An Incredible Journey: From Religion to Liberation

© 2011 Keith M. Brown. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 4/1/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-7455-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4678-9320-6 (eBook)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

The outset

Religion: definition

My experiences

Trapped and in danger

Ethnicity and religion

West Africa

What colour is God?

Multi-Faith/Unity Strategy

Religion – a saving salvation or weapon of mass destruction?

Liberation

Significant milestones

Bibliography

This book is dedicated to my children, who believe in the concept of self-improvement and continuous learning. Their love and respect over the years have also been a source of encouragement and inspiration in the writing of this book.

Acknowledgements 

Inspiration, encouragement, effort, love and unlimited support are the qualities that I received from Carol Fay, my wife, who worked closely with me from the start of this project to its end. She read every line with critical eyes during the drafting, and tried to be objective as much as possible in her comments.

My thanks also to Minister H. V. Peat for reading through the early draft and offering his critical, but constructive, comments, without attempting to change the message.

Finally, special thanks to Kelly Owen at Ultimate Publishing Services for her editorial input.

Preface 

‘One of the conditions of enlightenment is the willingness to let go of what we thought we knew in order to appreciate what we never dreamed of. We may have to unlearn a great deal about religion before we can move on to new understanding.’

(Karen Armstrong, 2009)

This book is an attempt to provide a glimpse of an incredible journey and the struggle that has been involved in moving away from religious dogma. The journey involved many hurdles, including that of certainty on the part of religion, their leaders and followers. Members who were brave enough to express reservations around its doctrines and teachings were labelled ‘doubters’, ‘weak in faith’ or ‘trouble makers’.

Religious organisations, in their view, do not make mistakes, because God cannot make mistakes. It was, and remains, this type of certainty that impeded and continues to impede open-mindedness, enlightenment and liberty among religious people. This is the very liberty to which many religious leaders would claim we have been called.

The outset 

This book is an attempt to provide a personal view of the effects that religion can and does have on the lives of some people, and the struggle that is involved in trying to liberate one’s self from its control. It has been written purely from a layperson’s perspective, based on personal experiences over a number of years, my observation of the behaviour of those who have been involved in religion, as well as my personal participation from an early age.

I was born and brought up in a religious family. From birth, my parents ensured that I attended church weekly. That custom was re-enforced by daily morning and evening family worship. I was always responsive to the teachings of the church, which was supported by my parents. As a young man, I believed and embraced all the teachings and beliefs of the church/religion. Before I was sixteen years old I never thought for a single moment that the church could be wrong in any way. However, as I grew older and was able to understand more clearly the teachings and beliefs of the church/religion, I began asking questions around aspects with which I was feeling uncomfortable.

After leaving home, I attended two denominational colleges in different countries. They were both excellent centres of learning and the time that I spent within them was unforgettable. However, my questioning did not stop. On the contrary, I continued asking more probing questions and requiring explanations regarding things that I was expected to believe and accept without question.

By then my questions were more subtle, or as some would prefer to say ‘diplomatic’, but they were getting more sensitive. For example, I was asking for clarification around key doctrines with specific reference to the absence of Biblical support. Later, I began to focus my attention on the promotional, managerial and administrational aspects of the church/religion and its overall operation. The situation between me and certain leaders of the church/religion was becoming uncomfortable. They were particularly sensitive regarding issues of doctrine. Yet my concern was not about the correctness of doctrine, because I always felt that people will believe what they think is right, and agree and support the things with which they feel comfortable.

At the very outset it is important for me to state that this book is not about lessons in theology and doctrine. It is purely about my understanding and experience, based on what I was taught, the way I responded and the effects of the power, influence and control of religion and the church.

Although I have been associated mainly with Christianity, I have had the opportunity to visit Hindu and Sikh temples, and shared in their social and ceremonial functions. I have read the Quran, visited and prayed in several Muslim mosques, as well as attended their social and ceremonial functions. I have worked within a small Jewish family company who were ardent followers of their faith, and where their cultural and religious practices could not have been ignored, even by an outsider, albeit one belonging to an Abrahamic faith, as in my case, Christianity. Therefore, it is reasonable to suggest that my experience has not only been related to Christianity and the church.

I must hasten to add, that at no time in my life had I been tempted to study theology, the history of theology, or theology of any form. The fact is, however, religion would seem to be the most powerful and influential force that impacts the lives of people, and in many different ways. It does so with very little or no regard for race, culture, language, economic background, history, or geographical location, hence my interest in the subject.

However, the more I grew and understood the workings of religion, the more questions I was asking, and the fewer answers I was receiving from the authority. As a result, the situation brought about personal frustration, coupled with a desire to achieve religious liberation within my mind. Furthermore, I had witnessed over the years the many and varied ways by which the church/religion impacted the lives of its members, often in a manipulative, intimidating, controlling and dictatorial manner. It is this un-liberating and unreasonable behaviour of the church/religion which has rendered it necessary for me to have undertaken this ‘incredible journey from religion to liberation’.

For easy reference and common understanding, I will offer some definitions for the term religion within the context of the work. Attempt will also be made to examine and discuss the subject of religion, in generality and in my own way. The writer suggests that there are certain similarities among religions, albeit their proclaimed differences. Despite the differences between religions, religious leaders have recognised the importance of ‘unity’ among them, often for the purpose of convenience. That is to say ‘unity’ for the purpose of short-term aims and objectives in the sole interests of each religious organisation, usually their leaders. And from time to time attempts have been made to create an appearance of unity. I have drawn upon a number of stories in which I was personally involved that are relevant to the message in this book, and are helpful illustrations in the process. Although some people will agree that, in the main, religion exists for the good of mankind, for example, to provide a range of good deeds, showing love and kindness to all, quite often religion has done the opposite. Moreover, it is difficult to deny that religion, for all its good intentions and actual deeds, can also be used as a destructive force. Unfortunately, today and not for the first time in history, religion has been used by misguided fanatics as a ‘weapon of mass destruction’ in our world. Therefore, effort needs to be exerted to help ensure that extremes of religion are kept in check.

Religion is far more than a set of theological doctrines and teachings, taken from one or more sacred book(s). Rather, religion has been often influenced by ethnicity and culture in a significant manner. In fact, depending on the type of religion, it could be argued that norms, values, customs, myths, history, language, geographical location and beliefs are also influencing factors that impact religion. I take some comfort in believing that it is possible for individuals to rid themselves of the negative and stifling dogmas of religion/church, and become more attentive and responsive to their own spiritual needs. In doing so, they will be better able to take full responsibility for the management, direction and control of their own minds, and become more independent in their thought processes. The action to which I have alluded here should be regarded as the first duty of stewardship for any intelligent human being. One should then be able to break loose from the power and control under which she/he has been held by religion/church, regardless of the label; be it Islam, Christianity, Judaism, or even under the power and control of Atheism for that matter.

However, I take comfort in believing that it is possible for an individual to put a stop to being intimidated, manipulated, used and abused under the banner of any Supernatural Being, regardless of name by which He/She/It may be called. It is also reassuring to know that one can successfully navigate ‘an incredible journey from religion to liberation’.

Religion: definition 

It is reasonable to suggest that in any society most people will have a basic understanding of the meaning of