Who Flipped My Triangle?

Regardless of hunger and instinct, cannibalism is not prevalent. It has not evolved in most societies, whether discussed openly or in remote areas. Most societies naturally avoid this topic. In this day and age, we have an acceptable level of crime in all human societies. Each level of crime may be slightly different, but no society is crime-free, including religious societies with the harshest punishments, which are also riddled with various crimes.

Despite the crime rate, we have made some progress. My question is, where do you personally stand in this evolving world? How far would you be pushed to break the limits or rules of the group to which you belong, whether it be a social issue or one concerning your religious beliefs? Would you commit a spiritual crime knowing it is wrong? Would you blow yourself up to kill innocent people or bomb a city in the name of your group? In the end, would you resort to cannibalism if you were starving? I have not read or heard news of cannibalism, yet I hear of humans dying of starvation throughout history. Cannibalism is rarely heard of these days; why do you think people don’t kill others for food? They kill each other all the time. What are the reasons behind this? What makes us different from other creatures?

Education. Education. Education.

Interestingly, most societies follow a phenomenon where we don’t kill each other due to our aggressive nature or lack of education but kill each other because of our sense of belonging and politically tainted education. As babies, we don’t discriminate, yet as adults, we can’t stand each other. Growing up with knowledge acquired through education as part of our wish to be better informed about our fellow humans shapes our identity. We wonder why others cannot understand that we will follow a group that encourages us to be informed and make informed decisions regarding other people in our society. We need to assess individually to choose whether to act as a human being in the group to which we belong. Your political identity is what you assume is the same as the groups you have chosen to follow.

To me, knowledge is only knowledge when practiced. Wisdom is about the effects. If we learn to become or accept being human beings, we can overcome our identity crisis. Personal weakness and powerful politics within our groups give us comfort in adhering to our sense of belonging. This forces us to reject the education of opposing groups regardless of the wisdom it contains.

The fundamentals of civilizations are based on education, yet it is not that simple when it comes to the politics of a sense of belonging, evolving nature, or even starvation. Obedience to the rules, respect for law and order, and religious beliefs, including God, are things of a full stomach. A few days of starvation create hallucinations, making this obvious. Regardless of our education, each of us comes with conflicting sides due to the ideas we receive from our group of birth. Despite the strength of our animal side, humans possess an equally strong spiritual side at our core.

Yes, our good and bad are related to our core. Why would God do that to human beings? Why are there bad people, or why do people who are bad become good over time? Common sense comes to mind when people use the human body as an example of humanity.

The first words of wisdom about good and bad are that we would not know the differences if there were no good or bad. I am not certain, but I have read somewhere that the human body consists of ten trillion cells with twenty-six thousand genes. We have a hundred trillion good and bad bacteria with three million genes to keep our body alive. Even bad bacteria, viruses, and parasites are important to keep the immune system in tip-top shape to help the body stay healthy. To appreciate the good in life, individuals must understand that without both, there can be no distinction between bad and good. If we don’t have anything bad like poisons in the body, our immune system is a dead duck, and we will not survive this world full of infections. We have earned the right to live on Earth by surviving infections.

Good and bad can be an opinion of a certain time and era and related to education or understanding. The bad in our gut is actually good if it helps us survive. People in society are like colonies of bacteria working for God or humanity. It may be chaotic if everyone in society is good because there is no gauge to compare good and bad. Bad has its importance for educational purposes, or we don’t understand it at this time. Remember that our past bad behaviors are acceptable as well as the good things today, so an evolving entity can’t be completely sure of their evolving knowledge. It is still a choice for the individual regardless of the era they are born into. When it is established that choosing good or bad comes with a choice, that means there is much more responsibility on the individual’s shoulders than we are taught to believe in religions. You simply can’t hide behind the Devil or God for your good and bad choices. God or Devil don’t come into your decisions because you have been blessed with free will; thus, you individually have to take charge and be responsible for the decisions you make.

Today, we have court systems in most human societies, and the fundamentals of justice are based on individual responsibilities and personal choices. No one disputes free will. Since good and bad are assessed by the popular beliefs of the era you are born into, it becomes problematic when the politics of the group you belong to conflict with the wishes of your fellow individuals.

We may be taught that it is good to commit spiritual crimes for our belonging groups, whether in the name of nationalism or religion. This group may try to convince you that it is not a bad thing to do something bad even though you are acting for the group, including so-called religious groups.

The human individual is a subcontractor to God, so there is no if, and, or but regarding personal responsibilities for all the evolved and educated individuals. The more we evolve, the more responsibilities are placed on our shoulders to live as we must. These are the reasons why, in modern times, religions have taken a hit in popularity. If you choose to act and murder someone innocent of any crime in the name of your religion, you are still responsible for your actions. If it is determined that you did commit this crime, you, not your religious group, will be tried and, if found guilty, punished in a court of law. This could mean many years in jail or the loss of your life.

If you are told or personally believe that God will save you from any court because you have done it for God, you will have a rude awakening on both levels. First, you may get the death penalty, and second, you may lose your belief system because God will not show up to save you. God may say, the reason I gave you free will is to make choices. If you can choose and own the decisions you make, you are using your individual powers. If you do not choose to own your decisions, you are undermining God.

One can blame ideology for being violent, but when it comes to responsibility, it is all about individual responsibility. If it is related to the extreme, it comes from choices made by individuals. Being good or bad has been, is, and will continue to change with time. If your acts of being good are related to the politics of your sense of belonging, they may be tainted with something you perceive. It can be good, but if it is proven to harm innocent human beings, this is a spiritual crime committed by you, the individual.

In this day and age, if you are still living in the past or want everyone else to live in past glory days, you are not paying attention to the changing world around you. If you believe even the leaves of the tree can’t move without God’s will, how can you choose to act independently to extremism and rob someone of their God-given life? If you believe someone’s death by your hands is God’s act, remember the power of the politics of your belonging group over you. Assess your sense of belonging and freedom, and create a balance so you can make a good judgment as an individual blessed with the Godly gift of free will.

You have been blessed with free will by God, not by your belonging groups, for a reason. The free will you have received is a gift from God to use within your belonging group, so think spiritually, not politically.

Both good and bad are usually related to the choices of our animal and human sides. If everyone around us has a larger or dominating animal side, we would naturally follow, which is the norm. Yet, potentially, each of us can use personal choice. As individuals, we make choices but are dependent on the circumstances we face at the time. For instance, natural disasters or acts of God, national or religious conflicts, or serious health conditions will have the power to force us to comply regardless of our free will. I am saying that in the same breath because we need to use our personal politics to survive in a world full of political infections.

God’s wisdom comes into play when you take chances and walk on fresh snow, not knowing what danger may be hidden beneath. The story of life comes from God, but the steps are taken by individuals with free will. Carving pathways is the individual’s choice, which may take sacrifices, but the survival of humanity requires the physical hardship of human individuals. You may have a dotted story line in your life, but you have been given the choice to connect the dots. Remember, we all come into life with a purpose, so God’s work will be done through you.

You may not feel or understand the spiritual path you are on at the beginning of your life, but as you grow and understand, or I should say choose to understand, the value of free will, you will see nature and spirituality clearly.

A while back, I wrote a blog about the fragmented picture which described the importance of finding personal satisfaction in living a mortal life. At the end of the day, each and every one of us comes with a personal and prescribed journey, which makes the learning of free will the most important and valuable lesson for evolution.

Interestingly, as a mass or collectively, we discourage individual independence. Many religions and ideologies even force individuals to stay within their boundaries. Yet, we are continuing to evolve. Without free will given by God, we would not evolve. Every bit of progress made by humanity has been, is, and will be dependent on that one revolutionary individual who comes up with God-inspired ideas.

From religions to ideologies and on to democracies, and everything in between, all have attempted to govern human societies, and they all have a human input. Religions may process God-inspired knowledge, but they may also be brought down by their own human interpretation. Throughout history, humanity has favored mass over the individual in philosophy. Most religious organizations and ideologies have been disrespectful and controlling towards their followers.

Finally, democracies brought in respect for individual equal human rights. When mass is chosen over the individual, regardless of who is right, it leads to group rights violations. Larger and stronger groups often try to dominate smaller and weaker groups, much like they do with their own citizens. In my opinion, this is the root of our group conflicts. Thus, I hope that embracing equal human rights as a new paradigm will not only help individuals but also humanity as a whole to resolve our conflicts.

A respected individual learns to respect not only the group they belong to but also other human beings and groups. This respect can lead humanity to respect each other both individually and collectively, which could be the key to achieving long-awaited peace. With our current capabilities, we have the power and ability to make a deliberate decision to eliminate all our weapons of mass destruction.

While there is no solid evidence that democracy is the solution to all human problems, it has played a crucial role in advancing equal human rights. One notable contribution of democracy is voting, giving citizens the right to vote knowing that one vote equals one voice, regardless of color, gender, race, or religion. Personally, I believe this makes it the best system to govern human societies so far. People are drawn to democracies not only for economic reasons but also for the promise of equal human rights for all citizens. Many who lack these rights may choose to leave their homeland and immigrate to such democratic countries.

Simply accumulating knowledge from books without putting it into practice may make you knowledgeable, but practical living is what truly matters. Religions offer wisdom, but our interpretations are often tainted by politics. Politically tainted religious beliefs are now linked to today’s social problems like prejudice and discrimination. This has placed spiritual aspects of religions in an awkward position as they’ve transitioned from teaching us to be selfless and compassionate beings to embracing politics, abandoning spirituality.

Regardless of authenticity, God and spirituality do not govern because humanity is evolving. Knowledge evolves over time. The bitter truth is that truth cannot be mixed with politics. If combined, you may eventually commit a spiritual offense in the name of God, so it’s better to keep them separate. We are not perfect beings until we reach our full potential, so politics should not dictate our belief systems.

If you disrespect even one individual and feel superior, you are entering the realm of politics. You cannot judge who is going to hell or heaven. That decision lies between the individual and God.

As we evolve, our concepts of good and bad seem to be shifting or becoming blurred. Today, no one wants to be associated with racism, slavery, prejudice, or discrimination; these are increasingly seen as crimes. In our recent past, however, they were trademarks of superiority in both religious and governing systems, actions used by various groups to demonstrate pride.

Kingdoms, dictatorships, authoritarian regimes, and religious governing systems have all disregarded and continue to disregard individual human rights. Thanks to the internet, humanity, a sleeping giant, is waking up with the goal of achieving equal human rights for everyone worldwide. No one should be on the wrong side of history. Democracy’s promotion of equal human rights should be respected because it aligns with God, spirituality, and humanity as a whole. Most other governing systems prioritize the politics of group membership over humanity as a whole.

God and spirituality are universal truths for all of humanity. Religions, if used as political systems, ideologies, and other politically driven security systems, represent our individual and collective truths.

Understanding and seeking security in both God and humanity as a whole is the new paradigm facing resistance, like other contemporary causes of turmoil. You can stick with outdated practices and continue to harm each other, or embrace the new paradigm. The choice is open to all; choose humanity over group membership because we now possess weapons of mass destruction, and our current path is leading toward our extinction.

If someone wants to know me: I can provide my name, my father’s name, my family name, and where I am from. This might seem sufficient for my identity, but it isn’t. These are just the basic layers of my identity! Should I also include my neighborhood, city, province, nation, religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, size, age, or any other detail?

If you delve into genetics and science, you begin to understand that we are all composed of the same fundamental substances—a blend of all the aforementioned characteristics. So, let’s ponder: what are my issues and where do they originate?

What has become of the human beneath all these layers? Well, we’ve become embroiled in an identity crisis. The undeniable truth is that we are all mortal. We require oxygen to breathe and food to sustain us. We are born, we live, and we die. Some suffer from events that similarly affect many of us, impacting others in comparable ways. All of us need love, compassion, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice—as individuals and collectively for all humanity.

Do we behave like turtles, retreating into our shells as if safeguarding Mother Earth from myriad threats? Consider how we collectively and individually react to every social and spiritual transgression committed against us. Are these offenses perpetrated by our fellow human beings? If we were to strip away all man-made political borders and shed all political and sexual identities, we would find a physical world inhabited by genuine human beings capable of uniting.

All political boundaries were and continue to be created in the name of peace. After millions of years of evolution, have these divisions truly brought about the elusive peace? No, they have not. Despite our evolution, our animal instincts remain intact within us. Today’s supposedly evolved human is far more perilous than its predecessors, thus political divisions based on identity can prove fatal for humanity. We may rescue other species from extinction, but through our actions, we are hastening our own demise.

To rid oneself of prejudices, racism, and discrimination, one must shed all societal identities, a task achievable only through universal education. It must be mutual; change must come from both sides—individually and collectively. I say “sides” because it remains an ongoing debate: which holds greater importance, the individual or the collective? When you bring politics into the equation and attempt to sway the masses or your chosen group, many within your group will inevitably reject your ideas. It’s challenging to veer from established societal norms and ideologies. If a society fails to uphold equal human rights, it opens itself to a host of crimes, including spiritual offenses, which ultimately plague the entire group.

The dilemma lies in our reluctance as groups to prevent such crimes, fearing it could spell political suicide. As individuals, we are loath to relinquish the sense of belonging politics affords us. For millennia, we’ve been conditioned to think this way, so transitioning to the next stage of evolution—transforming our security and current belief systems—is an uphill struggle.

To grasp this concept, we must first examine ourselves as individuals. If I were to select a single human attribute and scrutinize its intricacies, would I choose to alter it? I say “known attributes” because our understanding of the human body is still evolving; we don’t possess all the answers. When you introspect, not only does your belief in God deepen, but so too does your respect for fellow individuals. All the known and unknown capabilities of an individual are squandered when one kills or is killed pursuing the politics of group affiliation.

Do we diet to the point of emaciation, sacrificing our health? Such behavior is lamentable, considering our mortality. Homicide and being killed for a cause are commonplace in many societies, all due to the politics of group affiliation we willingly adopt to fit in. Do I strive to impress others within my group to gain acceptance? Seeking admiration and acceptance is linked to our need to belong.

If your sense of belonging is distorted, you must awaken your sense of freedom to align it with your true self, enabling sound decision-making that values your life.

Disliking a slight weight gain while striving for health stems from the pursuit of freedom. Such actions, like starving oneself, are unwise and unhealthy for any functioning individual. Discarding a perfectly healthy body just to conform to group norms is a clear sign of individual weakness. Stand up to your human potential!

As Kabir, the ancient poet, said centuries ago, “The drop is in the ocean, everyone knows; but few know the ocean in the drop.”

Since you’re not merely a drop in the ocean, but the ocean in a drop, dig deep and uncover your God-given potential. Don’t let trends, friends, or the politics of belonging rob you of life’s gifts. After all, you are the subcontractor of the Almighty.

Looking at the societal melting pot, one realizes this transformation is already underway. People are discovering that their core values and God-given identity are simply human. Like a vibrant coral reef with myriad hues, humanity thrives and survives.

Human individuals possess two facets and must balance responsibility between the two. Both our spiritual and physical sides influence our conduct. The physical side craves security, understanding human mortality, while the spiritual side finds security within, connecting to the source.

Extremes are often visible due to our shared humanity. While we yearn for physical experiences, extremes lack spiritual essence in an evolving world. As unfinished beings, we cannot claim omniscience, despite vast knowledge. We continue learning daily, reacting for eons, always claiming complete understanding. This isn’t to belittle anyone, but to highlight our ongoing evolution as individuals.

God bestowed upon us free will, empowering us to make decisions. Some may believe otherwise, but even leaves sway according to God’s will. Look around—do we all move and live like marionettes? Raised in the same family, we grow up to be different, choosing distinct paths, values, thoughts, and levels of dedication in our personal and spiritual lives. Why such diversity? Did God intend for us to be identical? This isn’t to diminish anyone’s knowledge but to foster self-awareness.

If leaves can’t move on their own, how can we think someone can abort a child without God’s will?

We may elevate God, feeling so vulnerable we can’t breathe without oxygen. Yet God does as God wills. With free will, God deputized us as subcontractors—subcontractors to execute God’s work as we choose. Does this enhance your importance as an individual, fostering accountability for your actions?

It’s often said a drug lord aids their community to the point where residents feel obligated to support them, believing their purpose is to safeguard them. But if drugs, harmful to the innocent, are truly understood, would aiding a drug lord be morally right? No! This is a matter of belonging, depriving individuals of personal justice and denying free will. Such actions lead to personal ruin. A destroyed individual cannot serve as God’s subcontractor.

God grants us equal opportunity to be good or bad. Understanding our spiritual compass is vital at every level of humanity. Lacking personal justice, individuals follow and enforce their group’s rules, rituals, traditions, and customs. This subjugates them to the group, not to God. The more one preaches group politics, the less one’s personal value.

Know your worth. You are an ocean in a drop, not a drop in the ocean. Many groups restrict individual greatness, favoring the masses. Yet, the essence of every group is its individuals. Religious beliefs, socialism, and communism often succumb to the politics of belonging, sacrificing individual rights. While we’ve progressed from human sacrifice, when it comes to mass versus individual rights, religions tend to favor the masses.

Equal human rights are a new phenomenon, the most spiritual principle humanity can embrace. Many are indoctrinated to feel good through self-sacrifice, from sleep to starvation to self-harm, common in various religious practices. Yet, it’s universally acknowledged that an active individual contributing to humanity fulfills God’s work. Reciprocity is a part of the contract we all sign with the Contractor, giving and taking, not just giving. Even bees and ants serve their queen but require sustenance. Genetically superior, we understand we’re all queens, thus none should live as worker bees or warrior ants.

Individual security is paramount, evolving from home walls to community, national, and even nuclear barriers, enduring through the ages.

As we’ve placed our faith in the “Big Brother,” securing our homes and walls, we’ve earned some respect. Yet ultimate security remains elusive. We’ve accepted that crime, to some extent, is inevitable in civilized society. Perfection is unattainable; we sometimes sweep our flaws under the rug. We play the blame game, attributing our deeds to the Devil. But no one should hide behind the Devil. We must all assume responsibility, as subcontractors serving as the CEO of our lives, irrespective of our beliefs.

Educating our animal instincts for self-regulation is crucial for social harmony, far more than stringent laws. Fear may elicit compliance, but the inclination to stray lingers once the threat passes. Rehabilitation, not harsh penalties, is the solution.

We need justice and security because not everyone can self-regulate or respect others. As we continue to evolve, we recognize that crime-free societies remain a distant goal. If you seek safety behind walls, consider the cost—not just monetary, but the stress and health issues robbing your quality of life. Given our mortality, we cannot sacrifice our happiness and health. We must respect both our physical and spiritual sides, bestowed upon us by God. Some religions connect rituals with customs like animal sacrifice, but is this necessary in God’s name?

Personally, I believe that our life is a gift from God, meant to be enjoyed in return for reciprocation. This reciprocation is deeply connected to our spiritual side. If you fail to reciprocate, it implies that you take and take without giving in return. This alone is a disrespect to God. Even if you claim to have spiritually subdued your animalistic side and yet do not contribute to God’s work, it must be understood and accepted that this is not the answer. By doing so, you seek validation from those around you rather than fulfilling God’s directives. This stems from your need for acceptance within your group. You may assert inner peace by suppressing your inner animalistic tendencies, but you have not done justice to yourself by sacrificing your physical life for the approval of your group. This extreme action robs you of true inner peace. So, can you genuinely claim to have inner peace?

Seeking to please and impress your belonging group externally may provide some satisfaction, but it does not lead to the inner peace we strive to attain and maintain. Without inner peace, you may unwittingly go against God’s wisdom of reciprocation.

If you find inner peace within yourself, you can embody and achieve spiritual enlightenment. As a spiritual being, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, love, and sacrifice become your virtues. While the spiritual aspects of religions preach these virtues, the politics of belonging often strip individuals of these spiritual treasures.

These virtues are personal spiritual assets that come with the responsibilities of free will. With free will comes responsibility for your actions. You cannot simply hide behind the desires of your belonging group. Why do you think we all possess free will and a sense of freedom? If you choose to act solely for the sake of your group, it has nothing to do with spirituality; it becomes merely about politics, and you are the one accountable for your choice. Thinking that you are not a cog in a machine is incorrect. You may be a small part of a machine, or you may be The Machine itself.

Human beings are inherently driven to evolve, which means that no matter what we have, it will never feel like enough. If money can buy things, then people will relentlessly pursue it, regardless of the lengths they have to go to obtain it. Interestingly, it doesn’t matter what we accumulate during our mortal lives, but rather what we consume during our temporary existence.

In a previous blog titled “Five Bucks,” I discussed how politics within social groups can devalue individuals, leading them to believe in their own insignificance. This belief makes it easier for groups to exert control over individuals.

When you buy into this political narrative, you lose your individual power and value to your social groups. The fear of having no money can drive individuals to commit crimes against their fellow humans or even to worship God. Though these actions are opposite, the driving force behind both is individual insecurity. Social crimes, from robberies to prostitution to murder, are committed out of personal insecurities. Similarly, the development and display of weapons of mass destruction are rooted in our collective insecurities.

On national days, many nations proudly display their weapons to impress or intimidate others, using this as a political tactic.

Our social, political, and religious education often emphasizes individual insignificance and collective strength. Political groups demand more from individuals, yet this contradicts the message that strength lies in numbers. This kind of political education and the accumulation of weapons are linked to collective insecurities. If we continue this way, we are following traditional methods of securing ourselves, which are tied to our animalistic and non-spiritual sides.

Historically, religious wars have been driven by insecurity and the politics of survival. Traditions that favor having more wives and children, regardless of resources, are also politically motivated contributions to groups with higher numbers, again tied to insecurities.

Why do even our religions have insecurities? If they claim that God is with them, why do they impose strict and harsh punishments for even minor social crimes? These punishments are about control. While social control is necessary, if we truly believe in God’s will, what message does strict social control send? It implies that humans have all the control and are solely responsible for their actions, which contradicts the concept of God’s will.

If everyone is totally responsible for their actions, including accidents and natural disasters, where does God’s will fit in? The purpose of a belief system is to help individuals with insecurities so they can live a comfortable mortal life. Strict punishments are about total control, which suggests a lack of belief in God.

Total belief in God is uncommon in most human societies, regardless of religion. Harsh punishments, even the death penalty, are often associated with religious societies. If you believe in “you do the crime, you pay the fine,” it has its merits, but today’s evolving times are changing everything. Past crimes are no longer crimes, and harsh punishments are increasingly seen as crimes themselves because we are learning to prioritize individual human rights. Strength in numbers remains popular, but we are learning not to do to others what we wouldn’t want done to ourselves. Humanity may be losing the politics of religion, but spirituality lives on in all human societies.

When you get a job, you get paid for your work. This reciprocal relationship is a game we all play, but we often forget to be thankful for being alive, which is beyond our control due to our mortality.

I believe in reciprocation and evolution. We need to change with time and use compassion, which is often preached but not always followed by religions. Religions have merits, particularly in their spiritual aspects.

Spirituality has been traded for the politics of belonging, both individually and collectively. In essence, God has been traded for security, and individuals have given their power to social groups. These groups use God’s name to make individuals feel inferior and easier to control. “Who Flipped My Triangle” is based on the idea that the individual is important and not inferior or superior. This makes individuals significant, which is something governing bodies may not like.

As long as we are influenced by the politics of our social groups, we will always feel insecure. This need for security leads to the formation of groups, which brings about politics, bigotry, prejudice, and racism. Religions have value because they have been around for thousands of years. Humans will always have insecurities because of mortality and will always want more. This is why God has been, is, and will continue to be consistent, regardless of our education and evolution, unless we all suddenly become secure in our own skin.

Insecurities are consistent, whether you believe in God or not. The proof lies in the existence of guns and weapons of mass destruction on one hand and more worship than personal effort on the other.

A mortal human will always live with some form of insecurity unless we all have a spiritual belief system that helps us surpass the boundaries of political religions or nationalism. A reasonable plan allows individuals to live a mortal life regardless of the years. A belief system centered around God can be spiritually healthy. Letting go of control is not easy, especially when religions tell you to believe in God and take total control, or else you will be punished or even killed for your actions.

You can personally and individually elevate your mortal life above politically controlling religious traditions, customs, and rules by connecting directly to God through personal reciprocation. Choose to put “com” back into your passion, which has been separated by the politics of belonging, even within religions. Do all the good things preached by the spiritual side of religions. This alone has the potential to bring peace and unity to humanity, something we have longed for for thousands of years. If you can separate the politics of belonging from your belief system, regardless of your religion, you will be able to live comfortably with inner peace in your mortal skin.

Your life is your personal project. God made you the chief executive officer of your life by blessing you with the power of free will. You are in charge of every aspect of your mortal life. If you deeply believe in this, you will set yourself free and self-regulate. You don’t need a carrot-and-stick philosophy to be controlled like animals. You don’t have to fear hell or worship out of greed for heaven or more security and material possessions in this life. If you understand reciprocation, you are doing your job and cannot be punished.

If you are told you have to follow strict rules and be a puppet, it has nothing to do with spirituality. It’s all politics, because your social groups need to control individuals for political purposes.

From God, it’s pure reciprocation and spirituality, nothing else. Without human beings, God is like a ghost town—no one is there to take care of it or give it value.

If you are working and helping other human beings, you are reciprocating with God. From cleaner to astronaut and everything in between, regardless of religious opinions, it is all reciprocation to God. An evolved and strong individual is better at reciprocating with God than a cave dweller.

Our past and present politics want us to grow collectively but not individually, which is why oppressive governing systems and religions have been around for so long.

These days, things are changing rapidly, especially with the internet and instant news. Humanity is at a crossroads and is forced to work together. Extremists and conservatives are fighting for their survival. Protectionism is common, but the majority of humanity has become tolerant and accepts equal human rights for all. We are able to live together regardless of our differences in evolved societies.

Religious extremism is not related to spirituality; it’s politically driven. The spiritual side of religions and most human societies call for compassion, forgiveness, love, and tolerance. Politically driven religious groups rob religion and nations of spirituality and lead them to commit spiritual crimes in the name of God.

In Islam, it is said that killing even one innocent person is equal to killing all of humanity. How many innocent lives have been taken by extreme religious wars? How many humanities have been killed in the name of politics? This is a harsh price for any individual to pay for membership in social groups. Every killer should ask this question before joining and going to extremes in the name of the group they choose to follow. One must take charge and own their God-given free will.

I believe that the meaning of human life is reciprocation—whether with God, your partner, family, or community. Just as a clap requires two hands to make a sound, God without human beings would be like a ghost town. Regardless of the abilities one might possess, they would be of no benefit to anyone and thus hold no value.

Life’s troubles arise when we let our untamed, animalistic dominance traits overshadow our spiritual side. In the animal kingdom, the domination game is constant, but if humans aren’t careful, it can dominate them too.

Dominating others for personal comfort and gain has led to wars throughout history. The politics of personal and collective life often overpower our sense of justice, leading to individual sufferings and perpetual revenge killings.

If everyone could understand our animalistic urge to dominate and become aware of the personal sense of injustice that arises when we attack other groups, we might begin to see where these actions lead. Living a simple mortal life has the potential to create collective peace.

A personal sense of justice is not hard to achieve if you follow two spiritual rules: first, do not do to others what you would not want done to you; and second, walk a mile in another person’s shoes to understand their perspective.

When politics infiltrates a spiritual system like religion, we find excuses to dominate the conquered. From looting to degrading and committing spiritual crimes in the name of religion, these actions contradict the teachings of spirituality. Just look at history and present-day conflicts for proof. This pattern has been consistent, and I hope it doesn’t continue into the future.

If we recognize our belonging to chosen groups and politics continues to guide our actions, we will perpetuate the same behaviors. However, if we emerge as responsible individuals, evolving into a single humanity, we can shed our animalistic behaviors. The difference between other animals and humans boils down to inhibitions. When we let our animal side take over, whether through substances or emotions, we let the animal dominate our actions, preventing spiritual evolution.

The politics of our sense of belonging to groups has damaged religious spirituality. It’s time to separate politics from our sense of belonging and appreciate the true essence of religion—spirituality—which directly connects the individual to God and humanity. If spirituality takes precedence, humanity can unite as a whole. Otherwise, politics will keep us divided.

If we treat each other as working hands of God, we can join together despite our differences. If religions remove the politics of belonging to one group, spirituality will flourish. Otherwise, religions will lose credibility. Today, many nations and religions teach that they are superior to others, fostering prejudice and ignorance, leading to injustice in the name of group loyalty.

Humanity, equal human rights, and equal justice for all are more important than any religious rule, tradition, or ritual because of spirituality. Crossing these lines and respecting the individual as God’s working hand will lead to true spirituality. Otherwise, politics will continue to drive us as it has for thousands of years.

If we don’t change, we face a future filled with weapons of mass destruction. Religious passion can be deadly for humanity and God’s existence. To be spiritual rather than politically religious is essential.

In spirituality, there is no room for injustice. A group cannot violate even one individual’s human rights. Religion’s spiritual side has been compromised to establish a successful political system. If we want true justice, spirituality should be the foundation of all justice systems. Religions or any group-based systems cannot function as governing systems. The best way to address this is to keep religions spiritual and free from political governance.

In a good justice system, the weakest can win against the strongest, embodying spirituality-related justice.

In relationships, politics of domination leads to problems because we no longer live in caves where security was different. Today, we rely on a “big brother” system for security, but it often fails the individual. Politics has always favored the mass over the individual, resulting in injustice for individuals. Since the individual is the essence of humanity, they should be respected and given justice. No one, not even governing powers or religions, should be above the law.

Being mortal makes it crucial for us to take responsibility for our happiness. Reliance on “big brother” has not brought the justice, happiness, and contentment we seek. Increased guns, wars, and related problems like death, depression, and anxiety are more common now than in the past. Unfulfilled expectations lead to personal weaknesses and a lack of belief in personal value.

As individuals, we work with, not for, God or our groups, as reciprocating authorities. This places us on equal footing as subcontractors, not servants. If you carry your load honestly, whether as a partner, family member, community member, or reciprocating to God, you will have less stress and more self-respect and self-esteem. Being comfortable in your skin is closely related to your personal input and sense of justice.

If you receive free oxygen and have good health, your thanksgiving should be more than once a year. Your ability to live is not in your control nor in your family’s, community’s, nation’s, or religion’s control. It is directly connected to the source, or God. Living on Earth, in a chaotic yet organized space, is complex. You have a say, but only after all the complexities align for you personally. If you think you are functioning solely on your own will, just look around and see how vulnerable a mortal being is.

When you believe everything happening in your life is your doing, you miss the importance of personal justice. Educating yourself to avoid situations causing anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues is crucial. It takes away the importance of individual happiness in a mortal life, making us puppets and slaves to our groups because we feel weak, fragile, and insignificant.

We are mortal, so this temporary life should be lived fearlessly, collecting every happy moment. If you must sacrifice your happiness, it should be scrutinized with your personal sense of justice.

I am not preaching selfishness. I am stating that mortality requires spirituality more than political religions. No one should shirk personal responsibilities and hide behind the politics of their group. If individuals do not question their groups, the groups become too strong to be questioned. The story of individual weakness and unfulfilled life begins if you don’t take charge of your life. Do you have a say? Ask yourself this question, and the answer will point to your God-given free will.

Two things are common to all human beings regardless of differences: oxygen and free will. Do you appreciate them? If not, do you believe you are the human being God meant for you to be? Since you are not programmed to be a weak puppet or slave to your groups or even to God, how can you let it happen?

If you are a human being born in this era, you are born with a lot more responsibilities than were required in the past. You don’t have the luxury to hide behind the politics of belonging to your groups. You are the chief executive officer of your life, with a cell phone in your hand that connects you directly to humanity. You can’t claim ignorance about what is going on in the world. This knowledge means you possess a great deal of information and are much more responsible than our ancestors were.

You need to know that equal human rights and the status of being the chief executive of your life go hand in hand. If you don’t want anyone telling you how to think, you must give others the same rights. This awareness can put you in a situation where you are seeking equal human rights but not granting them to others who think differently. Always remember rule number one of spirituality: “Don’t do to anyone what you don’t like done to yourself.” If we all honestly follow this rule as individuals, there would be a lot of inner peace, which can help achieve the elusive world peace as well.

Not only is it a matter of individual responsibility, but it’s also our collective responsibility. Understanding spirituality versus the politics of belonging to our respective groups is a personal responsibility.

If you don’t know how far you are willing to go to the extreme, don’t go to the extreme. Don’t live the way the community you have agreed to follow unless it conforms to the dream you have chosen for your life. Your life, as an individual, is directly between you and God. The proof is that your group can’t save you from illnesses, can’t provide you oxygen, nor can it keep you alive. So choose God and humanity over the politics of belonging to your groups. If your community could save you from all this, then and only then, could you be willing to kill and die for it. Otherwise, seek something bigger than that, and that is God himself.

Your community groups may have ingrained into your mind that they are followers of God and may have told you that they are directly related in some way. Ask them to prove this to you. If you are doing God’s will, would you do anything whatever the community leaders want done? I think not. There is not one religion or any governing system out there that is not political. For example, the Buddhists, who preach to be the most peaceful monks, are killing Rohingya Muslims. Is this what their God asks them to do?

The world has hundreds of societies at different levels of awareness in different areas of life. Some may be good with science and technology but poor in spiritual aspects of sociology. Some may have a great understanding of spirituality but be poor in science and technology. You don’t need to put each other’s knowledge down but should complement each other for being human beings.

It may not look like it, but we are all one organism. We are just like the coral reef at the bottom of the ocean. Regardless of the differences in colors, we all live and die the same way. If one gets hurt and feels the same way, so does the other, thus the same organism.

If something is endangering us in any way, it’s not God-related. It’s our politics of belonging to our groups that is hurting us the most. Even though they may claim they can provide some things for us, our groups can’t provide security from mortality. They are even unable to control the social crimes committed against individuals by the belonging group itself or by its own people. Most of the killings and human rights violations are committed by the belonging groups, not by the bogeyman they are trying to scare you with.

In this era, we have bigger fish to fry. We need to worry about global warming and related problems. We need to understand the ramifications of following our belonging group in the things we are asked to do and how they can affect our lives. We must learn how to set our differences aside and work together as humanity or as an organism. God meant for humanity to constantly evolve to understand the abilities and importance of the human individual. Since we are God’s working hands, our ignorance is not only degrading to human individuals but to God as well. If we keep creating boundaries for political refugees, how are we going to deal with climate or environmental issues that are related to refugees? If we need a bigger heart now, we may need a heart of gold in the future. We will need to be spiritual to deal with the problems that humanity is going to face as the climate turns things upside down. Governments, like Trump’s, will have to learn not only the real science of climate but also all about spirituality.

As an individual, do you have inner peace? If not, it is time to reflect to achieve it. A mortal life without peace lacks the wisdom of living a temporary life. A person with inner peace is able to reflect peace outward and all around themselves. When this inner peace is shared with the surrounding environment, it can spread like an infection, in a good way, especially today through the internet and then onto all of humanity.

The United Nations and its infrastructure are already there, but it has a veto power to block progress. Its veto system is robbing many people and countries of democratic values. Humanity can’t do justice to everyone, nor can it come together under one umbrella as humanity. If a few groups of people can deny justice to certain groups of humanity with the power to veto things they do not like, then, as a whole world, we shall always be divided.

If we as individuals can learn to live with each other on one planet as home, we can learn to deal with real issues such as human survival instead of extinction with nuclear weapons. Our political systems are in the business of sanctions. Through the United Nations, we enforce sanctions against certain nations. All it does is make the human individual suffer. We seem to think it is to make the group bow down to pressure, but it doesn’t work other than to spread the sufferings of the human individual. This often strengthens the resolve of individuals to stick with the politics of the group they follow. If we spread the idea that free education for the world’s populations will enhance individuals, and with this newfound knowledge, they can move forward in a positive manner to make life better for all humankind. Education for all is the key if individuals learn to self-regulate.

If individual suffering is related to the politics of the groups we belong to, the individual should be aware of it. If the individual is not educated, it should be the responsibility of the United Nations to spread education for free. This free knowledge can help people understand the need to belong to humanity as a whole. The United Nations has failed against the politics of belonging because of the biased policies of the veto system. If individuals are educated with equal human rights and a sense of justice, it can bring changes from the bottom up instead of the top down.

The democracy-preaching nations should look deep into their policies and see if they are really preaching democracy. Look at the United Nations—is it effective democracy? The United States of America went to Iraq, disregarding the will of the United Nations, which had voted not to send troops to Iraq. The United Nations can be an impotent organization when it comes to real democratic values, but using the veto system is not democratic. We need to have educated human beings run the show, but working against individuals’ human rights and causes. Instead of preventing wars, the United Nations is political regardless of education, so the knowledge of the politics of belonging should be critically examined. That is why, regardless of the level of education, people are still identifying themselves as Muslims, Christians, Jews, Black, White, Brown, Yellow, Red, Indian, Pakistani, American, Canadian, Gay, Straight, or any other gender-based identity. A human being is what we are before all the above categories of people.

We need education that brings individuals to think above and beyond the politics of belonging to a group of human beings. It is already happening; just look into the melting pot societies. For example, people can learn to live together under the umbrella of one government regardless of color, gender, nation, or religion. So why is this happening? They understand that humanity is one organism.

If our good and bad are related to God and the Devil, it is actually related to human beings using politics to hide their good and bad actions behind God and the Devil. This makes the human individual insignificant. This insignificance is not created by God. It is related to the politics of belonging to our groups, and yes, it is not just running into our communities; it goes all the way up to nationalism and our religions as well. We need to know the real reason why each and every one of us is capable of using free will, regardless of our level of education. The importance of the individual having free will is a wisdom of God himself. Before making choices, we all need to know the personal responsibilities we acquired when we were blessed with free will.

All the best of spirituality needs physicality to be effective, so the importance of the human individual can’t be underestimated. It is the end of the year 2017, so let’s learn to be important from now on and let us own our actions as individuals instead of hiding behind God and the Devil. We must do this not only individually but as groups so we can become peaceful human individuals and humanity as well.

The disposal of human bodies has always been closely linked to our religious rituals, traditions, and customs. Some cultures bury their dead in cloth or caskets, while others practice cremation, and some even take their deceased to the mountains to be consumed by wildlife. Why is there such a variety of practices when we are all human beings made of the same carbon, genetics, and connections to humanity and God?

From birth, we are universally given a name, but when we die, that name is no longer used to refer to us. The body is then called a corpse or a dead body because the soul is no longer present. The question of what happens to the soul after death is not our focus here; instead, we are concerned with what happens to the body.

Unlike any other creature on Earth, human beings are not recycled in nature. Not only do we fail to recycle, but we also claim a piece of land long after death, while living humans remain homeless. This points to a significant disconnect in our societal systems.

I believe we need to evolve to address our modern problems. Regardless of traditions, customs, or rituals, we must adapt to changing times. If we were to bury bodies deep in farmland or forests, nature would recycle them. Cremation might be an easier and faster solution, but recycling could benefit future generations and the Earth, similar to how fossil fuels, derived from the oil of plants and dead creatures, have sustained us.

Having a grave to visit a loved one or adhering to religious rituals is one thing, but the rapidly changing realities of the world are another. Emotional satisfaction for immediate loved ones is important, but a tombstone dating back hundreds or thousands of years is a different matter. Should we continue practices unchanged for thousands of years, or should we evolve with the times?

I believe in respecting our past but in evolving with changing times even more. Discussing dead loved ones is a sensitive and emotional topic. However, if we have living homeless people while the dead who died hundreds of years ago still occupy land, it is not ethical for society. What about our dead religious leaders and their tombs? Should we change and destroy all that?

The world evolves at varying speeds. For some, it is too fast, and for others, too slow. It is neither; we must continue evolving respectfully. When something no longer makes sense or causes problems in modern life, it is time to move forward.

We see people fighting over past monuments, changing street names, or even team names because they have become offensive. We witness inappropriate sexual behaviors out in the open, reflecting societal changes rapidly enough to spin one’s head. Living homelessness is a worse problem than any burial system. I am not against respecting the dead, but I would rather remember my loved one by giving money to the poor or feeding the hungry in their name instead of visiting a graveyard.

If you argue that dead bodies should not be buried in farmland due to disease fears, consider where our sewer systems end up. Our waste, and who knows what else, is in our fertilizers. People used to live an average of thirty-eight years, but today, despite wars and drug interactions, average life expectancy has more than doubled. Our food is grown over our waste, yet we are still evolving. Scientists predict that life expectancy will rise even further in the near future.

This evolution is not happening on its own; without human intervention, we would still be living in caves and bushes. Ideas of age extension are related to human imagination. While God’s will is with humanity, religions alone cannot change mortality, provide oxygen, or stop natural disasters.

From throwing virgins off cliffs to opposing life-saving blood transfusions and sending young people to kill and be killed in the name of God, these actions do not add years to our lives. While their teachings have elevated us from savages to human beings, the political aspects of religion have also caused setbacks. The damage caused by religious politics often outweighs the good they have done by hindering human evolution or opposing it. The scientific community has a similar history; drugs save lives but have also caused harm.

We must not prioritize the knowledge of humanity over the importance of living individuals. All religions are based on human knowledge, but none is as important as a living individual, who embodies the physicality of spirituality. Why do our traditions, customs, and religious rituals matter more than living beings? The hypocritical policies of religions and scientific communities often undermine the existence of God from both sides.

Religious people play the role of God, punishing and killing others in His name. When you believe in God, you need to understand His will, your personal free will, and the politically tainted will of your belonging groups. Only then can you appreciate the importance of loving humanity and other individuals as yourself.

All human knowledge, whether scientific or religious, guides us to be good human beings. However, our sense of belonging often leads us astray. Data can never become a computer, and a human being is not data. Personal justice, equal human rights, love, compassion, forgiveness, and the desire and ability to help the needy are the hard facts of humanity. These are your personal jewels to wear. If your guidelines strip you of these jewels, you must learn more about the politics of belonging. Even if promised the world or heaven, without your jewels, you may end up in a living hell.

I believe our evolution with time is imperative. Any group that hinders, blocks, or stands against it is opposing God’s will, regardless of their belief system. Your personal spirituality should guide you to be a good person, regardless of your belonging groups. Whether a scientist or a religious fanatic, you must understand that your jewels are tied to your spiritual side. At the end of the day, the politics of belonging tells you that your good is bad and their bad is good.

A scientist may kill millions for political reasons, or a religious extremist may kill or be killed, both having nothing to do with spirituality. The politics of belonging is the main culprit of war-related killings, going against personal justice and ethics. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

We all have a built-in personal free will and sense of justice, but we are often influenced by the politically discriminatory data of our belonging groups. By using your God-given free will and sense of justice, you will naturally learn to belong to humanity as a whole. Otherwise, you may sell your soul to the devil in the name of God.

If you don’t follow what is natural for you, it’s not intellectual. As human beings, we are intertwined with physical nature, like other creatures, and at the same time, we are blessed with God-like spirituality. The ability to bring spirituality into physical form sets humans apart. Doing good comes naturally to humans because of the spiritual entity within. However, the awareness of mortality can throw us off balance. Some find wisdom and happiness despite their mortality, while others ignore it and live as if they are permanent. When the time comes to face aging or death, anxiety sets in. Learning to embrace aging before it happens can help accumulate happiness regardless of mortality. Both natural urges and wisdom can pull us in different directions, but we can create balance.

If you follow only intellect, you may lose more than you should as a mortal. It’s a bittersweet pill to swallow if you follow today’s trends, friends, or causes, knowing you have limited time.

Today’s news is filled with stories of sexual abuse. A bad apple is a bad apple, regardless of gender, and should be addressed as a human rights issue. The desire to curb aggressive male behavior might compel Western cultures to reconsider the old Eastern arranged marriage system. I’m not advocating for one system over another; I embrace human evolution and change rather than sticking to the past. Religious values with prejudice and discrimination are in the past.

If a male feels he must suppress his natural behavior, what role does he take? Should females become the aggressors? The population will adapt to changes. Historically, strong alpha males had multiple partners, while beta males went without. As we evolved intellectually, we adopted monogamous family structures, considered civilized worldwide. Some religions allow multiple partners, but these exceptions are not exclusive to any one religion. A Christian sect leader is currently in jail for having multiple wives and children. We will always change as we experiment with our species’ evolution. The question is, are these changes right, and what are their side effects?

I support spirituality and evolution, but I am also one hundred percent in favor of equal human rights, regardless of the cost.

Humans have a body and brain. But who or what runs the brain? I believe it is “You,” the entity that runs both the body and brain. Since the brain is full of data installed by society, our social group expects it to follow societal rules. This entity is not male or female but makes decisions based on installed knowledge. Gender is data, not the being itself, and identity depends on societal stereotypes. Weaker individuals who rely on society to make rules may face confusion. This entity, the chief executive officer of one’s life, may have a male, female, or gender-neutral name.

A stroke survivor or an elderly person can tell you about living with all three entities: the body, brain, and self. When the brain and body are out of sync, the individual entity must create balance to be happy. Without this balance, life becomes difficult and increasingly unhappy.

Being labeled male or female is due to genetics and hormones, not the entity within. These hormones dictate natural inclinations. It’s said that males are aggressive pursuers, while females like to be pursued. Changing this natural order can cause inner turmoil, regardless of gender.

I see the side effects in males returning from war, who may come back with mental health issues that affect anxiety and depression in females.

If you are a beta male or female and expected to drive your life, you might need alpha help to avoid stress. As social creatures, humans live together, and societal trends can cause harmful side effects for individuals and the group. Societies should care about these issues and provide positive solutions.

These are interesting times. I wonder what the future holds with the gender rift. Abstinence promoted by religions has not improved social settings. Some priests have abused boys and hidden their crimes. These changes will affect society with many side effects, and only time will tell who pays the price. Both sexes are already paying by suppressing nature in favor of evolving times. We need to understand both our nature and how we evolve. Mortality places great responsibility on individuals. As temporary beings, it’s not wise to go against nature. Adopting social changes has always been optional for individuals, which is why some still follow old religious rules. Governments sometimes struggle to balance evolving social needs with religious freedom, making it difficult to navigate these issues. Despite increased attention to sexual abuse, the impact on religious abusers has waned over time. Will this trend continue? If so, both sexes will pay the price. A lack of trust among genders is not good for society.

Unlike individuals, society as an entity lives beyond individual lifetimes, so human rights must be respected. Forcing rules on mortals leads to deviance and disobedience when they have nothing to lose, which is why no society is crime-free. Blindly following social trends can cost you personally. Remember, you are the chief executive officer of your life, responsible for your mortal experience.

Eastern cultures arrange marriages for young couples, while Western cultures look down on this practice. Which is right for individuals and society? In the West, you search for a mate, risking failure in meeting the right person. Would you prefer your family to choose your mate? What if everyone, including yourself, is emotionally injured? Is anyone honest and trustworthy? Is this healthy? Despite potential issues, I am an eternal optimist. We must navigate social trends and make decisions with mortality in mind. Social trends, friends, and causes should not ruin your mortal life experience.

Exercise routines and religions share many commonalities. We follow them in similar ways. For instance, we seek structure to believe in and follow, allowing us to experience a sense of belonging. This means someone has to be a guide and provide that structure, because we often feel inadequate—not only due to our belonging groups but also because of our own self-doubt. We don’t believe we can be directly connected to the source. We’ve been told that we’re not worthy to approach God directly, yet we are the ones with free will, who decide and choose our paths.

Belonging groups typically don’t have a say in the decisions of the individual who is the chief executive officer of their life, unless that person has fully bought into the politics of the group. It is up to you to decide whether to change according to the times. Belonging groups often follow the agendas set by political powers.

If you believe your exercise routine is the best, you might automatically think that others’ routines are inferior, regardless of their progress. This bias is connected to the politics of belonging, which is tied to personal loyalties, ego, pride, and honor. You wouldn’t even know this if you weren’t taught by your belonging groups. I prefer to keep my eyes open to observe others’ progress, recognizing the politics of my sense of belonging. If I notice unfairness within myself, I remain open to learning, regardless of my accumulation of logical knowledge. Logic tells us that we only evolve if we seek growth; otherwise, we get stuck in a mindset where we believe our way of living is better than others’, breeding prejudice and discrimination.

There’s nothing wrong with following a set of rules to reach your goals. For example, all sports have coaches who create routines for individuals to follow and progress. These coaches often believe that what worked for them will work for everyone. They start to believe they can help others by making them follow the same methods. Regardless of the routine, people or athletes develop, compete, and win all over the world. When you look at the fundamentals of development, some basics apply. It always comes down to desire, drive, and genetics.

While achieving excellence requires further details like repeated and exhausting practice sessions, proper nutrition, and adequate recuperation, I won’t delve into those details because this blog is about spirituality. But even metaphorically, the connection is clear.

Let’s consider religions, ideologies, democracy, and all forms of governance—they all require people, and my logic says that any group of people will inevitably involve politics. When you mix politics with governance, anything goes. From character assassination to physical assassination and everything in between, it’s all fair game in the quest for political power. Whether ethical or not, false promises and manipulating people’s emotions are all acceptable in politics. An educated but emotional individual can often be persuaded to vote against their personal beliefs.

Do you really think this should be acceptable in the spiritual world of God or even in your personal sense of justice?

Personally, I believe all religions should be free from politics, even when it relates to a sense of belonging. Since religions are, and should be, connected to our spirituality, they should focus solely on spirituality and leave political issues to the politicians. As times change, we need to evolve to meet the challenges of an evolving world. Clinging to the glories of the past can disconnect us from the realities of the present.

When you bring politics into religion, you harm both. You may gain power, but it comes at a price. Injustice, prejudice, and discrimination are prevalent in most, if not all, religions. How can these imperfections and insecurities infiltrate our spiritual world?

It all depends on individual strength. If we are weak, we will not only allow it to happen but willingly participate. Any system that tramples on equal human rights is based on these three flaws. Religion or not, a spiritually aware individual with a personal sense of justice will always advocate for equal human rights. A religious system—or any justice system, for that matter—that lacks equal justice is impotent, especially if we start to think our routine is better than others, yet others can still outperform us. This ignorance cannot be addressed collectively because we all have a politics of belonging to our groups, making it an issue tied to individual justice.

Since every human being—regardless of color, gender, nationality, or religion—is equal in the eyes of God, I believe in standing up for equal human rights. I believe in the spiritual rule number one: “Don’t do to anyone what you wouldn’t want done to you.” This spiritual rule should apply not only at the personal level but should also be fundamental to all religions, ideologies, democracies, and any other governing systems. It should rise above the personal politics of belonging to specific groups. If you keep this principle in mind, both personally and collectively, you will be blessed with internal and external peace.

A sense of justice for all depends on how you feel inside or how you were taught to feel. If you were taught to feel superior to others, you need to consider your mortality as a mortal being. That realization should automatically humble you. If you still feel superior, you need to find a spirituality that aligns with a personal sense of justice. If you can’t achieve that, you are a victim of out-of-control politics tied to your belonging group, to the point where you have lost the meaning of having God-given free will and a personal sense of justice. Not only are you unable to use your free will, but you are also denying your direct connection to God. It is time for you to seek belonging in humanity as a whole.

We are all equally blessed with free will directly from God. If you follow the politics of your belonging group without examining it through your personal sense of justice, you are undermining God himself. You have surrendered your powers to your belonging group instead.

Always remember, we are human beings, not worker bees or warrior ants; they are genetically programmed. We are more advanced than cats and dogs because we can self-regulate without the carrot-and-stick approach. Human beings have free will and always have a choice. If you choose to follow a particular routine, do so—you may benefit from it. However, remember that there are many routines to follow. Believing that your routine is the best and that you are the best may give you a politically inflated sense of self-esteem, but spiritually, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re achieving anything.

If you harm others by adhering to your routine or set of rules, you’re missing the point. Worshiping and harming the same entity makes no sense to me—it would be akin to a Hindu killing a cow. Most, if not all, religions emphasize that helping the needy is crucial to being a good person in God’s eyes. Yet, we see that religions often create needs rather than addressing them. Seeking spirituality in today’s politically driven religions is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Nowadays, many still try to control you by threatening hell and judgment, using fear to maintain power.

A mortal should never fear mortality, as it doesn’t change the facts of life and death. Fear-based politics have been and continue to be used to control the general population. Politics, whether from religions or other governing systems, often resorts to terror tactics and heavy-handed responses, which haven’t changed and likely won’t change in the future. Spiritual and social crimes are present in all societies, regardless of their governing systems. Religious societies are not exempt from crime either, so what should we do? Education helps individuals self-regulate—perhaps not perfectly, but it’s better than fear-based control.

If you feel superior because you follow or belong to a certain race, nation, religion, or strictly adhere to religious texts, ask yourself why you still live like everyone else. You need oxygen, water, and food, you get sick, age, and die just like everyone else. What makes you superior? Is it your worship of God? God values your spiritual intentions and actions to fulfill the needs of others, not mere worship without deeds. If you harm others who are helping God’s work, what is your real contribution? Should God reserve a spot in heaven for you?

You must think for yourself with a personal sense of justice because your belonging group has a political agenda aimed at gaining power in this world, not the next. Unfortunately, it is often you, as an individual, who either robs someone of life or sacrifices your own life for the political power of your religious group.

Political religions are devoid of true spirituality because our ongoing conflicts over who is right demonstrate our ignorance and rejection of God’s will. A spiritual being believes in God’s will, yet many religious people support harsh punishments, the death penalty, and killing those who disagree with their belief system. Where does God’s will fit in? We readily accept natural disasters as God’s will but question it when it comes to human actions. Remember, it was religious people who threw virgins off cliffs during natural disasters.

On a personal level, with your free will and sense of justice, where you are directly connected to God, you should be aware of the politics within your belonging groups. Understanding this will reveal that your path to God requires some fundamental elements: desire, drive, and genetics.

1. Desire: Help others because it fulfills the reciprocal meaning of a human life. It’s not about praying to God, but about helping God fulfill the prayers of other people.
2. Drive: Use your free will with a sense of justice, even if it means standing against your own group when they commit spiritual crimes.
3. Genetics: Recognize that you are not a worker bee, a warrior ant, or a creature controlled by a carrot-and-stick philosophy.

This approach has contributed to the declining popularity of religious institutions because humans are not like other creatures. Training an animal is one thing; dealing with a problem-solving brain is another. If you continue to treat humans like animals, you will eventually face a reaction. Religious authority is waning worldwide, and democracy with equal human rights is becoming the preferred form of governance today.

As a young boy, I read a story called “The Golden Egg,” which conveyed the idea that we humans could use this tale to learn about greed and stupidity. The story was one of many that are part of Aesop’s Fables, numbered 87 in the Perry Index.

A man discovered a chicken that laid a golden egg every day, making him increasingly wealthy. One day, someone asked him, “Do you know where those eggs are coming from? Why not find out so you can get them all at once instead of one by one?” The chicken was killed, and consequently, he received no more eggs.

Whether out of curiosity, greed, or stupidity, he lost all the golden eggs by killing the chicken.

Looking at today’s world, nothing has changed from the past because we continue to kill each other and fight over whose God is the true God of all humanity. Where is God? Does God reside somewhere in space or within each human individual?

Did God create the universe, or did human beings and all creatures create God? Did human beings invent God merely to control their fellow humans? Does anyone possess enough brainpower to answer these questions?

Could it be that many, if not most, issues concerning God remain unresolved due to our limited use of brainpower? We refuse and are unwilling to attempt to comprehend why we have been and continue to kill each other in the name of the God we worship. We are told that God exists, but we have no evidence, as we have never seen God, hell, or heaven in our lives. There are countless versions of religious stories about “God,” and humans have made movies attempting to persuade us of what they want us to believe. The real realities are our animalistic or egotistical wars with so-called evidence. Footage can be seen, but it cannot explain in concrete terms what we are fighting over.

As we delve into these answers with our limited brainpower, are we finding facts or succumbing to egotistical extremes? Should we keep the basic fundamentals in view?

Just because you are born into a family with specific religious beliefs does not mean you cease to be a human being first. All humans are human beings first. Individually, it also does not mean you lack free will to be an autonomous individual. If you are uncertain about yourself, it is your responsibility to learn about yourself and your religious beliefs before being willing to kill someone you do not even know. If you do not know God or the person you are willing to kill, why are you prepared to do so in God’s name? Where do you stand as a human being, and where does your free will fit in?

We must remember that the human individual is capable of expressing themselves as possessing spiritual and physical knowledge. Physically, we function to perform God’s spiritual work while alive. We cannot expect to live or survive without the spirit within us.

This free-spirited entity can be disastrous for socialism and communism if fully liberated. Many, though not all, of our governing systems, including religions, socialism, or communism, call for our governing systems to regulate and control their citizens. This begins to clash with individual free will, and extremists exploit individuals’ weaknesses for political gain. This resulted in certain societies where so-called religious leaders became leaders of both the religious groups and government. These leaders then had their own agendas. Their political interests superseded humanity’s interests and became the foundation of our wars. The core conflict lies between individualism and communism, socialism, and religions. It seems easier and simpler to control individuals and compel them to sacrifice their lives for the groups they follow. Is this a just system? If not, it is closer to politics and far from spirituality.

Not only is it extreme, but it also violates individual human rights. It is the individual who is mortal. They have a temporary life with reciprocal responsibilities and thus deserve a decent life for themselves and others. Genetically, we are not like bees or ants, yet the groups we choose to follow expect us to live that way. If you start living for yourself, you are told it is wrong, so what is right? Equal human rights, even against the masses, is the right path. The politics of religion or any idea used by a group to divert us from our core beliefs should be avoided. The mortality of the individual is a reality, so leaning towards either extreme is wrong for the individual. Balance is necessary for individuals to do the right thing. Living with reciprocity relates to this balance, even with God.

Simply put, a person with personal interests would prioritize their group’s politics over humanity’s interests as a whole. Look at our political party agendas, catering to specific segments of populations. Interestingly, opposing parties come into power and out again, yet things do not seem to change for the individual.

Delving deeper and finding the truth could help find solutions, but we never seem to reach them due to the politics of the groups we belong to. From childhood, we are taught to identify ourselves by our religion, nationality, race, or any other group. However, we fail to relate to humanity as a whole. This may be why we remain stuck in group politics, even though by nature, we are constantly called to be human and unite as humanity.

All the recent issues humanity faces are related to human suffering and the problems facing humanity. Issues like global warming and the immediate news and solutions to our problems are being addressed. This information is so readily available that it transcends the political lines drawn by global society.

The International Space Station and the internet are products of new technologies, all pointing to humanity’s need to collaborate.

If one believes they can live quietly in a corner safely guarded by their group, they are mistaken. You must evolve with others and adapt to changing times because everyone will be affected, regardless of where they live. Weather extremes, rising oceans, and floods do not recognize political boundaries.

Scientists still lack clear answers as they continue learning new things daily. Therefore, they should not claim to know everything.

Most religious people still ignore scientific discoveries. Some religions cannot even agree on lunar-related holidays, despite space station research disproving these beliefs for many years. Many religions refuse to accept scientific findings agreed upon by most nations. The problem lies in our unwillingness to blend science and religion while openly combining politics and religion to sway public opinion for political gain.

We have drugs like insulin that can save lives or water connections for drylands to increase crop yields. Should we allow these to be used, or do we declare them forbidden by our God and let those who follow other beliefs die? Whether food, water for the starving, animals, plants, or modern technology and scientific inventions, all contribute to spirituality if they help humanity evolve, regardless of origin.

One Islamic teaching says, “If your neighbor sleeps hungry, your food is not kosher or halal for you to eat.” This example illustrates the spiritual essence, yet consider it differently. You can drop a nuclear bomb and kill hundreds of thousands instantly, with millions more affected by the aftermath. This is our scientific knowledge, coupled with ongoing religious wars whose death toll due to religious differences is immeasurable. If you live on Earth, all humans are your neighbors. We even refer to distant planets as neighboring planets but not the humans beyond our self-imposed political boundaries.

Both science and religion claim they are beneficial for humanity, but I disagree unless they acknowledge the harm caused to individuals. Drug interactions kill, and we blame disease or aging. We use scientifically advanced conventional and chemical weapons in wars to kill other humans. There is no way to determine the number of individual victims of science and religion.

In my opinion, all human knowledge should advance humanity’s well-being, benefiting individuals and society as a whole. Our group’s politics cause our knowledge to harm some and benefit others, so it is not spiritual. We struggle to advance in social aspects, but our group politics distract us from personal justice. This means we may progress in certain areas of life but regress in others. By now, we should coexist without discrimination and prejudice, yet it is not yet a reality. Since religions do not allow us to evolve and respect individual human life to resolve our differences, we continue to act like animals but in the name of God.

Personally, I believe God physically resides within humanity, allowing each of us to perform God’s physical work. Should we still believe in God and commit spiritual crimes against innocent individuals?

Returning to the chicken, I see the human individual as the chicken laying a golden egg every day. Seeking the egg and egotistically killing the chicken mirrors this scenario. If we persist in killing human individuals despite our scientific discoveries, we will end up with a ghost town called “Earth.” In this ghost town, even God would be meaningless to anyone. This is not curiosity or greed but a spiritual crime.

If you kill a human individual in the name of science or religion, you are killing the chicken laying golden eggs. Ask yourself, “Are you driven by greed or plain stupidity? You have the power to help humanity, yet you choose to kill each other instead. Have you ever wondered why? What does this mean to you? Would you like to know as an individual or group? Seek answers and you will reach the politics of your group’s sense of belonging.

Ego, pride, and honor stem from here, so you can remain ensnared in religious and nationalistic discrimination and prejudice. Choose your political extreme and commit spiritual crimes against human individuals, or exercise your free will to seek personal justice and promote equal human rights.

Do not kill the chicken to discover where the golden eggs come from. Whether you are a scientist or religious fanatic, if you assume you know everything, why are you learning new things every day? Why is humanity advancing in all other areas of life?

If you seek proof, observe everyone today holding an ever-evolving cell phone.

Whether or not there is a God, it is the human individual laying a new golden egg every day through evolving knowledge.

Killing this chicken results in emotional loss, hindering our internal evolution towards becoming loving human beings. You may possess vast knowledge in other aspects of life, but succumbing to group politics robs you of personal justice—you must take control. If you allow this, your knowledge lacks wisdom and spirituality. You are merely an extension of an ideology, yet blessed with free will, like everyone else.

If a scientist or religious scholar removes the politics of belonging, they can become humble and respect others. The deeper you dig to find the origin of the eggs, the more you realize how little you know.

All our wars stem from group politics, so assuming the role of CEO of your life and belonging to humanity as a whole reveals why you were blessed with free will and its associated responsibilities.

Our religious scholars and scientists argue within their limited knowledge. Emotions and passion blind them to their limited use of brainpower.

These religious scholars strive to kill the chicken to find the golden egg. When they fail, they resort to egotistical assumptions and opinions. These egotistical opinions have stripped spirituality from religions, while science has lost its purpose of benefiting humanity, using knowledge to dominate less advanced nations.

All human knowledge should serve humanity’s betterment and benefit individuals and society as a whole. Our individual weaknesses have empowered group politics, resulting in our knowledge harming some and benefiting others—it is not spiritual. We struggle to progress socially, yet our group politics divert us from personal justice. As we become aware, we see social regression alongside technological progress and weapons of mass destruction. Consider where we are heading—you can draw your own conclusions. There are many paths; it is up to you to choose.

I know the direction I will choose.