Spirituality and politics

John Fugelsang was subbing for Stephanie Miller this morning. She calls him her "ecclesiastical mook" because he was raised in an extremely religious Catholic household. John's take on Jesus is that he was " a radical nonviolent revolutionary; a man who hung around with lepers, hookers and crooks; who never spoke English and wasn’t an American citizen; was anti-death penalty, anti-capitalist, anti public prayer (Matthew 6:5, please remind them) but Never anti gay; and was a long haired, brown skinned (yes, it’s in there), homeless, middle eastern Jew."

Fugelsang adds that he feels about Jesus the way he feels about Elvis: "I love the guy, but some of the fan clubs scare me."

This morning on Stephanie's show he said that if this country was really founded on Christian principles, poor people would be taken care of, prisoners in jail would be visited, and the sick would be healed (okay, I added that one, since I don't recall if that's exactly what he said.)

And that's where the difference between spirituality and religion comes in.  Religion is a tool; it's a roadmap for having an experience. Spirituality is the experience.  And the experience is an experience of unconditional love which expands the heart so wide that it knows it's connected to everyone and everything. The experience is transforming.  Purpose and values change; instead of asking what can I get, you ask what can I give.

A person can be both religious and spiritual, or can be religious without being spiritual and can be spiritual without being religious.

The essence of Christianity is the essence of all major faiths: treat others as you want to be treated.

Sounds like a simple political statement to me.

Sorah