I debated with myself whether to publicly comment on why I always decline requests to include local churches, (not one is independent), expecting my opinions will cost me a few real estate clients, but my personal conviction that I should stand up for what I believe in is more important...

Though many good people attend church, and some individual churches may be of benefit to those who are seeking answers, religions are another matter.

Everyone has access to the spirit of God, which communicates at the highest level each of us is able to understand, always guided by its endless love. No intermediaries are necessary. Words like "love one another" are a universal truth, an innate knowledge, and carry with them their own authority. But with this one giant pearl of wisdom, the man-made words of God annexed to this knowledge are often given too much credit.

Everyone ruled by love has eternal life, no matter what their religion. Every god business pretends to understand the Almighty better than anyone else, as if they have some access the rest of us do not. To help sell their views, they threaten destruction, disappointment or rebuke for anyone who disagrees with them. They all believe differently, yet they all know best, and the only thing they have in common is claiming everyone else knows less. The teachings of Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed were all warped into businesses, resulting in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. All of these religions have inflicted monumental suffering from their fanaticism. They would not have done so if they were really guided by God's will (ruled by love). Furthermore, if God is love, and love and money is prostitution, then what is religion but spiritual harlotry perfected to a science. Priestcraft is the oldest men's profession.

As for Jesus, he was clearly enlightened. But many words have been put in his mouth, and God's mouth, by the people who turned him into a business for power and profit. And they also put him above us so they could be above us in his absence. The Moses and Mohammed businessmen did the same kind of things. (How ironic that Jesus was killed for trying to stop the Moses business, then others turned him into one!)

For anyone interested, I wrote a book some years ago about Christ, Christianity and other spiritual things. It is very unique and parts of it are extremely personal. Most clergy have disliked the book since I chastise them for arrogance and business dealings, but a few have admired it. The title is Selfish Young Man, which I published as an "e-book" on the internet (you can read it free by clicking on the preceding link). Some of it is geared towards divinity scholars like myself who have extensively studied, but laymen should understand most of it.  If you read the book and then wish to discuss any of it (not debate), you can call or email me any time. Here are a few excerpts from the book:

·   Love is the only real authority that ever has, does, or will exist.

·   Almost the entirety of Jesus' original message was lost or altered. All but gone was the story of a demon who found the key to life (love one another) and tried to help us other demons find their way.

·   If an individual begins thinking that he is better than other people... the spirit is displeased. So how does being a group of individuals (religion) improve the same mistake?
 

·   Compared to love, no religion has ever mattered, or ever will, except to the spiritually dead!

   I would also note that people who claim the Bible is the infallible word of God are people who haven't studied it, who have been misled by those who profit from it, or the profiteers themselves. Many religious followers accept things they don't understand because people who supposedly represent God taught them, these same charlatans cleverly mixing the great universal pearl of truth ("love one another") with their false doctrines... For example, regardless of what some preachers claim, it was not the voice of God that told Abraham to kill his son Isaac. We put people in jail or asylums for that. And it was certainly not "God" who led Moses to try killing every man, woman, child and baby of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15.3), any more than "God" led Hitler to try exterminating the Jews.

   Every church should be completely independent of any outside bureaucracy, subject only to the will of the members that attend that individual church. And "love one another" should be the only required doctrine.