Month: April 2021

Logically, if you use your ability to choose with free will, you are — and at the very least, should believe that you are — the CEO of your life. Not taking responsibility for your life can be attributed to other factors, like the politics of belonging, so you can’t simply blame God for not being blessed with everything like others. Interestingly, from the very beginning, we all have to deal with the powerful and highly preached sense of belonging to our groups. However, there has always been, is, and will always be a segment of the population that thinks independently and takes responsibility for their actions. The sense of belonging not only affects us politically, but it also has long-reaching effects that penetrate deeply into our psyche and physicality. Only spiritually are we safe from its influence; in all other ways, we are compelled to respond emotionally and physically due to our education, thoughts, and the hormonal secretions that follow.

If you don’t understand, you can’t think, and if you can’t think, you can’t find solutions. You may even believe there is nothing wrong with your behavior simply because you are surrounded by people who think and believe like you. A group of people can have a tremendous effect on individuals who belong to it by birth. The brainwashing power of the politics of belonging molds people into puppets and useful fuel for the war machine. If something is popular in society, as children, we would idolize it and naturally desire to follow it because it comes to us from our authority figures.

Logically, we’ve been around for millions of years, so in the time of living in bushes or caves, no one would have conceived of becoming a lawyer, doctor, politician, businessperson, or professional athlete. We are born into today’s times, so our automatic desire will be to pursue whatever is popular now. Since we are blessed with free will, we can choose to work hard, starve ourselves, and suffer endlessly in the pursuit of fitting in, impressing others, or dying with the desire to be admired by those around us.

The blessing of free will gets overlooked and compromised if you don’t personally assume the responsibility of being the CEO of your life. It’s all about cause and effect, so if you can’t go far back and understand the causes of your extreme behaviors, you won’t even acknowledge that you have a problem. For instance, if you don’t understand the importance of balancing the sense of belonging with the sense of freedom, you won’t recognize that your health and happiness are connected to your thoughts. You wouldn’t even think to search for solutions to problems like body dysmorphia, bulimia, anorexia, anxiety, depression, or even suicidal thoughts. Whether this self-destruction stems from mental health issues, the acceptance of personal weaknesses, or fiery, inspiring speeches from leaders of belonging groups, it is still your personal duty to understand the cause or causes of your radical behaviors. Never forget that your free will has been given to you so you can make independent decisions to stay balanced. Having free will and the ability to use it makes us responsible for all our actions. It’s not about making extreme choices; it’s about creating balance.

Remember, if you have lost your self-esteem due to your imbalances, you won’t even consider yourself an independent entity, let alone the CEO of your life. Now, look at your decisions — are you taking destructive chances for the sake of others? If you don’t stand up for yourself, who will? How far are you willing to go for a sense of belonging? Will you hurt yourself, or on the flip side, hurt others and end up in jail, thus hurting yourself in more ways than one? Regardless of which extreme you lean toward, you will end up harming yourself. Interestingly, you are the most important part of this picture, yet you are openly and proudly hurting yourself — by choice. As the CEO, your best bet is to create balance; otherwise, you may be hurting without even knowing the causes. There’s nothing wrong with having a sense of belonging until it goes too far and you start hurting others or even yourself because of it.

Individually understanding the importance of becoming the CEO of your life is crucial because the sense of belonging might be the most formidable challenge to your personal sense of freedom. From individual health problems all the way to political and even holy wars — and everything in between — is tainted by the politics of belonging. Its tentacles extend into everything humanity has to offer, both good, bad, and ugly.

As an individual, you may think you are strong-willed, but your actions reveal the real picture. If you push your limits to fit in and sacrifice everything for the approval of those you belong to, remember that this makes others strong, not you. As the CEO of your mortal life, you know that your time is limited, and you must create balance to take care of yourself.

Whether you believe in God or not, whether God exists somewhere in space or within every cell of your body, or whether you feel strongly influenced by your hormones and suppress your intellect to follow what your group says, one thing remains clear: you are an incredibly complex and constantly evolving being. Therefore, logically, nothing should ever be considered ultimate knowledge. Whether it relates to society, medicine, science, technology, or even God, as human individuals, we are never done learning.

As long as we continue to evolve, everything will always be open to question, because we are learning new things every day. When it comes to the politics of belonging to our groups, regardless of their authenticity, there is a lot of room for assumptions regarding traditions, customs, rituals, and rules. Our arguments often transcend individual intellect, yet, being mortal, it’s all about how individuals live their lives—whether they benefit from or are harmed by believing what their group believes. It’s not about real rewards in heaven or punishments in hell. It’s not even about the physicality of life after death or the world we’ve been taught to believe in. It’s about how we live during our time on Earth. If we become good people because of our religious knowledge, then having a belief system is an asset. If we commit spiritual crimes in the name of religion or God, that’s due to the politics of belonging—spirituality has nothing to do with it. If you’re thinking politically for the survival of your group, say so. Don’t bring God or religion into it.

To me, it’s all about what a belief system can do for the individual during their living years. Did they live their life as a good and decent person, or did they kill and rob love from others in the name of their group? In short, our living years are our physical reality, and life beyond them is a metaphorical reality. If you place metaphorical reality above your own or others’ physical reality, you’ve taken a political path and strayed from spirituality. You risk becoming an extension of a cult, losing your individuality. You remove all responsibility from yourself and undermine your humanity. Every human being has a spark of autonomy and can use free will and personal justice to become reasonable, compassionate, and loving. This isn’t just for individual peace but for collective harmony as well.

The world is where it is today because we’ve been discovering what makes sense to us. To me, not believing in God means everything happened randomly. The so-called scientific explanation of the universe beginning with an exploding marble that is continually expanding is not a clear enough answer, even if it comes from the scientific community. We should ask, where did the marble come from, and why did it explode? The organization we see in the chaos may seem random, but even dissecting a worm shows that life thrives on order. Since life surrounds us, we should respect it while we are alive, instead of killing each other over who is right about the beginning or end of life. Wisdom is recognizing and respecting even the smallest, simplest forms of life, like a worm or a virus. There is great sophistication, wisdom, and order in how they function, so not believing is just as questionable as believing. If we can remove the politics of belonging, we’d be more open to questioning, which is the foundation of learning and growth.

The problem is that the politics of belonging has overtaken our religious beliefs, tainting our spirituality. Religions have left their spiritual messages behind and become political authorities. They’ve traded God for political power and control, succumbing to the lucrative business of governance. They’ve used individuals, God, and everything in between to maintain political relevance.

They’ve even waged wars, destroying the beauty of spiritual belief systems and converting them into ugly political realities. Our group politics of belonging has overridden spiritual principles. If religions had stuck to spirituality, we would all be praying and worshipping God under one roof, regardless of our differences and group affiliations. Who am I kidding? This is just my dream—that people will overcome their divisions, especially when it comes to our metaphorical realities. God and spirituality should always be above the politics of belonging, but that’s not the way it is. So, I strive to work against the extreme politics of religious beliefs. My dream is to bring the beauty of spirituality and equal justice for all to the forefront, so people see humanity as one organism, or dare I say, God. Different colors, sizes, and shapes, but one humanity with equal human rights and justice for all.

It’s not about who has the right or wrong opinion regarding what happens before or after life. It’s about who lives an internally and externally successful mortal life.

Unfortunately, even our best scientists haven’t been able to prove everything beyond a doubt, yet they take pride in repeatable facts. They haven’t been able to break down and explain our repeatable metaphorical realities like love, compassion, forgiveness, sacrifice, honor, pride, the reasons for our hormonal responses, the placebo effect of healing, and many everyday truths and lies. So, no one should dismiss others’ spiritual beliefs unless their knowledge is unquestionably correct and free from assumptions. What came before the Big Bang, and why did the Big Bang happen?

Another issue societies face is the politics of belonging, which infiltrates everything we do. Yes, we are progressing, but our evolution in science and technology hasn’t helped resolve our social and moral issues. Our politically influenced and imbalanced evolution raises more questions than answers. As individuals, we must overcome the lure of group politics. As governing authorities, we should rise above the politics of belonging to specific groups. In today’s world of equal human rights, our governing authorities should adopt a justice system that treats everyone equally. Since spirituality and justice don’t mix with politics, the majority’s beliefs shouldn’t matter when it comes to justice and spirituality. Whether it’s science-based or religion-based, if it serves only some people and not all, it’s potentially prejudicial, discriminatory, and political. Even if it’s democratic, it must uphold equal justice. Humanity has suffered enough from the loss of individuality in the name of belonging to groups. It’s time to change the way we think and govern. Whatever groups preach and practice, whether they are based on race, nation, or religion, they should never bypass equal spiritual justice.

We have been, and are still, openly taught to feel superior to others. If you succeed in making others feel inferior, it is even better. The question is: Is that political or not? The same politics have been used by religions to make even their own followers feel inferior, irrelevant, and meaningless in comparison to God and the Devil. The purpose behind such openly preached education is to have power and control over ordinary individuals so they can be easily governed. The root causes of individual low self-respect and self-esteem are deeply tied to the politics of belonging, especially when it comes to religious affiliations.

It’s clear to see why ordinary people are often preached not to have confidence, self-respect, or self-esteem, particularly concerning matters of the afterlife. The fear of hell’s punishment and the greed for heaven’s rewards are taught as if they are absolute truths, yet no one has ever returned to provide evidence. If you question these teachings, you’re labeled a non-believer, as if you’re responsible for their shortcomings. Let’s look at how political figures can twist, turn, and hide unclear truths and still get away with it. If you give people a task, they might follow it for a while, but a high percentage will eventually fail, similar to a New Year’s resolution. Instead of blaming the program, they silently accept it as their own shortcoming.

We believe in our religions wholeheartedly, so rather than questioning or blaming their practices, we assume there is nothing wrong with them. But when spiritual problems arise, if God can’t be responsible, then you—the individual—must be. This leaves the religious group free from blame and enjoying a position of trust. Since you already believe you’re irrelevant and have accepted yourself as a sinner, you take the blame. What an easy way for religions to continue their politics without being questioned. Even if you challenge the authenticity of their traditions, customs, rituals, and rules, you’re threatened with being shunned and told that you’re committing an even bigger sin. Yet, despite these politically tainted belief systems, the ordinary individual still believes their religion is a spiritual and true path to God.

Over the centuries, religions have resisted scientifically proven facts to remain politically relevant. They’ve opposed everything from blood transfusions to legal abortion, genetic coding, stem cell research, and more. Medical advancements that save lives are often criticized by religious groups. Yet, interestingly, when it comes to personal health, many of these same people shamelessly use the modern medical procedures they criticize. Despite this hypocrisy, they continue to believe in whatever their religion preaches.

To me, saving lives is the ultimate spiritual act because it preserves the “working hand” of God, helping to convert spirituality into physical actions. People are quick to judge and say we’re meddling in God’s work, but remember to ask: How does God’s work get done? You may not get a clear answer. It’s fascinating that nearly every other type of human knowledge has been rigorously questioned, yet religious knowledge—despite its brutal history—is largely exempt from this scrutiny.

Using the “carrot and stick” philosophy may work for other creatures—what we call animals. But applying this philosophy to humans equates us with animals. While we may have an animalistic side, we also carry a spiritual side, which sets us apart. Treating humans as mere animals is degrading and contradicts spiritual truth. Our “atom of autonomy” allows us to self-regulate and evolve to higher levels of existence. Physically, we may function like animals, but spiritually, we transcend them.

Our compassion, sense of justice, ability to forgive, willingness to sacrifice, and capacity for unconditional love have nothing to do with being animals but everything to do with being human. So, treating humans with the carrot-and-stick approach is a spiritual mistake. Some may not clearly understand this concept of the atom of autonomy, but these spiritual qualities are not just learned behaviors—they are potential gifts we bring into the world from before birth.

You may question this, considering the crimes we commit against each other, and conclude that we are similar to animals. Unfortunately, humans are often compared to animals when discussing behavior, so those who commit crimes are treated like animals. But this comparison is flawed. Unlike animals, humans can learn, grow, and change over time. The carrot-and-stick philosophy doesn’t work for humans in the long run. We evolve, but other creatures do not. So, comparing humans to animals is simply wrong, and applying the same philosophy to everyone should be questioned.

I was curious about crime rates in different societies, so I looked for answers on Google. The country with the lowest crime rate, at seven per 100,000, is Switzerland. The safest countries in the world to raise a family are:

1. Iceland
2. New Zealand
3. Austria
4. Portugal
5. Denmark
6. Canada
7. Czech Republic
8. Singapore

Interestingly, with the exception of Singapore, most of these nations are not exclusively religious. Why didn’t more religious nations make the list? This is a question for all religious people, as many believe that a religious person is morally superior to a non-religious one. Where’s the disconnect? Why can’t religious societies maintain low crime rates? Why are people generally less happy in religious nations? Should religious societies be doing some soul-searching and cleaning up their act?

According to a UN-sponsored report, the happiest places in the world for four consecutive years were:

1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Switzerland
4. Iceland
5. Netherlands

As I mentioned, these findings raise questions about the governing systems of religious nations. These societies were supposed to be connected directly to God, providing human beings with spiritual satisfaction, happiness, and contentment. If you want to solve this puzzle, the key is to question, question, and question.

Personally, I believe if religions had treated individuals with dignity, kept spirituality as the true path to God, and avoided the politics of belonging, they would have the happiest people with the lowest crime rates. If you examine the success of these societies, you’ll find fascinating insights. Whether you believe in God or not, you’ll find all the spirituality you need in these nations, which we often label as “godless” or “non-religious.” If they are better places to raise families, then religious societies must learn to question themselves. You may take pride in being religious, but you should also question why religious societies fail to achieve low crime rates and high individual happiness.

Even if you remain loyal to your group, you must still ask yourself: Why?

A society with religion but no success in reducing crime or promoting individual happiness and contentment is a concern we all should have. People don’t follow religious rules because their religion may be tainted by hidden politics, spiritually impotent, or because individuals are not valued and respected. You have to find your own reasons and question everything. Remember, it’s not all about the afterlife. It’s about how you live now. If you are not happy in this life and are in the habit of being unhappy, how will you find happiness even after death? It’s not the sacrifices you make in life that will earn you a place in heaven, but the help and support you give to others. It’s not about your prayers or fasting—it’s about turning spiritual thoughts into physical actions.

If I were to choose one known function of life and examine its accuracy and sophistication, it wouldn’t be fair to focus solely on that. In general, when we look at the functioning of our bodies and our ability to act independently, using compassion, justice, and love, we see what sets us apart from other animals. I emphasize “known functions” because we are still evolving and don’t know everything about ourselves yet. If you start to examine yourself critically, you’ll not only begin to believe in God, but you’ll also gain respect for other human beings and yourself.

All the known and unknown abilities of an individual are wasted when someone is killed or kills in the name of group politics. Killing or being killed for a cause is common in many societies, and much of this is tied to the politics of belonging. We affiliate with groups to fit in, and sometimes, we go to great lengths to impress others in order to feel accepted. Our sense of admiration and acceptance is tied to this need to belong. If your sense of belonging is distorted, you must awaken your sense of freedom to align it with your true self, allowing you to make decisions that prioritize the importance of your life.

Throwing away a perfectly functioning body in the name of a cause or just to fit in with others is a clear sign of personal weakness. Stand up to your potential as a human being. Every individual has two sides, and with these two sides, they must commit to creating balance. Our spiritual and physical sides are connected and influence our behavior. The physical side seeks security because it recognizes mortality, while the spiritual side finds inner peace by connecting to the divine source. Extremes of either side are harmful because, as mortals, we seek to experience life in the physical world. Going to extremes is unwise and unspiritual because we are still evolving. When you are an unfinished product, you cannot claim to know everything, no matter how many books you’ve read. You are still learning, so extreme decisions, like killing or getting killed, are ill-advised.

Religion, medicine, and music have influenced us for millennia, giving us the illusion that we know everything. Yet, despite this, we continue to learn more every day. The idea that we know everything is not to diminish anyone’s knowledge but to highlight the evolving nature of human beings. God gives humans the opportunity to enjoy this mortal life, and the only way to fully enjoy it is through our physical, animal side. Controlling or killing that side is impossible because we are intertwined in such a way that one cannot live without the other. It’s not divine wisdom to suppress or destroy it; it’s often more about fitting in, impressing, or seeking admiration from those around us.

A healthy individual should approach life with balance, reciprocating the gifts of life by contributing to the greater good. Enjoying good food, for example, satisfies the animal side, but being useful to others is equally important. God’s work needs to be done regardless. If everyone became a monk, solely receiving but not giving, society would collapse, as people would depend on others to sustain them. How would humanity function?

You can cover yourself in ashes and walk around naked without showering for years, or wear a hijab and claim to be pure in your social setting. But none of this will stop the Earth from rotating around the sun. Physical and spiritual cleanliness mean little to God if you’re not there to reciprocate. Your prayers, fasting, and personal sacrifices stem from customs passed down by the religious or political groups you’ve chosen to follow.

Your spiritual work is directly between you and God because you are a subcontractor working for Him. If you can help those suffering and praying to God but choose not to, you are not fulfilling your role. You can worship and sacrifice all you want, but if you’re an able person and you don’t help others, you are not reciprocating. In my opinion, everyone who works is reciprocating. Some may argue they are only working for pay, but if you look closely, you’ll see that humans help each other. The actions may seem directed at other humans, but ultimately, they serve God. If you seek God spiritually and cannot find Him, look at the humans helping others, for they are reciprocating to God.

The real filth you should seek to remove is your spiritual filth. If you can pray to God without remorse while committing acts like bombing and killing innocent people, you are disrespecting the identity God has given you. You can have political reasons, but a spiritual crime is still a spiritual crime. You are responsible because you’ve been blessed with free will, which gives you the role of a subcontractor. You may care about physical hygiene, but in truth, it is spiritual hygiene that matters most.

God has blessed us with free will, giving us equal power to make our own decisions. Some may believe this isn’t true, arguing that even leaves don’t move without God’s will. But look around—do we move through life like puppets? We live within families, raised by the same parents, yet we grow into different individuals. We choose different paths, value different things, and even express faith in different ways. Why the differences? Does God truly want us all to be the same? This isn’t about discrediting anyone’s knowledge, but about making sense of our individuality.

If leaves can’t move without God’s will, how can someone abort a child without it? We often place God on a pedestal because we feel so vulnerable—we can’t even breathe without oxygen. God’s will is indeed supreme, but by giving us free will, He made us subcontractors, tasked with fulfilling His work. We choose how we complete the tasks assigned to us, and this should elevate our sense of responsibility.

To illustrate this: a drug lord can help his community so much that people begin to believe it’s their duty to protect him, despite knowing that drugs are killing people elsewhere. If you ignore the damage caused by drugs and keep supporting the drug lord because it benefits your community, is that truly just? This behavior exemplifies the politics of belonging, which often robs individuals of their personal sense of justice. When belonging to a group clouds your judgment, you are not fulfilling your role as an individual. This is the destruction of the individual, and a destroyed individual cannot be a subcontractor for God. Now, take this a step further: replace the drug lord with a prime minister or religious leader. Ask yourself—how are you doing?

God gives us all an equal opportunity to be good or bad. Knowing your own spiritual level of goodness or badness is crucial. If you lack a personal sense of justice, you will follow the rules, rituals, and customs of your group without question. This makes you subservient to people, not a subcontractor for God. The more you preach the politics of your group, the less valuable you become as an individual. If you can’t see how drugs harm people beyond your community, or how your nation or religion mistreats others, your sense of belonging has replaced your sense of justice and reverence for God. You cannot overcome the politics of belonging without personal responsibility and justice.

PHYSICAL REALITY

My writing primarily aims to foster spiritual awareness in individuals. While I am interested in global politics, my goal is not to change people as groups or to start a new cult. My focus is on the modern individual who lives in an era where equal human rights are paramount and who is concerned about global warming rather than metaphorically believing that throwing virgins over cliffs would please God. I believe that an educated individual is more beneficial to humanity and their respective communities. Understanding the politics of belonging can enhance both individual and collective well-being.

As groups, we are merely collections of individuals. If individuals improve, they can positively influence their groups. Although I may not see significant changes in my lifetime, if we continue to evolve individually, we might eventually bring about collective progress. The transition from barbarism to advocating for equal human rights did not happen overnight. Our progress is evident in the advancements of the modern world. Unfortunately, we remain entangled in group politics, and our individual insecurities must be examined critically. We are often drawn to the politics of our sense of belonging to our groups, believing that security comes only from being surrounded by those who share our identity. This flawed logic keeps us weak, vulnerable, and irrelevant, even though, logically, a group’s foundation is its individuals. If we all understood this, we could influence our group’s political policies. Change requires individuals to have backbone, address their causes of irrelevance, and take responsibility for their actions.

I personally dislike seeing individuals being used, especially when they eagerly agree to it, even if it contradicts their spiritual values. This is why I focus on helping individuals recognize their worth. While this may not be popular in today’s politics of belonging, the growing emphasis on individual rights suggests that individuals will soon be acknowledged as central to all aspects of life, whether political or spiritual.

For thousands of years, we have been taught that the collective is more important than the individual, whether through race, nation, or religion. All have demanded that individuals be subservient and irrelevant compared to the group. Although this is politically understandable, it is not spiritually sound. True spirituality would be based on equal justice, whether between individuals or between individuals and groups, because equal justice is crucial in the spiritual realm. By critically and logically examining our personal feelings, we can understand that human insecurities form the foundation of politically successful groups. Whether it is a gang, community, nation, or religion, insecure individuals seek security in numbers, thereby diminishing their personal importance and self-esteem. Recognizing this internally provides spiritual insight that there is no ultimate security for us mortals. This is evident in our acceptance of disease and death. Gangs, communities, nations, and religions may offer prayers and well-wishes, but they cannot provide security from the realities of mortality.

Understanding this and overcoming insecurities may allow you to view your life differently and potentially become the CEO of your own existence. This means thinking beyond hormonal feelings, understanding the politics behind group messages, and viewing traditions, customs, rituals, and rules in a new light. If you cannot see the politics behind these elements, you are not truly in control; you are merely following and accepting what your group dictates. Feelings of irrelevance, unimportance, and uselessness stem from your group, not from a higher power. Without being a true CEO of your life, you remain susceptible to control and manipulation as a less evolved, genetically programmed being.

The emphasis on the collective over the individual has been ingrained in our political education for centuries, and changing this will require significant individual effort. Progress is occurring, albeit slowly, because groups are reluctant to relinquish their political power. However, with the rise of equal human rights, doors are gradually opening for individuals and spiritual justice.

Remember, we are spiritual entities because we each carry our personal sense of justice from before birth. The increasing strength of equal human rights reflects our willingness, as individuals, to contribute when we are given equal rights. However, the dynamics change when we consider groups. Politics of power and control lead groups to hide behind promises of individual security. They preach prejudicial and discriminatory politics, manipulating their followers to accept these views for political gain.

This is why it is crucial for individuals to become educated and spiritually aware enough to understand the importance of being the CEO of their own lives. If you claim that your group makes you prejudicial and discriminatory, it means you are being influenced politically as well. As human beings, we are not genetically programmed to be controlled by any political group or religion, let alone by God. Therefore, the responsibility for our actions rests solely on our own shoulders. We are blessed with an atom of autonomy—a divine-like entity endowed with free will and a sense of justice. Genetically and spiritually, we are unique entities with the freedom to make choices, making us accountable for our actions regardless of the political ideologies we encounter.

If religions teach you that you are irrelevant, it is because they want to obscure your understanding of your true importance. If you realize how crucial you are in the divine scheme, these institutions would lose their power over you. Similarly, in today’s world, understanding that spirituality cannot be converted into physical actions without you would boost your self-esteem and self-respect, free from the fear of hell or the greed for heaven. Political groups cannot afford this realization, as it would undermine their control over you.

This triangular framework simplifies your responsibilities: first, change yourself individually, then influence your family, community, nation, and religion, all of which fall under the category of political groups. Spirituality, on the other hand, is independent and personal. Understanding your reality helps you avoid being politically used. Becoming secure in your own mortality allows you to maintain this balance.

I place physical reality at the top corner because no one should be deprived of their physical reality for the sake of someone else’s metaphorical or virtual reality. Our metaphorical and virtual realities should always occupy the bottom corners, regardless of how they appear to us personally. Your metaphorical and virtual realities should not surpass your physical reality. When comparing them, you must experience and evaluate them through your physical existence. For example, despite what extremists might claim, you cannot justify killing someone in the name of God. We have historically and continue to kill each other based on appearances, worship practices, and beliefs. This has more to do with the politics of group belonging than with God. Ultimately, it comes down to individual responsibility. We must seek to grow beyond the politics of belonging to our groups and recognize the importance of each individual, even those from opposing groups.

By looking beyond the politics of belonging, you will discover that, spiritually, there are no differences. We all, regardless of our taught differences, come, live, and go the same way. Mortality should teach us about the meaning of our lives. Why are we under the influence of group politics? Why do we lack self-esteem and respect for ourselves and others? Why do we feel irrelevant even from our own perspectives? And why do we fail to recognize that a crime is a crime, regardless of whether it is committed against someone from our group or another? If we would not like to be on the receiving end of our own actions, it indicates that our actions are spiritually flawed. Understanding this should make us realize that political actions can indeed translate into spiritual crimes.

If your job involves killing people with computer-controlled drones, it belongs to your virtual reality. Prioritizing your virtual reality over physical reality for political reasons constitutes a crime. If you take a life, it is no longer a game. Recognize that you are influenced by the politics of belonging, and this comes down to your individual responsibility. A spiritually aware individual should feel guilt from such actions; if you do not, you need to critically examine yourself, as you will eventually have to confront your own sense of autonomy.

If we all change individually, our groups would be compelled to change with us because we fuel their political power. Not everyone will understand group politics, especially those influenced by their sense of belonging. As human beings, we have relied on group politics since our awareness began. Recently, we have entered a new paradigm of equal human rights. Calls from our nature—such as concerns about global warming, infectious diseases, and justice—are not just necessities but responsibilities. The potential annihilation of humanity is driving people to emerge from their political confines to address larger issues. With the rapid spread of education through the internet, much work remains to be done.

The political tree of our belonging has always been rooted in political lies and twisted truths, while spirituality and equal justice represent pure truths. If you attempt to raise justice and spirituality-based beliefs, like religion, on your political tree, you will encounter trouble. Personal religious beliefs may lose their spiritual essence, leading to inner conflicts and dissatisfaction as a mortal being.

Your justice system would lose its essence of blind truth, causing you to lose respect for it, as you are equipped with your own sense of justice. Ignoring this due to political belonging could lead to a loss of self-respect as an honest individual. Political thorns will damage the delicate fruit of ethics. Thus, I believe we should keep our justice system and spirituality separate from politics.

Today, being human is as complex as ever. We need governing systems for political affairs, yet as mortals, we require spiritual values. This means we must evolve to outgrow the politics of our groups and embrace humanity as a whole, balancing spiritual awareness with a happy, content, and successful mortal life. Living solely in the confusing world of physical, metaphorical, and virtual realities will not satisfy us spiritually. Balancing these aspects while respecting and prioritizing physical reality is essential. You can devote your life to a cause, but failing to achieve balance will not make you a successful CEO of your mortal life.

Science and technology are advancing, and we cannot avoid the progress related to our evolution. However, despite our abilities, we cannot treat real-life situations like video games. Progress should be balanced across all areas of life. Although medical advances have been significant, they have not overcome the politics of belonging. Similarly, respect for human life must be maintained above technological or metaphorical realities. Historical and contemporary examples show that group politics often disregard the importance of human life. It is time to evolve and place individual physical reality at the top of our priorities.

As evolving beings, we should understand that the power of knowledge remains valid until a new discovery disproves it. A wrong is wrong regardless of its source or who preaches it. Diminishing the value of physical reality not only disrespects human life but also disrespects God. When you undermine someone’s love based on metaphoric realities, it robs them of love and causes harm, making it a spiritual crime. Whether committed in the name of race, nation, religion, or even God, such actions are politically motivated. Human beings have long used everything, including God, for political purposes, so it is no surprise that people hide behind the politics of belonging.

In the age of virtual realities, confusion between metaphoric and physical realities can be dangerous, not just for individuals but for humanity as a whole. With our weapons of mass destruction, we have the potential to obliterate all our realities. Therefore, it’s crucial to recognize that our politics of belonging to groups is no longer a natural condition. Essentially, removing physical reality erases everything else, so we must see and respect both our own and others’ physical realities.

As social creatures, we cannot live in isolation, and neither can our communities. Individuals are the lifeblood of groups, so balancing our evolution is both an individual and communal responsibility.

I hold great respect for the spiritual aspects of religions because they have the potential to make individuals better. However, those who exploit religion for political agendas, whether individually or collectively, may believe they are being spiritual. Yet, those who harm others under the guise of spirituality are merely engaging in politics of belonging, using God for political purposes.

Compassion and love cannot be forced or demanded. Voluntary actions should not be enforced as rules. If you impose rules, especially if they are prejudicial, discriminatory, or unjust, you lose the spiritual essence, reducing them to mere politics. Regardless of your intentions or political stance, there is always room for lies and distorted truths. Spirituality should not be coerced, even if it involves believing in God. If someone is forced to believe something, it becomes spiritually hollow. If it is merely politics, it should be openly acknowledged. Territorial disputes remain territorial until religion is intertwined with politics, often making religious conflicts more intense and bloody. We should follow spiritual rules out of love for God, not impose them on atheists, which might be acceptable politically but spiritually misaligned. God is a belief that remains undefined and understood, particularly for an evolving entity like us. If someone is spiritual but does not belong to your group, their connection to God is none of your business. Trying to interfere makes it political.

If you believe that God cannot handle or protect divine matters, you are likely influenced by politics rather than faith. Question why God created humans with an evolutionary nature. If we advance in every other area of life, why not in our understanding of God? Our genetic makeup has evolved, so we should trust that God can handle our progress. There is wisdom in believing that things are meant to be.

In the past, we threw virgins off cliffs to appease God. Today, we address global warming, advocate for human rights, explore Mars, develop vaccines, and avoid archaic practices. We have earned our place on Earth through advancements in genetics and medicine. While we are not in total control due to our ongoing evolution, we should recognize how these advancements occur. If you believe these achievements are without divine help, reconsider. God’s guidance has always been present in our evolution. Some see God as a distant entity, irrelevant to their lives, but if you examine God’s work, you may find answers. Denying divine influence means staying stuck in a zone where questioning and evolving with humanity’s needs is impossible. Conversely, if you think humans accomplish everything alone, consider that we need assistance for basic functions like breathing. Every human achievement follows our breath, beyond our control. Denying God’s role in our progress calls for a renewal of spirituality and faith. If we lacked the 2% genetic difference from chimps, we might still be in the bush, or even sacrificing virgins. Evolving with time means questioning the influence of your politics of belonging, as it can hinder your progress. Embracing spirituality beyond political affiliations and treating others as you would like to be treated helps join humanity rather than dominate it. Overcoming the politics of belonging reveals why, despite our advances, we still struggle with violence, even in the name of God.

If we all focus on our individual spirituality, we can make a difference not only in our lifetime but beyond it as well. Remember, a group cannot mediate between you and God; it is all about your deeds, not who or what you belong to. If belonging to a religion were sufficient, there would be no need for religions to encourage personal improvement. You would simply be granted spiritual benefits by virtue of your membership. It is clearly stated that you must carry your own burdens into the afterlife, so doing good in this life is essential. Religions expect personal effort, not just membership.

Heaven and hell are described as rewards or punishments, which can be likened to a “carrot and stick” approach, useful in training animals. However, as human beings, who possess a spiritual dimension, we should not need such methods to be virtuous. We are capable of self-regulation and require spiritual education rather than mere coercion. I distance myself from group politics that claim exclusivity to God based on membership. If these groups seek to foster goodness, they are placing the responsibility on individuals, which contradicts their claim that those outside their group are condemned regardless of their actions. To me, if God is not political, it does not make sense to argue that others’ salvation is restricted based on group affiliation.

This stance can be seen as prejudicial and discriminatory. If you believe that only members of your religion are destined for heaven, you might be adhering to a belief system that views God as discriminatory. While I respect the privilege of being born into a Muslim household and learning about God and spirituality, I find it problematic if one is taught that only Muslims are destined for heaven. Personal character and reciprocal responsibility are critical. Without these, one’s fate remains uncertain. The essence of spirituality is found in practical actions and personal connection with God.

Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) clearly stated that helping the widows and the helpless is equal to jihad or worshiping all night and fasting all day (Sahih al-Bukhari 5353). Practical actions that help others are central to spirituality, transcending mere rituals and prayers. I believe that converting spirituality into physical actions is essential. If you fulfill your duty of reciprocation and align with your autonomy, you need not worry about your spiritual state, neither in this life nor beyond.

Prayers and worship are personal choices but do not alone convert spirituality into tangible actions. Reciprocation is a duty and a key to spiritual satisfaction. Since miracles are rare, physical action is necessary to contribute to God’s work. If you focus only on prayer and worship without contributing practically, you might question how God helps others. Spiritual entities require physical assistance, and that assistance comes from us.

If you are told that prayer, worship, fasting, and financial contributions alone will guarantee heaven, I would question that belief. Mere obedience, without fulfilling your purpose, is insufficient. If you are taught that your religious practices make you superior to others who do not worship as you do, reconsider your stance. The true spiritual purpose is to offer practical help to those in need, not merely to uphold exclusive religious practices. Believing that God can be used politically or for exclusive purposes is misguided. Your physical help is more meaningful to God than your worship alone. Without practical action, spiritual obedience loses its significance.

Regardless of your beliefs, if your spirituality benefits you while harming others, it is not truly spiritual. If you think that only those who follow your specific practices will be saved, and others will be condemned, this attitude undermines spirituality. Such beliefs are prejudiced and discriminatory, and do not belong in a spiritual context. We must be cautious about assumptions, especially those that project prejudice onto God. If you involve God in discrimination, you stray from true spirituality.

Our old politics has always been and continues to be based on the strength in numbers. If you want more power for your group, ask yourself honestly: does this truly reflect spirituality? Consider how you would feel if you were on the receiving end of your actions. If you stop acting politically, you might enter a more spiritual realm. Otherwise, you risk harming someone physically in favor of your metaphoric reality. When you prioritize your metaphoric and virtual realities over someone else’s physical reality, you not only succumb to political influences but also compromise your personal sense of justice and spirituality. Your personal values are directly connected to your atom of autonomy; straying from them may create internal conflicts.

We are all uniquely designed to evolve constantly and independently, which means our individual and collective knowledge is perpetually incomplete and evolving. No matter how authentic our understanding may be, it cannot be confined to a static box. I firmly believe in direct reciprocation between individuals and God, making the physical reality of human beings the most significant aspect of our spiritual existence. This means that if we are blessed with oxygen and a functioning body, we should ask ourselves what we are doing in return. The importance of being human is reflected in reciprocation, which I view as practical prayers and a real duty. While praying, worshiping, or believing in God religiously should be optional, reciprocation is a duty that should be taught. Even an atheist has a duty to reciprocate to achieve spiritual satisfaction. Without reciprocation, one risks taking without giving back, which can lead to spiritual dissatisfaction, regardless of worshiping, praying, or fasting.

Being aware and alive from within helps us understand our realities. Our evolution requires us to grasp the importance of both our physical and metaphoric realities. Recently, we have added a new dimension—virtual reality—that should not be trivialized or treated like a video game. Today, technology is used to devise new ways to harm others. Life can be confusing if we fail to understand and distinguish between our realities.

If you place your physical reality at the bottom of your priorities, you may continue living, but it is not natural for us, as our realities are intertwined. Our physical reality should be respected and maintained as a priority. For instance, love is a metaphoric reality. When someone dies, their loved ones continue to love them, even though the physical reality has changed drastically. While they cannot see the deceased physically, they can still feel love deeply in their souls.

Our sense of belonging to groups may not be physical, but it can make even the most educated among us act irrationally. It leads people to use religions for political purposes and to politicize justice systems, sometimes committing spiritual crimes such as prejudice and discrimination.

We have been killing each other for ego, pride, and honor. Bravery and sacrifice, though legitimate societal values, are not physical. While we cannot see them physically, their effects are undeniable both individually and collectively. As humans, our lives are more complex than those of other creatures. We must navigate not only our physical reality but also our social and religious traditions, customs, rituals, and societal rules. As we advance spiritually, we begin to question our indoctrinated education. Our mortal nature should teach us to prioritize our physical reality and that of others. This understanding helps us separate and appreciate both our physical and metaphoric realities, such as God, love, compassion, personal justice, and life after death.

If you are taught to ignore these realities and simply follow what your group demands, you are simplifying your life like other creatures, avoiding your responsibilities. This approach would be akin to burying your head in the sand, becoming less evolved. You would be avoiding the pressures of personal autonomy and the responsibilities to understand both your and others’ physical and metaphoric realities. Our lives are not as simple as eating, sleeping, and reproducing; we are not genetically programmed to be mere physical entities. Viewing yourself as such would be demoting yourself to the level of other genetically programmed creatures.

We must critically examine our metaphoric realities, regardless of what we have been taught. Choosing not to do so because of group politics can lead to harming others in the name of metaphoric beliefs, robbing them of their physical reality. Humanity has long engaged in such practices, and it is time for us to evolve individually enough to recognize wrong as wrong. We must respect physical reality over metaphoric constructs. While we have stopped barbaric practices, such as sacrificing virgins, we still harm one another over metaphoric beliefs. If you believe you are right and others are wrong, irrespective of the actual right or wrong, you are likely under the political influence of your group. Remember, we are evolving entities, and we must continue to evolve beyond the politics of belonging to enter an era of equal human rights free from prejudice and discrimination.

For millions of years, whether through religions or the belief system of reincarnation, evolution should have helped us overcome our animal instincts. If we are recycled old souls, shouldn’t our social and spiritual crimes have diminished by now? Clearly, this has not happened. First and foremost, I attribute this failure to our loyalties to the politics of group belonging. Our insecurities, born from political teachings that diminish individual relevance, contribute to this issue. Even our religions have fallen victim to the politics of belonging—or rather, to insecurity.

Religions have preached security, even in the afterlife, yet they have often acted worst when it comes to the politics of belonging. Religious wars have marked some of our bloodiest conflicts. These wars did not only occur during times of conflict; they involved continuous killing driven by political security and relevance. The extent of religiously motivated killings is so vast that it is hard to keep track. And it’s not over; it continues. People react passionately to their belief systems, and religions have exploited this passion, fueling the fire with the blood of their followers.

If we consider the value of the individual, religious groups should value it the most, as God’s work is carried out through physical human beings. Interestingly, they have often valued individuals the least, even when it contradicts spiritual principles. If human beings make spirituality manifest in physical form, how can killing them be in favor of God? God represents our metaphoric reality, and we make God a physical reality for those in need.

Regardless of how it feels to pray or worship, the real business of reciprocation cannot be ignored. Feelings of insignificance, irrelevance, or unimportance stem from the political side of religions, which aims to make individuals feel weak and insecure so they seek security within their groups. However, in spirituality, God is not a political entity. In spiritual practice, no one is treated unjustly, especially when it comes to reciprocation. Therefore, self-respect and self-esteem naturally arise from being spiritual.

Equal human rights are not confined to interactions between individuals; they transcend political boundaries. The role of the individual is crucial in translating spirituality into physical actions, making them central to our realities. If you remove the physicality from even God and the Devil, they become irrelevant because they cannot perform their tasks without physical assistance. Until human beings lend their hands, backs, and shoulders, miracles alone are insufficient. You can choose to believe otherwise, but that would disrupt everything. Without human involvement, everything becomes merely metaphoric, and metaphoric realities need physicality to be relevant. For example, if all that is good belongs to God and all that is bad to the Devil, removing the concepts of good and bad would leave human physicality as a neutral entity. Without human physicality, good and bad cannot exist, as physicality is necessary to measure the benefits or harms of metaphoric realities. In essence, good and bad do not become physical realities without human participation.

Powerful human realities such as love, hate, belief systems, and a sense of belonging to groups, along with related issues like ego, pride, and honor, are undeniable. However, scientifically, we are powerless to fully understand these metaphoric realities as repeatable facts in every individual. The complexities of these metaphoric realities still exceed our scientific knowledge because we do not yet fully understand ourselves.

A Muslim philosopher once said, and I will translate and quote as I read:

“Quote: A professor asked a student, ‘What is bad?’ The student replied, ‘I will tell you later, but first, I must ask you something. Does cold exist?’ The professor answered, ‘Yes.’ The student said, ‘No, cold does not exist; it is merely the absence of heat.’ The student then asked, ‘Does darkness exist?’ The professor replied, ‘Yes.’ The student said, ‘No, darkness does not exist; it is just the absence of light. According to physics, we can study light and heat but not cold and darkness. Bad is similar; it does not exist on its own, but is merely the absence of our faith, love, and total belief in God.’ End quote. This student was Al Barooni.”

As Al Barooni suggests, there is no cold, darkness, or bad—only the absence of heat, light, and divine goodness. Thus, understanding our realities requires logical explanations. If we cannot explain our metaphoric realities, we should at least respect our physical realities over our metaphoric and virtual ones. Our troubles arise when we follow the politics of our groups without questioning them. We may go to extremes without understanding where these extreme views come from, which could be linked to the politics of belonging and related hormonal responses.

I observe people crying, screaming, convulsing, and acting unusually simply by listening to their favorite rock star’s music or celebrating or mourning the performance of their sports team. Why do some people react this way and not others? Hormonal effects are a human reality, but they vary among individuals. If you find yourself reacting excessively, ask yourself why. If your hormones override your logical thinking, you should take your behavior seriously. In human societies, we have laws and order; we are no longer living in the wild. In our urban environment, we cannot let our hormones dictate our daily lives. If everyone lived according to their hormonal responses, chaos would ensue. If you feel overwhelmed, it is crucial to regulate and control your behavior. In today’s society, such control is necessary because we have evolved to live in cities with laws and order. Failing to follow these norms could result in losing control and freedom. We must learn to manage our hormonal and emotional responses and develop a deeper understanding of our metaphoric and physical realities.

Interestingly, when it comes to our hormonal responses, our groups often encourage behaviors that suit their political needs. They may punish you for certain actions in society but, when convenient, they might even send you to commit similar crimes against others. Depending on the politics, you could be praised and awarded as a hero for these actions. Unfortunately, your atom of autonomy is not political and does not acknowledge the politics tied to your group affiliations. According to the concept of the atom of autonomy, you are a free, God-like entity fully responsible for your actions. It is a straightforward spiritual matter, so you must address your internal conflicts personally. Despite how powerful your feelings from perceived and metaphoric realities may be, they cannot take precedence over your own and others’ physical realities.

When your physical reality is threatened by someone’s metaphoric reality, self-defense becomes inevitable. Before you become emotional about your metaphoric realities and potentially infringe on someone else’s physical reality, remember that you are responsible for your actions. This applies even if your actions are justified by race, nation, religion, or even God. Take a moment to reflect, as the responsibility lies with you. If your atom of autonomy does not approve, you will face consequences. Guilt may be a metaphoric reality, but it has real and serious physical effects on our brief mortal lives.

The question then is: where do you stand? If your sense of belonging to a group is strong enough to confuse you to the point of losing your personal identity and understanding of reality, you will fail to see that the crime you commit is the same, whether it is against members of your community or others. If your atom of autonomy is not present within you, you may not feel guilt for your actions.

Understanding this level of awareness is often discouraged by political handlers, so it is your personal responsibility to align your realities properly. Your physical reality should take precedence in your hierarchy of values. Our lack of knowledge prevents us from evolving into God-like spiritual entities, and groups often prefer you to act more like an animal driven by hormonal responses when it comes to the politics of belonging. Our evolving nature calls us to understand ourselves as whole beings, not just as physical entities.

Our spiritual side helps us evolve by gaining deeper insights into ourselves and our realities. Knowing the distinctions between our metaphoric and physical realities is not optional; it is a personal duty. To achieve this understanding, we must transcend political and hormonal influences because we are not mere animals or creatures. We are human beings. While we share bodily functions with other creatures, we are guided by our atom of autonomy, or our spiritual side. As you become spiritually aware, you will begin to question everything, including the politics of group belonging. You may question your race, skin color, gender, and depending on the era of your birth, you might question your nationalism and religion as well.

In today’s era, if you view yourself as superior based on race, color, gender, nation, or religious beliefs, you could be labeled as a bigot, prejudiced, or discriminatory. Failure to align with contemporary values could lead to trouble. In societies where equal human rights are enshrined in law, you must adhere to these laws or face social consequences. If you consider yourself superior, you must justify your beliefs, as according to your physical reality, you are mortal like everyone else. Politically influenced education affects households, and if each household produces bigoted, prejudiced, and discriminatory individuals, the entire community reflects these traits, which political authorities often exploit to maintain control. Our historical group conflicts and wars have relied on individual ignorance to sustain power. As evolving beings, we have moved beyond old political systems, and today’s era emphasizes equal human rights and freedom of speech. Being considered superior is seen as bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination, so strive to avoid such labels and take pride in that.

Consider it this way: according to my metaphoric and simple understanding, we are cells within God’s body. A cell seeking the body cannot exist apart from it. To understand the body as a whole, one must be within it. We have been taught that God is an external entity, so we look for God in the cosmos. Because we cannot see God physically, we make various assumptions—some believe God is all around us and that other cells are part of God’s body, while others think God is outside, and thus, cells must be fought and destroyed. Our physical reality should prompt us to question our existence and the nature of God. Unfortunately, we often fail to recognize God as either an external or internal entity. Imagine humanity as the body with all kinds of cells.

Our reciprocal give-and-take keeps the cycle going: we sustain God, and God sustains us. Everything must function perfectly for both cells and the body to stay alive, so everyone must contribute. If cells die, the body must reproduce them; otherwise, collective survival is at risk. If the body dies, the cells cannot live. Our existence depends on harmony between cells and the body. Despite our evolution, we have not learned from it; we continue to seek God outside ourselves and fail to see God in ourselves and in other human beings.

Our group concepts teach us differently, and we buy into these teachings due to our sense of belonging. Many groups preach that cells are insignificant, which is evident in daily life as the body continues even when individual cells die. The body’s ability to produce new cells makes it the focus, and it is natural for us to prioritize the collective over the individual in our daily politics. However, every individual should be respected for their role in maintaining the body’s vitality. The true value of an individual cell becomes apparent only if all cells die simultaneously, which would also kill the body. Humanity endures because new cells are continually produced. Reproduction relies on cells, and the importance of each cell has been and continues to be undermined by our group politics.

In today’s era of nuclear weapons and mass destruction, the belief in the irrelevance of individual cells is dangerous. A single passionate individual with access to destructive power could trigger catastrophic consequences. Given our history of violence, we risk realizing a predicted day of destruction when all of humanity perishes. What happens to God if the physicality of God is removed? Would God die with us? Would it matter, and to whom? Would heaven and hell hold any significance if we no longer have physical bodies to experience them? The end of physical reality would bring an end to all realities as we know them.