This Life We Live

“We are all created the same. We are all given free will to be different.”

I’ve said this before, but it cannot be said enough: every single person on this planet is loved beyond measure. I do not know exactly how we were created—I’ve never felt the need to know—but I do know we all came from the same Creator. I have no desire to prove how long Earth has existed or what lies in the far reaches of the cosmos. What matters most is our here and now: where we are in our lives and how we treat one another. Humanity has become caught in a cycle that is currently going nowhere. If humanity allows this cycle to continue, it will destroy everything. God does not destroy anything. We as humans do the destroying.

When we came into being, we were given free will to decide who and what we wanted to become. It has always been a fluid process, shaped by the experiences we choose. Our lives are not dictated by a single divine being in the heavens; that is an idea created by men long ago. Countless people have been wounded by the phrase, “God is in charge.” It leads to unnecessary pain and the haunting question: “Why me?”

There is no God who exists as described in the Bible or its extensions. Those texts were written by men, for men, often as a way to control what they did not understand. All one has to do is look around. The Bible itself contains hundreds of contradictions between the Old and New Testaments. When you ask religious leaders about passages that don't make sense, you receive a different answer from each one. I’ve seen this happen repeatedly; many interpret these words simply to suit their own personalities or egos.

A Great Spirit gave us free will. Mankind, however, has spent far too long taking that will away from others. People often destroy what they don’t like or understand. Humanity created the fear, the torment, and the rigid "laws" we are told we must follow. In truth, the Great Spirit—Yahweh, God, or whatever name you choose—offers only patience, unconditional love, and the help we need to grow. God never gives up on His children.

I realize many have given up on believing in any form of a Higher Power. I relate deeply to those who identify as atheists. I wanted nothing to do with the “God” I was raised with, nor the God described in scripture. I would have been an atheist myself if I had not found a Higher Power within my own heart and soul.

I did not find Yahweh through the words of men, and He can never be taken from me by the words of men. The only reason I survived my childhood was because I held tightly to the unconditional love given to me by the heavens. At the time, I didn't know what it was or why it was there, but it sustained me. It took many years to find my way out of the shadows I was taught to walk in as a child. Only then did I remember what I had known all along: we are loved unconditionally.

We were never expected to reach perfection; even Jesus was not perfect. The word “sin” was used to describe something that exists only in the eyes of men. We are born worthy of every good thing life has to offer. We have never been judged as "sinners" by the heavens. Instead, we are loved as children who make mistakes and learn through many experiences, over as many lifetimes as needed.

Humanity has struggled with ego and pride for thousands of years. I believe that as lifespans shifted throughout history, the Creator realized that for us to truly learn who we wanted to be, we would need more than one lifetime to experience different people, lands, cultures, and ways of being.

The teachings of Jesus have played a significant role in this journey. I believe Jesus was a good man who came to Earth to help people remember why they were here. He helped many step out of the shadows and return to the essence of life:

Be kind. Don’t judge. Don’t take more than you need.

These are the only divine expectations placed upon us. One of the most important reminders Jesus offered was that we are responsible for our own actions. Sadly, those who could not overcome their ego ignored this truth—and many still do. They stand behind pulpits yelling about "right" and "wrong," threatening the horrific wrath of God. They demand tithes, only to spend them on million-dollar homes and private jets while others go hungry. This is not divine. It lacks the very love some preach so loudly.

Years ago, a friend of mine attended a mega-church. She tithed every dollar she could, even as a single mother of two with no outside help. One month, she couldn't afford her electricity bill. She asked the church for help—the only time she ever had—and they told her no. It seems that church was not concerned with the actual teachings of Jesus.

Over time, Jesus’s life was turned into a scapegoat. He showed kindness regardless of what others could offer in return, but those unwilling to accept responsibility for their own lives labeled everything “sin.” Years after his death, men wrote about him and turned him into a martyr so they could preach hellfire and brimstone as a means of control. As this continued, women were blamed for man’s downfall. Nearly everything became the fault of women. “Men of God” created doctrines and requirements to control others, especially women. (I will write more about this in another section.)

We are responsible for our own actions. When we refuse to accept this, we remain stuck. Essentially, we return again and again until we finally “get it right.” And getting it right is far simpler than religious books make it seem.

Children should be encouraged to keep kind hearts, beginning with the basics of right and wrong—nothing more. While this may be more difficult for adults, it can be done. I am living proof. I broke the cycle of abuse in my family. It is my divine hope to help others break the cycle humanity is caught in today.