptised because you were born sinful and needed to be cleansed. What a contradictory suggestion that a baby is not born pure. Blows my mind the stories we’ve allowed to continue to live on in our modern age.
It was great to hear your personal experience of growing up around the Catholic Church and how that effected your adult life as a woman. I never really considered that there are no female priests or woman in those positions, I did not grow up going to church as you did, I can only imagine what message that sends to a young girl looking for a role model.
It can be very confusing as children to learn about God, and if God loves everyone equally, how can there be so much separation within religions, or more than one God? I agree that ideals and beliefs shape and guide our lives, because we lose touch with our inner connection. Through Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine I have reconnected to my inner-self and through that connection I know myself.
I have never been one to follow the rules or dogma of another person or organisation…for who is another to say what is right for me or not. This is a path that one must find for themselves as it is themselves that they have to walk each step with.
I have not had first hand experience with religion in the way that you have described, I have however resinated deeply with The Way Of the Livingness and this religion make sense. I have many Catholic friends and I respect them and their beliefs, like I want to be respected for my way of living. I do however feel that most people that go to Church are going there because they know and feel something deeper about life, the organised religion that we now know as The Catholic Church has many things I personally see as unsupportive but the people that are drawn to it I find are open loving and amazing. They want much the same things that I want from life and that is to remind others of their connection to God. The missing link that is not missing from The Way of The Livingness is that God cannot be held above self, so if we are not connected to ourselves as a clear vessel then where are we leading others to? To look outside rather than to connect within? Religion is not about a building, a book or a priest but a way that is felt in every word and move you make, I love all equally, including those that have different beliefs but I want to be a living inspiration and not a preacher or jury to others and that is what The Way Of The Livingness offers to all that are curious enough to ask.
The religion of The Way of the Livingness is totally encompassing of who we are, with no imposition or fear but one that constantly confirms your equality and connection as the son of God.
‘This places the clergy in a self-ordained superior position to their flock’ is true Elizabeth, equality demands a humility to live as equals, respecting that life on earth will never be perfect.
Before listening to Serge Benhayon and the presentations by Universal Medicine I really did not like the word religion in fact I would squirm when ever it was mentioned. Now having understood that we are all naturally religious and that it is in fact our natural way I can see and feel the truth in the word. The word religion has been bastardised for to long, thank God for Serge Benhayon for bringing back the real truth and meaning of the word.
‘All these rituals confirmed to me that I was not a worthy person, that I was born quite unacceptable to God and that I must work very, very hard at being “good” in order to get to Heaven when I died, which could happen any day.’ Thank you Bernadette, I have been influenced by this too and worked very hard at being ‘good’, being accepted. I know now how deeply religious I am by allowing myself to honour my connection with God, simple and precious.
What a stark contrast here between the true meaning of religion as coming back to the ourselves and all we represent and then the way the formulated, structured religion took the author out into fear and anxiety. Obviously there is much letting of such notions of religion in order to come back to its true meaning.
All the established ‘religions’ have dogma, rules and beliefs that have to be followed. The Way of The Livingness is religion in a reconnection to God in reconnection to the love of the inner-heart in everyday life with no dogma, rules or beliefs.
Bernadette – your blog has helped me to feel the sinister workings of the external world through the guise of Religion (false religion) a ‘holding’ pen of mixed messages undermining the ‘truth’ of who we truly are. We are an instrument which chooses the quality of the energy that is to flow through us in the form of movements. This quality of energy in the form of movement holds a purpose within it – the purpose is love in its highest form where all are equal. Movement is our answer and our power and can be the choice we make.
You raise a pertinent point here Bernadette. It is said that babies are born sinful and in need of cleansing and forgiveness for what they have done. I used to believe this to be true. It is to a point as one may have reincarnated from a past life with undelt with hurts and issues. But truthfully considered and fully felt, the love in a child is clear for all to feel and see. There is no doubt being born is an aspect of most people’s lives where they truly feel loved, held and cherished.
Bernadette i can relate to the desire to be a good catholic as a child as well, I remember a family member not being able to take communion because they were divorced and had to stay behind as they were “not worthy” in the eyes of the church – this confused me so much and it hurt to see someone shamed in such a way. I went on the replace being a good catholic with being a good Reiki master, Kinesiologist …….. the list goes on. Learning to not be good and to just be true has taken quite a lot of self reflection and healing.
Thank you Bernadette for a great blog, I can really relate to what you have said. Those former teachings that I too received, when young, have made a huge impact on my life, taking on the “good” and the “right’ so as not to be condemned by God and suffer damnation in hell. Coming out of that false beliefs and coming into the light of my own love, a love that dwells in my inner heart, I now have the freedom to live life by just being me, the true real me.
Thank you Bernadette for your sharing on the word religion and its origins. Man has certainly manipulated the meaning of religion to suit himself and we as women often bear the brunt of this, being forced to accept we are lesser than men in the eyes of God and humanity. Thank God for The Way of The Livingness and Serge Benhayon for presenting it to us and demonstrating this Livingness in all he does.
A true religion would not place anyone above another, or separate from another, and this is but one tenet of the Way of the Livingness that I cherish. Thank you Roslyn Mahony for bringing your awareness to the inequality that still exists in the Catholic Church.
When I compare the way I was raised in the Catholic religion with the understanding that religion is actually about unity and oneness, the differences are like cheese and chalk. One feels dark and oppressive and the other feels light and flowing. I feel like I am expanding with the religion of the Way of the Livingness, whereas previously, I felt contracted and stuck. There is no doubting which one is the right one for me.
I really appreciate your understanding Helen Giles that we can actually feel what is ‘dark and oppressive’ and what feels ‘light and flowing’. As you have expressed true religion is ‘actually about unity and oneness’.
Bernadette I too was brought up a catholic with all its accompanying rituals and beliefs. It left me feeling very insecure and with a deep conviction of being guilty. Guilty of what I was never sure but this was a pervasive feeling and knowing in my life. Thanks to Universal Medicine I have been able to reconnect to myself and leave behind a system of beliefs that clearly did not work for me.
I find it really tricky that I can quit practicing a religion, but the hidden ideals and beliefs still act out in a sticky way. It takes more than a signature to resign the patterns! It takes conscious presence and dedication to honesty on a daily basis to even get aware of the hidden beliefs.
When religion became an organised body (Christianity), the meaning of the word became totally bastardised. How come a word meaning relegate came to express separation? The moment the religare was lost, religion became meaningless. So, it just became a series of dogmas, beliefs and rituals. That is why we can feel how much the mainstream religions act as gatekeepers against Religion.
Awesome Bernadette. Being raised in the Catholic religion I can definitely relate to all you have written. I am constantly surprised how deeply the Catholic religion’s ideologies have been entrenched in me as I still find remnants popping up here and there in my patterns of thinking and behaving. Clearly this has been accumulated from more than this life. I don’t yet feel fully comfortable with the word ‘religion’ but I do know that I have my own sense of what God means to me which is basically that everything is interconnected and that the more I can work with the order and flow of the Universe, the more I get to feel the magic in and surrounding me.
This is a great sharing Bernadette. It’s extraordinary these many years later to still be feeling the effects of the indoctrination of these religious beliefs as a small child and finding remnants still lurking the more aware I become.
This too stands out “And it went from being to doing.” Encouraged through the teachings of the church to be doing for others at the expense of ourselves.
A great sharing Bernadette, being bought up a Catholic I cringe at the crazy beliefs the church spoke about. No wonder I turned my back on this Religion as soon I was old enough to, but Religion was not the problem as I later discovered. I know what a ‘true religion’ is now and have re-connected to God in a way that is beautiful and is continually developing thanks to Serge Benhayon and the powerful and inspiring Ancient Wisdom teachings.
I was truly taken aback to read that in the Catholic Church babies have to be christened because it’s believed they are sinful with a stain on their heart and need to be cleansed. A newborn baby is just one little bundle of pure joy. What a welcome into the world and a sure-fire way of branding all newcomers into that faith with a ‘not good enough’ label from the get-go and setting off a life of lack of self-worth. Religion to me is an entirely personal exploration, not a doctrine and certainly not a series of rites of passage designed to further embed people in the misery of unworthiness.
I too put a 12 foot pole between myself and religion.
Though out my life I had only seen and read about the atrocities of religious bodies. If that be the crusades, inquisitor or modern day religious fighters in the middle east. Nothing appealed to me about joining a religion. However I never stopped thinking that there was God.
Now seeing that religion derives from the meaning of “to re-connect to self” it gives me a platform for me to say actually yes I am religious. And that there could be another way to be religious other then the conventional way I once thought was the only way.
I can now say “Yes I am religious” too Luke, with a true understanding of what the word religion means.
Agree, with true understanding how could you resist?
‘We were told that baptism was necessary as all new-born babies are born sinful, with a stain on their heart, and they needed to be cleansed.’ How is it possible we as human being can believe in this. You only have to look at a baby once to know they are from Heaven.
Returning to express from your inner heart is certainly a path worth returning to Bernadette. I did find interesting the way you presented how the catholic church has thwarted peoples evolution by their rituals and beliefs.
Joe I do feel that the catholic rituals impress catholics with the belief that they are not enough, that they are sinful, and that rules must be followed or God will not be happy. We are impressionable as children, and it takes a willingness to look deeper as adults into what did not feel right as children, and let go of limiting beliefs that no longer serve us to live in our fullness – the love that we are.
Gosh, Bernadette, I was not brought up a catholic so did not experience first-hand all the beliefs that the church put on their congregation. Your description of the various stages one goes through as a catholic helps to explain the disempowered behaviours I have seen displayed by various catholics over the years.
Thank you Bernadette. This made me understand how important it is to look at things sometimes a little closer. To see what I have taken on that I have seen and experienced in the world and then have made it into a rule, a belief, into something that I think is necessary in this world but which is, when unraveled, not the case at all.
It’s fascinating how the tendrils of beliefs we subscribed to as a child can morph and change but the original thread remains with us. I can so relate to what you’ve shared here Bernadette about the belief around ‘being good’ having a different guise today but being traceable to beliefs taken on during childhood experiences, such as going to church.
Re-reading your blog today Bernadette, I considered all those ways we have to please, to get it right which pervade our living and working lives, well beyond any religious environment and even after we might have left that religion behind. Getting it right is such a strong one and especially so for women – that idea of somehow having to make recompense which comes very strongly with many religions, and catholicism has it very blatantly, might that have also polluted our work cultures and societies such that even while we as women now have more rights than ever (in many western societies), we still have to prove ourselves and prove our worth rather than be there as the true us. Now what would happen if we just presented the true us? This is the real power of what you offer us here, to drop those old shackles and be us – thank you.
As Helen has explained above and you have suggested monicag, I do feel that many women feel that they are not worthy and that they have to prove their worth, and men too are trying to prove themselves – these are pervasive ideals operating outside the religious environments, causing comparison, competition and feelings of inadequacy.
I love your suggestion to drop these shackles and just be our true selves.
Thank you for sharing your experience of growing up in the Catholic religion Bernadette which really exposes the damage inflicted on children particularly girls by the imposition of all these ideals and beliefs. What surprised me is how much I could relate to it and how I have spent years feeling ‘unworthy’ and exhausted myself trying to ‘get it right’ although I was never that clear about what that looked like but assumed if I tried hard enough it would become clear!
I love your question ‘But what if I can simply allow myself to be the true me?’ I am now having fun exploring that and feeling the freedom that it brings.
‘…new-born babies are born sinful, with a stain on their heart, and they needed to be cleansed’?? I honestly never knew exactly why the ritual of christening occurred. It’s funny though, babies to me are the complete opposite of a sinner. For me they feel like they are brand new. And just like the light of a new day bring new beginnings, babies bring the potential of a revitalised future for us all. Awesome blog Bernadette!
Thank you Mary for sharing about knowing as a child that if you were born into a different family you would be expected to follow a different religion. It shows how religions as they presently operate can separate people, not include and unify them. There can only be one unified truth as Serge Benhayon has presented, when we reconnect to our truth and love and develop our relationship with God.
The true foundation for religion is love, not profit, property or power over people.
Well said Bernadette. I grew up with the ideals and beliefs of the Church of England with the constant feeling of being judged and not matching up. I also found it very confusing as I knew that if I had been born into a different family somewhere else in the world I would be expected to follow a different religion. So where was the truth? The only part I knew was truth was God but He was something, somewhere far outside of me. When Serge Benhayon presented the true meaning of religion and a reconnection to God in my inner-heart available to all equally with no judgement just love for all equally I knew I was hearing the truth and truth that made sense. No matter where you are born and whichever parents or community you are born then God and love are there equally for all waiting for each and every one of us to reconnect deep inside us in our inner-heart.
Awesome awareness Bernadette, I can feel how theses unloving rituals confirmed to you you not a worthy person and this hurts!. It so very different to feeling in your inner heart and knowing you are indeed a worthy equal son of God. How amazing you are rediscovering who you are.
Before the true meaning of the word religion was explained to me by Serge Benhayon I was in the understanding that religion was the institution like the catholic church I have been grown up with. Like you Bernadette Curtin, I have been raised in the catholic faith and had to go to church each Sunday. I have been baptised, introduced into the holy communion, had to do confessions and have had my confirmation by the bishop. As a child I was looking out for the time I could be part of all this, but when the time came there and I was introduced in to it and became a member of the religion, it all felt so empty and meaningless. But in the meantime, and at that moment I was not aware of this but can feel it now in my body, I was indoctrinated and fed with all kind of ideals and beliefs that have been encapsulated in my body through these rituals of the catholic church. Now I do find that I hold ideals and beliefs that have their origin in the catholic church and my time with it and I discard them in the joy of having found my true religion, the religion of my inner heart.
It can be difficult to discuss our experiences of religion, so I love that you have found a way to share how it was for you Bernadette, not in a question of right or wrong, but simply how it changed you in what you do. Ultimately I feel our experience of living is our greatest guide in life, and in this living true religion is.
“Ultimately I feel our experience of living is our greatest guide in life, and in this living true religion is.” Thank you Joseph, the way we live is our true religion, and “The Way of the Livingness” has shown me the way to live in relationship with God who is love. I am enfolded in his love as are we all.
Absolutely, it is very beautiful how Bernadette defined what religion is by what she is actually living and that the rituals are in harmony with this. That feels so true and joyful and doesn’t come with this denseness and the fear of institutionalized religion.
Beautifully written blog Bernadette – very thought provoking and insightful. My parents were Russian Orthodox but fortunately for me there wasn’t a Russian Orthodox church in Newcastle so I mostly escaped having to endure the associated doctrines and rituals. However, a priest from Sydney would come occasionally for special events and something that I recall is how shocked I was when I learned that my mother was not allowed to enter the church when my younger brother was being christened because she was still bleeding and was regarded as ‘unclean’. How horrible does this feel! But because it was accepted so matter of factly by all the adults I buried what I felt and begrudgingly accepted it. Thank you for bringing my awareness to something I had almost forgotten about.
Thank you for sharing about your brother’s christening Tamara. You felt as a child that this was a harsh custom to impose on your mother. The Way of the Livingness excludes no-one, we are all equal sons of God. None of these rules apply, as we all have our connection to and relationship with God to be honoured and developed.
For me previously and I am sure for others as well that even the word religion causes a stir up of emotion and/or reaction. Because this word has been linked to and used by organised groups around the world. This surface face that would have us believe it is the only way to relate to the word religion and everything that religion is about (the guilt, shame, obendance, judgement, hatred, wars – I could go on and on!) But as I feel more into the true meaning of the word there is less reaction and more acceptance that I am religious. This I have found in almost all areas of my life thanks to Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine in that what has been presented is that there are many amazing things to be re-discivered about life should we choose to look and feel underneath the surface of it all and feel within.
Leigh, I have also had a reaction to the word religion, which really doesn’t make any sense as it is a word that is about reconnection, relationship, devotion to oneself, to God and everything. As you have explained, we associate the word with all the abuse that has been perpetrated in the name of religion. It is beautiful that you now accept that you are religious in the true meaning of the word as it has been presented to us so simply by Serge Benhayon. I agree that there is so much more to life than what we see and have been led to believe.
Yes, it is quite scary to discover that I am deeply religious, after all anything to do with religion is not something I wanted to be associated at all.
It is like looking at something that gives you the heebie jeebies and then to discover that others see you the same way. In some way that is quite hilarious, once I dealt with the embarrassment.
At some point I would never had admitted or said out loud even to myself “I am religious” because of what that word has had attached to it. Now I feel more comfortable in saying such and even telling people that I am religious. The more I feel what religion truly means the less icky I am with the subject because everything it has been made to appear and perceived to be is not actually what it is. For me I have felt God and no institution can tell me who God is unless it matches that feeling so why not claim that I am religious when those institutions are not the real deal?
This was really fascinating to read, and learn from your personal experience how a religion can promote a feeling of inadequacy and being unacceptable in the eyes of God. It feels like so much has been lost in the bastardisation of the true meaning of religion, especially the power and beauty in true devotion to oneself and our connection to God through the love we are.
Thank you Bernadette. Your article reminds me of the fact, that even long after resigning the Christian institution, their ideals still linger around in the backyard, and sometimes still stand at the front door. Good thing to really work them out of my system. No space for being unworthy and wrong anymore.
It is true Felix that these beliefs (that we are sinners, that there is a hell, that God is judgemental and punishing) that we have taken on as children can remain with us for the rest of our lives unless we make a conscious choice to make life about love, and people as equals, and our own true connection to God.
It’s interesting how modern day religion is designed to keep us from knowing ourselves, to keep us powerless and in the dark. But the light is within us and all we need to do is to acknowledge this, claim it and live it to show others that this equal light is also within them.
We will never re-connect to God if we see ourselves as ‘more’ or ‘less’ than our equal brothers. But from what I see and from what you have shared Bernadette, our many religions of the world prey on ideals of not being worthy, exalted states of unsustainable bliss, unachievable expectations of perfection and purity as well as a host of rituals and rules that leave us in a flattened state, that is, we don’t live our Godliness in its simplicity everyday. All of these trappings of religion seem counter productive to what religion truly is and seem to be designed to keep us back from being who we truly are – love.
I love your phrase “our Godliness in its simplicity” Liane – the trappings and rituals of religions have made our relationship with God very complicated.
Indeed Liane, I want to be a part of a religion or be religious in a way that holds me as an equal to everyone else. Where the equalness comes from no ideal or belief but from a deep inner know that that is exactly how it is meant to be.
It feels very healing to unravel all the untruths of trying to be good, even unravelling the trying to understand what trying to be good means and the tension it creates in the body.(and in that sentence) I can clearly remember being told that you would have sinned before you even realised you had, by the very nature of your thoughts so there was no chance of being good even if you tried very hard.
It’s like a very long, trick question. No winner!
It feels so good to begin to understand the true meaning of religion and discover true connection to God is true connection to myself.
Yes Amanda, it does feel very healing to unravel all the untruths, mis-interpretations, confusion and tension in the body, feeling guilty for some reason that you don’t understand, and thanks to Serge Benhayon and the dedicated Universal Medicine practitioners, I am now able to enjoy just being me, and developing my relationship with God day by day. I felt it this morning when I was out walking, feeling connected to the trees, the birds were amazing, the air so clean and crisp.
I know very few adult Catholics who do not feel affected in a negative way by their childhood experiences of religion. Confession made no sense to them as a child and made them feel bad and sinful, often having to lie to make up a sin, then confessing to lying! Now understanding what the true meaning of religion is, exposes any religion that does not treat us as equals and essentially divine.
Yes Fiona, lying to make up a sin and then confessing to lying is very self abusive behaviour, and I feel it was adopted out of fear.
With love as a foundation there is no way that this type of ritual would be imposed on children.
This is so true, Fiona. I am one of those Catholics and there is no way that I felt affirmed as a loving person by the church. It was all about the rituals and beliefs which were at times very punishing and scary. I always knew that God did not work in this way and that it was about connecting to myself and others in love- it is so affirming to be able to live in a true way now and to feel God in my life everyday.
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I could feel the heavy dark ‘cloak’ of organised religion and the subtle re-direction that happened so long ago which shifted our connection to ourselves as the loving beings we are to external control. The innocence of the young babies coming into the world, under the weight of this cloak is powerful. You have found your way out Bernadette and are re-connecting to that love. It is possible and many of us are activity living in a different way. The more we live who we truly are, being love and bringing and meeting the love all others equally are, this shift will happen and is happening. Thank you for sharing.
‘What if I already know in my innermost heart what love is and I just return to being that? This feels like a path worth following – my own way.’ How beautiful, Bernadette, I’m with you. Imagine a world where children’s feelings and views of the world were heard and respected, and they were encouraged to express from their hearts – no dogma, no impositions!
Great blog Bernadette. I had to laugh at the limited role models for women in the Christian church- not many places to go with that one ! Haha
This one is a bit of a cop out- ”all new-born babies are born sinful’ just sets into motion that we are not okay no matter what we do, we are born not okay!
hello skyrocketed lack of self worth. Thank you for sharing about the different parts within the religion. I must say, my own way does feel like a path worth following – the Way of the Livingness.
As a child Emily, it was very distressing to be told that we are born sinful. With the Way of the Livingness we confirm that we are all equal sons of God, this feels like a loving way to introduce children into a religious way of living, no lack of self worth in sight.
Thats it Bernadette! setting kids up to shine from the start.. instead of crash and burn or fail.
Bernadette you raise some interesting questions and from them I can feel how the truth of claiming ourselves as true equal sons of God and living from this equalness allows us to be who we truly are. I can feel how ideals and beliefs hold us away from this truth but when you begin to shine a light on them their false hold begins to drop away and what lies underneath is the true foundation of who we are. That is love.
Beautifully expressed Jade, thank you. “… What lies underneath the false beliefs is our true foundation of who we are. That is love”.
Is it no wonder of peoples aversion to the word religion with the way this word has been bastardised. Understanding of the true meaning of the word religion is beautiful and leaves nobody out, religio, devotion for oneself, and everything and religare to rebind or reconnect. Imagine if this was taught to us from very young.
Another thing that Serge Benhayon speaks about is the connection between religion, science and philosophy, that has been lost from ancient times. Philosophers and scientists were religious in the true meaning of the word, understanding their relationship with the all.
Many readers here seem to have had virtually the same experiences with religion. We’ve been taught that we will never measure up to God, that to please him and other people, we need to behave in a certain way in public, and yet what we do in private is often ‘excused’. I don’t like this and I don’t like man-made religion because of this. When Serge Benhayon presents about God, he speaks about him in way that it feels like God is his best buddy and that Serge is God’s best buddy. But that relationship feels like it is available to every single human being too. This feels much more real and like the way it is. As Zofia writes above, ‘..we are all invited, no one is left out…’ This I like.
Thank you Bernadette, Zofia, Suzanne and Serge Benhayon, I agree, God is our father, we are his equal sons, so would a true father look down on his sons or would he treat us as equals!
This is great Bernadette, love the way you describe religion as you feel it: “…it became something outside to connect to, rather than to connect to one’s inner self. And it went from being to doing”. Religion as a ‘being’ feels so true to me, it’s a way of life that develops and inspires an interconnectedness of oneself along with everything and everyone else, equally. It is universal where all are invited, no one is left out.This religion is true beauty.
It’s the same in the Buddhist/Shinto tradition that I was brought up with – the religious rituals and ceremonies such as funerals, are something many people take very seriously and want to get right, and the monk is given the ultimate authority, even though they may not be practicing Buddhists. It just shows how disconnected we are from our essence and how far we have come away from the original meaning of the word religion – which to me, means to connect with the Divinity within.
Yes Fumiyo, giving away our power to another authority keeps us disconnected from the Divinity within.
I love how you talk about Christianity moving the focus from the ‘being’ to the ‘doing’. As a result we try to abide by ideals and beliefs imposed by the church in order to connect to God, when in fact all we need to do is re-connect to, and live, according to our true essence.
I now understand why I love simplicity, and how powerful it is when we feel our connection to God in every moment, not just when we are in a church. As you say Peter, when we re-connect, we “live, according to our true essence”.
Thank you Bernadette, I grew up in a very strict catholic family and even if I never really fully embraced myself, it has taken me most of my adult years to let go of such poisonous feelings of not being enough and guilt. Since finding Universal Medicine I know that all I have to do is just be me, and in that is the true connection to God.
As you and Kate have pointed out Francisco, guilt and feelings of being unworthy are very insidious and poisonous emotions that diminish us, keeping us apart from each other and from truly connecting with God. As you say, just “being me” is enough and allows us to feel our connection again.
Yes, there is something powerful and simple about this when we allow it into our bodies and accept that is who we are.
Thank you Bernadette, so true that all the insidious ideals and beliefs about what constitutes a ‘good person’ has infiltrated our society. I had very little influence of religion growing up, or so I thought, but the truth it’s everywhere, hiding in every nook and cranny. We must express the truth for these falsities to lose their grip, so we can reclaim our power as the true sons of God we always were.
Born with a stain on their heart, what rubbish. Anybody can feel the purity of the heart of a newborn baby. Compare that to the darkness of a church that frightens children, holds women as lesser, has a long history of covering up paedophilia. What the church is saying about what is right and wrong is full of contradictions. By honoring your own way and following the truth may you feel God inside you Bernadette.
The question that arises is “how could we ever feel attracted to a version of religion like the one you describe here, Bernadette?” The idea of guilt and sin must be ingrained very deeply in our bodies. Thanks God Universal Medicine provides us with techniques to free ourselves from those false ideals.
Yes Felix, guilt and sin – like cement in the body, how much lighter my body feels now, connected to my soul, to the love that I am, to God within me – directly with no outside interference.The Universal Medicine techniques have freed me from dogma and rules.
Thank you all for your comments. Leonne and Carola I too can now claim that I am religious, and it feels very honouring.
Thank you Bernadette for this powerful blog. It certainly does feel very beautiful to return to the true meaning of the word religion. As now I can wholeheartedly claim that I am a deeply religious person and that that my connection to God is my true and natural way of being.
It is clear that the word religion has been corrupted over time and used to control people in the worst possible way. It is so lovely to be able to claim that I am religious in the true sense of the word. Thank you Bernadette.
“It felt very beautiful to return to the original meaning, it felt harmonious and true, to work on oneself with diligence and love for self and all others”
This is such a powerful expression Bernadette, thank you for your wisdom and inspiration.
Coming back to the real meaning of religion feels to me like coming home, Concetta.
Great Blog Bernadette. You have highlighted very well how we have been manipulated to be limiting and dishonoring of ourselves in the name of institutional religion. Going back to the real meaning of religion – to rebind or reconnect – our connection to God feels so right and beautiful to me.
Thank you Bernadette. If we were born from love, I am uncertain as to why we are informed that we need to undergo certain rituals, that are the foundation of different religions, to confirm that we are love. When these rituals actually take us away from love and separate us from anyone who is not of that particular religion or group who profess to be the way to God. No wonder we fall for and at the same time are conflicted about the dogma that says we are sinners and that we must be ‘good’ in the eye’s of God to return to Him.
Thank you Bernadette for sharing. I too have the left over of childhood catholic teachings of ‘getting it right and being good and nice’. It feels very freeing to hear the true meaning of the word religion.
Such a contrast Bernadette of what you experienced as a young girl. It is damaging to feel the affect this has on a person, instead of loving and accepting ourselves as who we truly are. Thank you for sharing.
This is a very cool blog – until I heard Serge present that religion meant to simply reconnect to yourself and God I really disliked the word, and I always felt very uncomfortable with mainstream religions. The idea of confession and sinning horrified me, and God judging me did not seem right to me, and made him very human. It also never felt right to venerate something, or someone outside of myself, or live by someone else’s rules of good or bad. Like you present, simply be true to you and you find religion.
Well that sure does take the pressure off you, you’re not being owned by the catholic rules and rituals that keep you small and helpless in the religion. You’re allowing yourself to be free and let your heart guide you to where you need to be. My guess is that would allow you to live far more at ease in yourself and your quality of life would be much greater considering you are not living in fear, scared, small and self-loathing by seeing yourself as a sinner.
Yes Ariel, not living in fear of a punishing God, instead knowing myself as a Son of a loving God – now that is something to celebrate!
I realise I always had this deep connection with God but being raised in a Catholic family I learned to see God as something outside of me, really confusing at that time. Always put the other first that would make me a good girl, this was how I wanted to be seen and I tried very hard but it never worked and I started to live with a lot of frustration. Now I choose to be truly religious, my relationship with God is forever deepening.
Hear, hear Bernadette. I can fully relate to your experiences with being raised in the Catholic religion. I really noticed your words ‘I see now, how even though I have not been investing time and money and energy into being a good catholic woman, the ideals and beliefs have caused me to drive myself to “get it right” and “be good”. I feel I am still working on peeling back these layers that feel like a millstone around my neck and are often the hidden from plain sight, drivers behind many of my living ways.
We do that don’t we – make up lists and lists of what is wrong with us, to pacify others – even those we cannot see behind the many screens of life. Religion is deeply personal – our relationship with our selves and God is deeply personal. It is not a stiff inflexible authority but a magnificent, heart wide open, super loving amazing relationship with the stupendous All.
I love your words about religion Lee, “magnificent, heart wide open super loving amazing relationship with the stupendous all” – I had to repeat them.
I agree Bernadette, that is such a beautiful comment. I definitely know which religion I would prefer.
I love this too Lee, it is amazing to have this ever deepening relationship with God and our Soul – no dictated by anyone else, but only what we feel and know inside for ourselves.. and it just keeps getting better.
Thank you Bernadette for sharing your insights into how women became invisible through the Catholic Religion and your willingness to step beyond that cloak of invisibility to become the amazing woman that you are.
I once saw some graffiti under a bridge that had a heart with wings and the phrase: We are not born in sin we are born beautiful. It made me ponder on the damage wrought by being raised to believe that you are wrong or have done wrong from the moment you are born.
“We are not born in sin we are born beautiful” – what a loving message and what a loving way this would be to talk to children. If children are shown love and equality, and if they are allowed to develop their connection to God without rules and dogma, would our society be much more harmonious than it is?
“All these rituals confirmed to me that I was not a worthy person, that I was born quite unacceptable to God and that I must work very, very hard at being “good” in order to get to Heaven when I died, which could happen any day.”
I see now, how even though I have not been investing time and money and energy into being a good catholic woman, the ideals and beliefs have caused me to drive myself to “get it right” and “be good”.” Even though I was not brought up Catholic or any religion for that matter, I can see how I have held these same beliefs.
Where do you feel these beliefs came from Natalie? Were these beliefs linked to God or were they pervasive in society?
As a child listening to the sermons, they didn’t relate to present day life, and as you have noted Christina, they didn’t match with the deep knowing we felt within. The words spoken from the pulpit or classroom and the actions of religious also didn’t always match up.
Your own way, the way from you inner heart, what a beautiful religion that is.
I grew up in a catholic family where all the rituals were lived. And I remember all my life saying “I came to this world and was taught right away that I was guilty”. For what? That group consciousness was something that always made me run far away from it. Yes, they were talking about heaven and Christ and Angels were in the churches – but that had absolutely nothing to do with what I sensed was true. That was within me. A deep knowing. And that I follow in truth. And having met people choosing this religion too. In a true sense of the word. And that is the Way of The Livingness brought presented by Serge Benhayon.
This is true Tracy, for many people their religious experience as children was negative. How would it be if the personnel in the churches began to ask why their congregations in some countries are dwindling, and started asking themselves and their congregations if the religion has truly supported them to live in a loving and harmonious relationship with themselves, God, and all others?
So many adults share childhood experiences of being at church in a negative light. This is very exposing. If only children had been given a platform to express their feelings instead of pressured to conform, the stranglehold of the church may not have grown to such massive proportions.
The prayers, the role models from the teachings (stories) and the exclusion of women from positions of authority all impose upon a girl that she is unworthy, and never good enough. I feel that these messages have impacted many women and contributed to their lack of self worth.
Bernadette, thank you for pinpointing, the total lack of women role models, within the Catholic Church. The message this sends to young Catholic girls and women, is that they are not considered good enough or important enough to be part of the hierarchy of the church. A message that could severely impact their self worth, for the rest of their lives.
When you write about the need to be ‘good’ and ‘obedient’ as a child growing up in the catholic church, it reminds me of feeling constantly guilty because no matter what I did and especially what I didn’t do (because it was a ‘sin’), it was never good enough, I was never good enough. It strikes me as an awful and insidious thing to instil into a child – why is it perpetuated though, I wonder? Who benefits from this perverse absurdity?
wow, how brilliant and exposing this article is, exposing all the teachings that come from outside of us, that from young we are taught that we are not enough. I have a young son and people are constantly telling him to ‘be good’, this must be confusing for him because as you say Bernadette, What does being “good” really mean? And “obedient”? He is an amazing boy who expresses what feels true for him, he is loving, open and honest and so to be told to ‘be good’ often feels to me that people are saying to him, ‘be polite’, ‘be nice’, these aren’t qualities that I encourage as they don’t feel true, it feels like ‘being good’ encourages him to stop speaking his truth as this isn’t always what people want to hear.
Thank you for your comments Victoria, to follow the religion of the heart and to be re-connected to your “natural untainted divinity” shows that we have a deeper knowing within, waiting for us to re-connect.
I had a few chuckles reading your blog and remembering the observances of my loose catholic upbringing…although in truth not that funny. You bring up some great points to reflect on such as being ‘good’ versus being true, the role models we had, and beliefs around the catholic tradition. I also remember with dread the ritual of confession where I dutifully made up sins that I didn’t have.
Today I follow the religion of the heart, one that re-connects me to my natural untainted divinity, in essence who we truly are – equally.
It’s interesting how we are sold the idea of being good while being told that we are bad so we must try our best to be better so that we can be good and then all will be ok. When really, being good is just as ‘bad’ a being bad because it is getting you go outside yourself to be something else. We are sold ‘good’ at the expense of being true. To be true is to know that you do not have to try to be something that you already are – love.
Yes Liane so true, ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘right’, ‘wrong’ is a reaction to, a belief or ideal outside of us that blankets the truth.
Hi Bernadette, I remember that presentation. Unimedpedia Religion which can be found here: http://www.unimedliving.com/unimedpedia/word-index/unimedpedia-religion.html – includes an Audio of Serge Benhayon speaking on religion and gives a great understanding into the origins of the word religion which is really gorgeous and means something completely different to what most of us think it means.
Thank you for this link Nicola, it felt very expansive to listen to Serge Benhayon explaining the ancient meaning of religion again – living from the inside out – “As such, religion is simply a re-turn or a re-connection to that which we already are, that is, to the grandness and the magnificence of the Divine which is in all of us and within us equally so.
True religion is therefore always a beingness, never a doing. It simply means being and living in full our divine essence, that is, who we truly are.”
Thank you Mathew and Jennifer. It is the separation from ourselves and each other (eg, the belief that other religions are not the chosen or right ones) that is so damaging. True religion holds everyone equal – it brings us back to ourselves and unifies us all.
When we know that we are all equal sons of God, that we are held in His love and that we are that love ourselves, the veils of imprisonment fall away, and we can begin to appreciate our true worth. Thank you Jennifer.
Thank you Bernadette, and Serge Benhayon for bringing us the true meaning of the word religion. Now we can truly begin to free ourselves from false beliefs and dogma without guilt or shame, and religiously re-align to our true selves, knowing that we are all equal Sons of God.
To promote a doctrine as the church has done which sets out to make people feel unworthy is a million miles away from the love that God is, and the love that we reflect. Thanks Bernadette. I also appreciate hearing the original definitions of religion again.
I agree Bernadette, we have been mislead and influenced off the path of being ourselves and into a conscious prison of guilt, unworthiness and subservience. This is the sad fallout of religion today, to make you feel less than the beautiful amazing beings we are. We are all equal, no matter who you are or what position you hold.
Thank you for honestly sharing your reflections. For years I allowed myself to be crippled by the Christian faith. Upon reflection I did always find the bible pretty schizophrenic. It was like God had good days and bad days. The bad days were for instructing the chosen ones to plunder the lives, chattels and homes of the not so chosen ones … and then there were good days of love. I always loved the bit that said, ‘the kingdom of God is within’…I felt that was fair and available to all regardless of wealth, status, culture, religion, sex or deeds etc. I always was puzzled, over how on one hand the church was telling me that ‘God is a jealous God’ and then on the other…’God wants you to have free choice.’ Far too much smiting and judgement. I felt like a rat in spinning wheel, madly doing, doing, doing… and asking my self am I there yet, am I good enough. Now I have a new church. The pew is a little bridge over looking a sweet little creek, it’s filled with bush life, kookaburra’s nest in the gumtree above and while the water and surrounds team with brightly coloured butterflies and other interesting insects, nothing seems to be keeping score… so I don’t either. I just sit and be me. The surrounds do have a voice but a natural voice, not a theatrical style voice that raises and lowers in a way that knots my stomach… they all just use the voice that is theirs, a trilling song, a buzzing, a hum, a splash, a chirp… lovely.
Your church feels very beautiful wattle blossom, surrounded by the Magic of God.
Roslyn and Elodie your comments confirm how many of us have felt the lack of love in what we have been taught about religion and a judgemental God as children. What Serge Benhayon presents about the true origins of religion, it’s meaning, and how we can form our own relationship with a loving God certainly does simplify it for us, and empower us to feel what is the truth.
Thanks Bernadette! Religion, the way it has been taught really messes with us doesn’t it? I grew up with a Christian mother and a Muslim father and went to a Catholic High School…you can only imagine the confusion around good and bad. As a result I chose to have nothing to do with any of it…none of it made any sense. To this day I am still a little reactionary to the word God and Religion. I’m starting to accept that they could mean something far more truthful and far less confusing, but the old ideas still need a bit of time to shift out of the way.
Thank you Bernadette for a very interesting blog. I narrowly escaped being brought up in the Catholic Church (my Dad was a Catholic until he met Mum). But I can say I don’t think we fared any better in the Church of England Church, we were all classified as sinners and
” not worthy to eat the crumbs from under the table” of Jesus. Such statements I heard as a child such as “suffer me to come to thee” and other similar ‘pity my simplicity” and the list goes on, not exactly inspiring self love and worth. That we are all equal Sons of God was unheard of. I am very grateful for the teachings of the Ancient Wisdom that Serge Benhayon shares with us.
I loved reading this Bernadette. I have no background of Catholicism but I can feel how I too have taken on the belief that I am not good enough, that I was born this way and this is something that I have to work through – constantly working towards being worthy. Crazy!!!! And the list of made up sins is a crack up. How common this must be amongst scared little Catholic children.
Thank you Nikki for explaining that it is not just Catholics who have taken on a belief of unworthiness, it is a widespread imposition and not founded on any truth. What if we don’t need to keep on trying to be something more, would not that feel much more loving and accepting of ourselves? We are all equal sons of God after all.
It’s interesting Anna that we knew as children that things didn’t feel right. Children have an inbuilt radar to detect what doesn’t feel true for them. It’s lovely that you are now able to come back to you, to your true home within. “The Kingdom of God is within”. To know and feel our true connection with God, without the guilt and feeling of “inadequacy” is such a blessing.
Awesome blog Bernadette, I too was raised in a catholic family and I had to laugh at your description of baptism, confession, and confirmation (I also developed a suitable list of sins to share with the priest). Inadequate is the word and feeling that comes for me. The catholic church confirms an inadequacy in us that we must then constantly strive to be adequate – to be worthy – even though this is like a rat on a spinning wheel – the cycle never ends.
I feel that I always knew this wasn’t the true way and yet I ran that spinning wheel over and over. And yes, the renewed understanding of the word religion – to re-connect, to re-bind with God within us through the devotion to self and all things equally.
After years on the beaten up spinning wheel, I’m now coming back to me.
It’s so simple Kim isn’t it? It becomes complicated when it becomes about power, politics, rules and control.
Bernadette that was so simply put, you just cleared the little jumble I had made in my mind, I can now fully feel what true religion is. I have heard it many times, but sometimes you’re just not ready to hear it or it just needs to be put in a certain way. It was your way today.
Bernardette, your blog has made me stop and ask a question : imagine the world is not like we know it is. Imagine there are women who are role models in the Catholic Church (whatever that means). Would that fact have made it easier for you to stay in and more difficult to leave? Imagine that the answer is that it could have helped you to stay yes, so the next question is would that had been a good thing? That question brings our attention to what the Catholic Church is and what it stands for in this world in relation to the real meaning of the world religion. Perhaps, the fact that there were not many women role models within the Catholic Church is not a bad thing for women. It makes life easier for those looking for a true religious expression.
You have raised some valid questions emfeldman. I feel it would have made an enormous difference to the way I felt as a woman which was that women were somehow inferior to men. The custom of the celibacy of priests sent a message that relationships with women would taint a man, and that family life was second best. The fact that there were no women priests or bishops or popes in this present era, sent a message that women were not capable of undertaking positions of authority and responsibility, and that they needed men to tell them how to live. This has denied women who have adopted this subservience their connection to their true loving knowingness and connection. These misguided and damaging rules are not based on love or equality, and we are seeing the devastating consequences of human rights abuse finally being exposed.
We are all equal sons of God, and if this became a basis for the catholic religion it would be a very different religion, and rules and dogma would be irrelevant.
So my answer is yes it would have made a difference to me as a child if I saw that women were honoured and respected as equals, but now as an elder I feel that there are still many more teachings and impositions that would hold me back from my own loving connection to God that I now know.
What you have expressed here about the Catholic religion is so true in many a religion where you have to conform to be a certain way, be the good Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Jew. To follow our own way by connecting to who we truly are sounds like the best religion to me too.
Yes Sandhya, each of the current religions have developed their rules, ideals and dogma, and it seems to me that religions, with the best of intentions have only caused division, bigotry and even war. One thing they have in common is that they all think they are the right religion.
The Way of the Livingness unites all of humanity as equal sons of God, and shows us a truly loving way to be with ourselves and all others. We are all connected in an ocean of energy, what quality do we want that ocean of energy to be?
Patricia, another thing that I value about Serge Benhayon’s teachings about religion is their inherent value and respect towards women, as we are all equal sons of God. I have also enjoyed participating in Women’s Groups and Sacred Movement sessions where we discuss what is a true woman, how to honour our bodies, redefining our purpose and appreciating our sacredness. As you say there is work to be done, and we evolve ourselves by reconnecting to our essence, no dogma is needed when we trust ourselves.
Being brought up a Catholic has profoundly affected my life. How ironic that God is love and yet I always felt not quite whole for being a woman in the church. Universal Medicine teachings have helped me distance myself from the dogma of the Catholic Church but there is still much work for me to be entirely free.
Thank you all for sharing your insightful comments, how insidious it is to indoctrinate innocent children with unworthiness, guilt and fear. The people preaching were/ are well-intentioned, unaware of the harm they are imposing when love is not the foundation for how to live one’s life. Is there any change happening in this institution, does anyone know?
Thank you for your blog Bernadette and exposing the Catholic Church and how they are similar to politics in order to control humanity.
Beautiful Judith, I love how you expose the lie we’ve been sold, we are all God’s children and as I read this and your piece Bernadette, I can feel how the catholic church is a political institution that is all about power and control and religion is just a means to an end, a way of control, a way to promote their power.
Hi Bernadette, I really love the way you have described the origins of the word religion and the way it has be reinterpreted. I have definitely been caught out by the belief that a religious way of life is something that we do, not a way of being with our inner most.
Great observation Bernadette. I totally agree with this having been raised as a Catholic when I was a child. This idea that I am stained or not good enough already when I come into the world, even as a baby has affected me in my adult life. It did create this drive to try and constantly better myself or ‘be better’ and strive to achieve some kind of divinity which is held up by the Catholic church as unreachable and untouchable anyway! So it is a never ending torture of trying to be something you can never be – what a set up and a great way to control people! It has been a revelation to me to realise with the support of Universal Medicine that I am already divine as I am and so all I have to do is just learn to be me. Simple.
When we consider how many millions of people have been brought up to live this way it’s no wonder we have so much stress and illness in the world!
Absolutely Carmel, all the religions of the past have not brought equality, love, harmony, respect, self worth. Big thanks again to Serge Benhayon for opening up this discussion and presenting the Ancient Wisdom once again.
Yes Andrew, just be you, it’s so simple isn’t it? When our young minds have been obfuscated we really have to make time to untangle the hurt as adults, to get back to the truth we knew deep inside us. Lovely to discover it is still there, intact, when we reconnect.
When I heard the latin root of religion, I felt very clearly that it felt like the truth and yes I felt it was ‘harmonious’, a lovely description. “It felt very beautiful to return to the original meaning, it felt harmonious and true, to work on oneself with diligence and love for self and all others.” Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Bernadette for sharing the true root and meaning of Religion here. How beautifully simple it is and what a contrast to the version imposed by the Catholic Church.
Even when I tell myself I no longer go to church or am no longer part of an organised religion, the tentacles of religious dogma can still infect how I sometimes think; being good and kind to be rewarded in heaven. The Way of the Livingness allows me to have a relationship with God and myself by connecting to the love that is, and always has been, within my inner-heart. This is true freedom.
I have heard the presentation by Serge Benhayon on the true meaning of religion and have wondered, with religion as it is today, how far it has strayed from its original meaning, and then I read or hear things like, ‘we were told that baptism was necessary as all new-born babies are born sinful, with a stain on their heart, and they need to be cleansed’, and I get a better understanding. Thanks for this great blog Bernadette, it has certainly given me a better insight into Christianity.
Bernadette. I just loved your writing and how open you have been on your religious upbringing.
I feel the catholic church has lost its way. The Things they do and say at times, don’t seem to be God’s way, or what he would teach. Over the years the catholic church has faced a lot of unanswered questions, and it needs to become more transparent in its outlook on life.
For example, as a child I was taught that if you were not baptised you went to Limbo. Only a few years ago the church admitted there was no such place as Limbo. If the catholic church is teaching about a God of love and equality, then the question needs to be asked as to why have they just announced that Gay people, divorced people, people living in partnerships, those married outside the church in civil ceremonies are segregated from those who abide by the church laws. I don’t feel that God would sanction many of these church laws.
Whatever religion one follows, and whether or not you go to church, I feel it’s like going to see God and say hi, I have come to see you in your own house, and have a few minutes chat. He will always listen openly to you with LOVE.
Hi Mike, it’s funny how ‘In Limbo’ has a general meaning for someone who is lost, or can’t find their place in life. I’ve been like that for years – I abandoned the Catholic Church in the 1960s when they insisted birth control was not allowed and to me that simply didn’t make sense, although obvious to me it helps create large families to keep the Catholic Church populated. Occasionally I go back to my old boarding school reunions and listen to the mass there and I hear the sermon and prayers with different ears now. Now my religion is The Way of the Livingness – God is back in my life now, but as a being I am part of, not separate from, and it’s great to know that I am a Son of God, equal to everyone else.
Though not brought up as a Catholic, I was sent to church 3 times on a Sunday, every Sunday. I vividly remember pointing out that the church goers actions didn’t meet the words they said in church. I was told very firmly that little girls should be seen and not heard.
So I agree Bernadette how delightful, some 60 years later for me, to be offered a different perspective on religion and realise that I don’t need any mortal acting as ‘my agent’ with an insidious contract and that I can have, do have and actually always have had my own direct connection to a very loving God who never judges me
I was also brought up a Catholic and remember saying on a weekly basis that I was not worthy and actually believing for a time that I was a sinner, not so much for what I had done but because I was born that way.
The whole idea that we are born “sinners” is shocking really. It is like we have failed before we even begin. And it also implies that by some outside influence we might get luck and be redeemed by someone or something. Talk about promoting lack of self-responsibility!
Learning to take responsibility for ALL aspect of my life has been something that I have learned from Universal Medicine, which I am forever grateful.
The lack of self responsibility in these kinds of teachings is very disempowering. I agree Elizabeth that taking back responsibility for all aspects of my life, as presented by Universal Medicine, is something to be forever grateful for, not least because of the difference it has made to my physical and psychological well-being.
Great blog Bernadette. Thank you.
Three words in this article stand out for me – the first is ‘Cement’: The fact that the Catholic upbringing was totally aimed at cementing the ideals and beliefs that would guarantee to keep us feeling small and unworthy. The other two words are ‘Role Model’: the complete lack of inspiring female role models so that we women could reflect upon ourselves as equal to the men.
Now, with the help of Universal Medicine and The Way of the Livingness, we are able to identify and release all those limiting ideals and beliefs, and we have some beautiful female role models amongst the practitioners and students, so that we can once again feel the amazing women that we are.
You are completely yummy Mary. “The Universal Medicine team inspired me take responsibility for my irresponsibility, and by taking responsibility for my choices, I choose to live life differently”. I would say the same for myself too.
Thanks to Bernadette for this powerful blog. Although not raised a Catholic, I can relate to the blog and many of the comments.
On reading your blog Bernadette, memories and feelings around confessing my sins have come flooding back… How could this ritual, that inflicts on children as young as six to go in alone, into a dark confessional box to confess their sins to a man behind a screen, be anything other than a huge imposition on a young child. I wonder if the ministers of the Catholic Church have once stopped to consider the adverse effect this ritual has on children, which may very well have life long consequence. Great blog Bernadette, thank you.
Elizabeth, so true, the whole confession thing is absolute cruelty and designed to make the person taking part feel small and it’s even worse for a child. In answer to your question have they considered the life long consequence of this on children.
I feel they have, but for them the key is control, they want to create that as early as possible, so what’s been done is actually quite deliberate. I remember hearing as a child some priests stating ‘give me a child of 7, and I have them for life’ with the idea being they could shape and mould them into whatever they considered a good catholic – it was never about meeting and honouring the innate godliness in anyone, child or adult. It was all about power and control.
Sad but true…. Monica, thanks for sharing the bigger picture.
‘it was never about meeting and honouring the innate godliness in anyone, child or adult. It was all about power and control.’ This feels shocking but true and thank you for exposing it Monica.
Very well said Bernadette, I always struggled with the word Religion, the fight against it yet wanting it in other ways. When first coming to Universal Medicine I would avoid and in fact made it clear I was not in religion and it’s only been in recent years that with the loving support of Serge Benhayon, his family and other inspiring students that I’ve started to embrace Religion in its true sense and the loving connection and way of being. Before this religion to me meant War, Fighting, Sin, Suffering, Seeking Forgiveness for anything I felt bad about, and being forced to live by outdated and controlling ideals. It’s no wonder so many millions give up “religions” each year. What an amazing gift to be shown the truth of Religion.
Thank You Bernadette Curtin for this real blog – saying it as it is.
I can feel the truth in what you are saying and it makes sense.
How far have we come away from the real meaning of the word Religion?
This is what needs to be an open topic of discussion at dinner tables everywhere.
The catholic church have had the power but not anymore – thanks to You and others who are now speaking your Truth and expressing on behalf of many who would not be able to. Thank you for not holding back.
You have inspired me to write a blog now about the Hindu Religion I had to follow whilst growing up in an indian family.
Wow – your article, Bernadette, and the comments that follow show us clearly just how insidious the teachings of the Catholic Church are. I stopped being a Catholic when I was 17, but now, in my 60s, I am still exhausted because I have not yet let go of the ideals and beliefs have caused me to drive myself to “get it right” and “be good”.
Sadly the fear based, legalistic and paternalistic church (particularly the Catholic one) has perpetuated incredible damage and managed to completely obscure incredible, liberating truths manifested in Jesus words and life:
“Come to me all who are weary from the burdens of your religion and I will give you rest…”
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love…” (Galations 5:6).
“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…”
“Neither do I condemn you…” (John 8:11)
“I am the way, the truth and the life, no-body comes to the Father but by me…” John 14:6
Jesus referred to us Sons of God and as we are created in God’s image, if He’s awesome, we’re awesome!
I focus on awesome Jesus and His imperfect New Testament followers’ words (who put the often brutal Old Testament into perspective) not fallible humans, to manifest peace and His Spirit within, then love emanates out…
(By the way, the concept / definition of “sin” has also been lost over time… from Genesis when man disregarded God’s one and only boundary while free in paradise, the consequence was spiritual death, the symptoms of being cut off from God / love is “sin”).
However “God so loved the world that He sent His most precious Son Jesus to save it…” (John 3:16).
Thank you Lydia for your comments. Jesus is still such an inspiring teacher for all of us today, as he lived the words he spoke. Each day I have an opportunity to live the love that he showed us, it is no longer about knowledge, it is about knowing that everything we do or say or think is either harming or healing. This means living with more awareness and responsibility with every choice I make.
Wow, as I read I love to comment, and firstly, how about all these comments! What you have written here Bernadette clearly touches many a soul….
It’s also delicious, because as I am touched by one sentence/phrase in particular, as I read on, I can feel the stirrings of untruths in my body being unwound, agitating to come out.
Such as being good, being obedient: compliance, to use another word. Complying with the way another wants us to be…
And, the remoteness of the ‘virgin’ who became pregnant – how unattainable is that! It is the ultimate curse, to be a woman, to bleed and to feel unworthy of children because they will not be divinely conceived. Not only confusing but downright untrue! How much love babies are is seen and felt by parents, grandparents, families and passers-by in communities throughout the world! They naturally bring joy to the lives around them.
“..it felt harmonious and true, to work on oneself with diligence and love for self and all others.” Hear here….oh yes.
I have never felt in full, the devastation of the horrendous belief behind baptism until I read your words: “We were told that baptism was necessary as all new-born babies are born sinful, with a stain on their heart, and they needed to be cleansed.” (No wonder I voiced a continuous, ear-piercing high pitch through the whole thing as a baby, so I’m told!)
“Miserable sinners” just doesn’t come close to describing how this church really sees humanity, and what it imposes upon us. And I truly appreciate that you’ve called out the ridiculousness of the female ‘role models’ – from a young age I knew this was a ‘crock’! To put one woman on a pedestal (as ‘the virgin’) and another deliberately denigrated, disempowers women to live truly as real women from the very outset.
Thank you Bernadette, for your words, and the truth you now live.
Thank you Bernadette – I too was under the spell of the Catholic church as a child and being ‘good ‘would often tempt me to enjoy being naughty just to lighten the load as it was too much pressure…However I always felt the magic of God through nature every day and yet I was becoming a confused young woman. This Catholic culture unconsciously weighed me down, so to be good and nice became my cover.
The good verses bad struggle would then play itself out in my life as I attracted ‘bad’ boyfriends…till I was so exhausted trying to ‘save’ them like a good martyr which is seen as a ‘good’ woman through the eyes of many.
Life is simple nowadays just to be me is good enough :)x
Thank you Bernadette – it is so true what you have written, about other religions too. As a child none of it made sense and even though I chose not to belong to a church, as an adult the teachings of being a good girl and getting it right stayed with me without me being aware of it. Until I realised I am love and all I need is within me.
I am amazed how much of religion is behind our belief to be good/ do good/ have good. I love how you identify this and can see past it to live ‘your way’, free of the way of the catholic church. This is awesome. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Ariana
So true. I had never really given much thought to a lot of the points you raise, yet I was born into a catholic family and experienced all you speak about. It is as if this was all accepted as normal and became a part of me without me being aware it had…
While I was reading your Blog Bernadette, I found myself nodding with every line…I felt I was reading about my own childhood in Ireland…
How lovely it is, that we have found our way back to our true selves. Thank you for this expression.
Wow thank you for sharing this with us. I felt the love while I was reading it. You really exposed how religious institutions create fear and grief in their followers.
Thank you Bernadette for sharing your experience of growing up under Catholic ideals and beliefs. A great observation and exposure of how this had enforced a way of working to be good upon you and many others too. Great to now find a “true way” that does not make you feel less than the amazing being you are. Awesome.
When you contemplate that the true meaning of religion is about relationship to self, God, nature and people, it is beautiful. It comes with no doctrine or dogma just a devotion to loving self and all others equally. Thank you for sharing
I love your clear definition Rachel “the true meaning of religion is about relationship to self, God, nature and people”…. Devotion to loving self and all others equally. We were not taught to love ourselves. We still have present day martyrs who sacrifice themselves thinking they are doing the right thing, and it often comes with resentment and bitterness.
Thank you Bernadette for so clearly exposing the very deliberate ways in which the Catholic Church binds people and especially women, not to the glory of divinity but to some mad outside authority and system that lessens and constricts us! Your gorgeous humour just shrinks the Catholic system to the absurdity and ridiculousness that it is. Your insightful perspective on this false religion, the way it robs humanity of our natural loving shining birthright, really cuts it down, and renders it naught! Awesome blog!
Absolutely Lyndy. This blog clearly exposes how religion and especially the catholic religion, lessens and constricts us and robs humanity of our natural loving shining birthright. For any child to be told that all new-born babies are born sinful, with a stain on their heart, such that they need to be cleansed is the absolute opposite of the truth and a very deliberate lie to manipulate people into believing that they are not worthy as a person and hence need the church to save them. Bernadette’s blog as you say, shrinks the Catholic system to the absurdity and ridiculousness that it is.
You are so right Lyndy and Anne, that the teachings “lessen and constrict”. Let our innocent children grow up as equal sons of God, knowing they are love, and they will be empowered.
It wasn’t until I was reading this blog that I saw the enormity of what has been imposed on a very large portion of humanity. To read, ‘We were told that baptism was necessary as all new-born babies are born sinful, with a stain on their heart, and they needed to be cleansed,’ flies in face of Jesus’ words as in Matthew 18 (King James Version)
“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Seems everyone has been sold a lie and the proof is staring them in the face in the book they hold most dear.
The conversion Jesus spoke of was back to be the love a child naturally is – not to Catholicism or any other man-made interpretation of religion. Yet so many, through the aeons of history, have accepted the churches’ teachings unthinkingly – not realising how the beliefs they have taken on have kept them away from seeing they and all of humanity are ‘God’s children’.
What a magnificent connection to make Judith, and written with such grace. Not only can we feel the absolute loveliness of children, but what Jesus has said about children and heaven is ACTUALLY WRITTEN in black and white in the Bible for all to see. What has the Catholic Church allowed that has ‘prevented’ people from seeing this and speaking up? It is plain to see that when Love is absent, intelligence is blind.
When Love is absent, intelligence is blind…. This says so much Lindy, this says it all.
I do remember this beautiful teaching being given to us too Judith, but I felt it must be OTHER children, the ones who lived in Jesus’ time, because I was already stamped unworthy. There is a prayer said at Mass which goes “Lord I am not worthy to be under thy roof, say but the word and my soul shall be healed”. I never found out what that magic word was, but now I feel it inside me – LOVE
Hear, hear Judith. Well said.
How powerful the comments that support your piece, Bernadette. Judith’s clear re-assertion of the truth for entry to heaven be not through conscription to an organisation but a natural by-product of returning to live a life of child-like wonder.
It is little wonder that when I read Judith’s words, that I read it with the persecution of one who is not baptised – ‘unworthy’ by any means – they are great at what they do – making unworthy the entire population!
Read it through again, those words of Jesus that Judith re-wrote for us here, and you will see there is a slant which can be taken and thus the argument that supports the church’s stance – doctrine: be baptised as children and thus you shall be admitted to heaven, if not no chance. Making heaven unattainable by edict of the Catholic church. Oh, because ‘Jesus said’. Therein lies the danger of not connecting to greater truths, as you have pointed out in your comments before me. When you reconnect to the deeper meaning in those words, they are clear – to be in the wonderment of a child’s world IS to be in heaven.
Beautiful Judith, I love how you expose the lie we’ve been sold, we are all God’s children and as I read this and your piece Bernadette, I can feel how the catholic church is a political institution that is all about power and control and religion is just a means to an end, a way of control, a way to promote their power.
Wow, thank you Bernie.
Thanks Bernadette, an awesome insight