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AFTER RELIGION COMES BELIEF

I have always been attracted to peoples minds, this is why I like books. I believe when you read a book fiction or otherwise, you get a peep into the mind of the author, he or she presents himself within the pages, within the writings. His thoughts, his essence radiates off the pages and a reader such as myself looks to see who the author is, based upon his writings. I see now, looking back, why the Holy Bible is so interesting as an history book. With all its tales and prophets of old. When I practiced Christianity, I loved to read the Bible, and I have even read the Koran, this led me to study other religious texts, I became fascinated with God and all he was. I then found out the there were books taken out of the bible and so I went on the hunt for them, I found the Apocrypha, and the Gnostic texts, which were truly fascinating, I found the Maccabees scriptures and was introduced to Judas Maccabeus there, I read the story of the woman who watched her seven sons die for refusing to eat the pig, 2nd Macabees Chapter 7. I even found the book of Judas, and realized that Jesus chose him to hand him over (Judas being more awake than the other disciples, he was the only one who understood Jesus’s message)), not as how it is told in the the regular bible  which described him as a betrayer.

I read so much, It even led me to begin studying people and also most especially my race, this was all from reading and trying to understand God, religion, myself, the world, its inhabitants, this became almost an obsession. There came a time when I woke up to my spirituality, I woke up to me and who I am. When this happened, I began to see the world differently, eventually I moved away from the Church, religion, (Initiation was also apart of it). I began to search for God in nature, and I found it. Often times I ponder on religion and my time “wasted”, ( it was not a waste, I had to go through that) there.

“What is the point of religion I once asked my son, the quiet one I wrote about the other day, he said “Mommy, some people just need to believe, they need something to believe in”.This is so true, because at one time in my life, my religion (Christianity at the time) was my source of strength. When I felt as if the world had turned its back on me, I went to church and found solace there. For a while all was well, when I was in church, singing and dancing listening to the “word” all was well within those moments, and even when I went home, the bible would comfort me with is words, though written in old English, with the “thou, thee and thy”, it was my sword. Psalms of David, I studied and knew by heart, most of them, and when the wicked rose up against me to eat up all my flesh, (Obeah and de duppy dem, lol) psalms 91 was what I chanted to trample them down. Yes, my son was correct, for I was one who needed to believe, I needed religion (at that time)I needed to believe in order to get over all that I was going through, especially when I was all by myself in a world where nobody cared. Christianity and my belief served me well back them.

During those times, after the wicked baby father had gone and life was like a boxing game for me, with it being Mike Tyson and me being no match for it but still tried, boxing gloves and a brave look on,win,lose, or draw. Despite the black eyes life dealt me and the bruises on my body, the pain, I had to try, because I had little mouths to feed, they could not join me in the ring. I kept telling myself one win, and I would be able to manage. I had no idea that I had already won, just for trying. Life can be harsh at times, even brutal, and although we all may have different stories of our challenges, we also have stories of our victories.

I believe that we all have a story to tell, every living being on this planet, rich or poor, we all have a book inside us to write.

One of my greatest challenges, was when I was faced with walking away from Christianity, when I had to leave my Jesus, let go off his frock tail, that was so tightly clenched in my hands, I could no longer feel my fingers (I had touched the helm of his garment). I had known no one else but Him, he was who I called out to when I experienced “duppy hold dung”, sleep paralysis, he was to me, the “Lilly of the valley, the bright and morning star, the fairest of ten thousand to my soul”, as the song said. I did not mind leaving the Church, or even forgetting the bible, or even turning my backs on the disciples, or laughing in church while Sister Simith (Smith, but Jamaicans pronounce it this way) dentures plopped out of her mouth as she gave the sermon, but  leggo “fi mi Jesus?”..How could I leave him? I felt as If I was abandoning a good husband, betraying a good man, who had always been there for me, through thick and thin. But I was awake and could no longer plead his blood, because I knew that all that I was taught in this religion was a lie.

When I found the courage to leave,  it took guts to walk away, it was hard. I was now awake, and had realized because of becoming awake, that the Bible and its teachings were all false and even my Jesus was fiction, he was not real, never existed at all, as how it is told in the bible, this was all conditioning of the mind and my people (my race) fell for it the most, and had conformed to it by way of my parents forcing it upon me, but they themselves had came into it by their parents, forced into it just as I was. It was a line of continuation through family almost like a legacy, no one asking questions or even having a choice, we just went along. It was either you were a Christian or a demon, ( in Jamaican society, lol) Satan’s pickney, the Devil son or daughter. I was to also find out that he (the Devil) did not also exist.

When I became Obara Meji having gone through my first sets of spiritual initiations read here , then on to initiations in Africa, for a while, I still had Jesus imprinted in my brain, I could see his blue eyes in my minds eye. My Olowu (a Babalawo who was Jamaican) at times, when talking about Jesus, would call him a little boy, and by this he meant, a small boy in comparison with others in history who did greater than he did regardless if he was real or not, but according to history and stories of others. Although I had walked away and felt the same way as he did, I still winced when he “style up Jesus” , wanting to cover my ears, not wanting to insult sweet, forgiving Jesus, lol. I must say that I do understand Christians passion for their Lord, worse the picture they used of Cesare Borgia was a very handsome white man, see Cesare below.

I was driving in Brooklyn one day and saw a bunch of Hasidic Jews and the realization that his was how Jesus would have looked in those time, was like a cold glass of water thrown into my face, another ice bucket flung without mercy on my body. I woke up! My fingers became slippery and suddenly I felt them let go off the helm of his garment, I let him go. See Jesus real look deh, down bottom, lol….love de hats.

If Matisyahu had gone to Jamaica looking like Jesus, performing reggae music, perhaps another crucifixion would have occurred, Jamaicans would have a heart attack at Jesus singing reggae (bogayagga music, according to Jamaicans Christians), lol…..see Mattisyahu below,

Ok, alright, this post is not about Jesus or the men in black up top. It is about, after religion then comes belief (for the people who are waking up,) realizing that they are on a spiritual path and the Bible has no answers for them, and also realizing that Christianity limits the mind and control all who are apart of its indoctrination, it teachings, there is more beyond what we have been taught to believe. Not only Christianity but all religions, people who want to break away from the shackles of religious influence and just embrace God, nature and life. But can people do this, when the human mind is conditioned to imagery projecting their reality? How can one believe into something that has no image or texts attached to it, such as my traditional practice Ifa/Orisha, which has a vast texts, but none written down. It is taught orally and handed down the same and this is because it is too vast to be placed into a book, and also there is no deity’s image as its face to represent it globally. How do one go from having an image of their God in their mind to not having any image at all, but trusting in its faith that this is the way? How do we step away from what is considered the “norm”, to going into the bush and praying there to a deity I believe rules that aspect of nature? How do I explain that? These questions make me understand, that for some it is easier to believe that which is thrust upon them, rather to go searching for what they may not be able to comprehend.

With Christianity and Islam and other religions, there are texts, history behind their names, a story of how the world began and of how did humans get here, how they were created. This science or explanations are comforting to most, regardless of the proof or not, (remember the need to believe) then there is the description of God who is always present within the pages declaring this or that. A God who is with some and against others. A God who love Jacob and hated Esau, yet that same Christian God gave his only begotten son for all. A God called by Islam Allah and one called Jehovah by Christians, yet the two are against each other and because of this there are separate religions, and their practices differ, yet if you read their texts you will find the Jews such as Abraham and even Jesus who the Muslims calls a prophet, the old testament of the Bible, the Torah (Jewish texts, apart of Judaism) is present also in the teachings of Islam. Christianity, Judaism and Islam all have common teachings with  Christianity and Islam both looking up to Judaism which is older than both, but have influenced both, did Judaism create these two? After all these are all Abrahamic religions, Abraham being the central figure, according to their belief Abraham was their first prophet. So much they all have in common, hmmmmmm!

I want to make it clear, that I do believe in the almighty, the creator, my divine source as I love to refer to that energy, which is fragmented into me, making me a creator in flesh myself. I had not these thought while I followed Christianity, and so it was refreshing to realize God for myself and not some schizophrenic white man in the sky according to the bible’s description and a psychiatrist  conclusion after studying Gods utterances in the sacred texts, him liking and loving one moment and hating and destroying in the next.

Psalm 78:59 – “When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:”

Psalm 106:40 – “Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

Lamentations 2:6 – “And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.”

“’I have loved you,’” says the LORD. But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ ‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ the LORD says. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals..Malachai 1:2-3

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life….John 3:16

One thing I can say that I am happy for, is the knowledge, after I had freed myself from the restraints of religion, that God was not man, not human being, but was energy, pure energy, like the Sun which appears bright and smiling in the mornings. God had no ego, and did not need my worship and praise, it was my prerogative to give it. I still do, it feels good to honor God, but I am not pressured to do so.

 

After religion you find yourself, you find your God, after religion comes consciousness, light, love and a direct contact with the divine, After religion, comes belief and this is when you are truly free.

 

Bí ọkọ bá kéré ju ológìnní lọ, baálé ilé ni yóò máa jẹ́. /
Even if a husband is smaller in size than a cat, the head of his home he remains.

[Appearance is quite often irrelevant]

 Everything comes when it must, and everything happens for a reason, do not hurry your life, what is destined for you, cannot escape you, just keep the faith, be patient and be prayerful, filled with compassion, kindness and respect for all, let these qualities be among your name, God will fill in the rest…..Obara Meji!

All religions are valid as long as it teaches peace and love….Obara Meji

There are no disappointments in life, only lessons learned!….Obara Meji

 

 

 

 

 

 

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queenleelee1
Blogger
9 years ago

Aww yes, growing up in Jamaica you were taught about Christianity from basic school, that is where the programming of the minds began.. All over this is also the truth..but I never was one to follow the crowd..yes all you knew then was what..”Them Say “.. and you were never to question the bible because it was a sin to do so. ..and Jesus was God..and all that stuff I never thought so, I know within myself that the bible was very contradictory. .so I just never grasped it..I always believed in the Supreme Being. .but not all that the… Read more »

Segbedeku Divine
Blogger
9 years ago

thank you so much for the text AFTER RELIGION COMES BELIEF

KB
Blogger
KB
9 years ago

Good morning Ekaro Obara of course the cure deh bout but they still lying to the masses. Lincoln I agree with you too…the diet plays a major role and the herbs are there to help us.

bfaroy
Blogger
9 years ago

wow

Lincoln
9 years ago

Cure for cancer is in the diet– polution of the body causes most diseases. Every herb on earth to cure everything!!

Nunu
Blogger
Nunu
9 years ago

Last week, Mumzy saw this catholic priest with his incense burner going through the house reciting latin. A nuff dem know still.It would be a wonder to see what secrets they lock weh in secret.

KB
Blogger
KB
9 years ago
Reply to  Nunu

Hi Nunu Boo i see them all the time lol n say watch him smoking the place. Smudge him a smudge lol a must incense he burning.

KB
Blogger
KB
9 years ago
Reply to  Obara Meji

Just like the cure for cancer…how long now they been finding a cure and all now nuh cure caan find. Grrrr u know how many cancer research this and that and all now kmrt

Nunu
Blogger
Nunu
9 years ago

Did you see how that greedy weasel looking CEO raise the price of that drug for AIDS/cancer/pregnant patients 5000% from $13.50 to $750. Then he had the nerve to say ‘you can’t sell an Aston Martin at Toyota price. Dem.people yah evil ie nuh

Nunu
Blogger
Nunu
9 years ago
Reply to  Obara Meji

Lol, yuh seet!

Nunu
Blogger
Nunu
9 years ago

Evelin’ Obara

Nunu
Blogger
Nunu
9 years ago

Good night folks, unfortunately for the most part religion is about making money and using fear to keep people under control.

KB
Blogger
KB
9 years ago

Hello everyone Obara Cher Lincs SS But too many people don’t want to age out of pre-school. SS typed a mouth full! this is so true I was a christian for ever but i couldnt wrap my mind around certain scriptures and always had questions n no pastor, evangelist ever answered my questions. It was always something off… I feel like church is a hospital. It cant heal u, only puts bandaids all over yu. Then pastor snatches those bandages off n reapplies the next sunday. He cant heal u…only ur creator n ur belief in ur self. Idk if… Read more »

Spiritual Seeker
Blogger
Spiritual Seeker
9 years ago

Good day everyone, Yes, I agree. So much to this post I can respond to, but that would take a whole other blog of my own. LOL… Western organized religion is like pre-school, a stepping stone for those in our culture towards understanding our spirituality. But too many people don’t want to age out of pre-school. They are comfortable there their whole lives and like the spoon-feeding that the pastor, priest, imam gives them. At some point, one has to mature to recognize and listen to one’s divine source within (God) and trust that. Only then can you be free… Read more »

queenleelee1
Blogger
9 years ago

Asé

queenleelee1
Blogger
9 years ago
Reply to  Obara Meji

Trust me ..I pity the fools indeed…

Lincoln
9 years ago

I will tell you this OM- growing up in Jamaica I was always uncomfortable going to church and just like you said my mother would say whenever anything bad happened to me its because I don’t goto church. Funny enough I was always spiritual, I was one of those science fiction kids who would read constantly about nature, the cosmos and I always QUESTIONED religions which got my mother very upset. As an adult I would always pray to GOD never to Jesus it was almost innate because I thought that religion was used to oppress folks and as you… Read more »

Spiritual Seeker
Blogger
Spiritual Seeker
9 years ago
Reply to  Lincoln

Same here, Lincoln. While I used to label myself a Christian (for lack of a better term and because I didn’t know what else to call myself) I long since abandoned the traditional doctrine of Christianity and stopped going to church decades ago. Too many holes in the bible and as an adult, church just never felt “right” to me, just fake and one big poppy show. Like you, even as a child, I never prayed to Jesus but to God directly. Although my mother always taught me to end prayers “in Jesus’ name, Amen”, in my mind I was… Read more »

Cami
9 years ago
Reply to  Lincoln

No wool over your eyes at all Lincoln. I use to beat up on the Vatican, but at this point I think they did the world a favor by secreting away those things that mankind cannot and will not understand, or things with such power that mankind cannot and should not get a hold of them.

Cami
9 years ago
Reply to  Lincoln

Lincoln, in reference to Jesus Jewish lineage in the post.

I don’t know how ‘he’ is the symbol of Christianity (1 of the 3 monotheistic religions) when he was born of the jewish faith (another of the 3 and the OLDEST of all 3 monotheistic religions) and DIED as such. I don’t recall reading ‘his’ conversion to christianity and still remember reading about his early training by Rabbis.

Cami
9 years ago
Reply to  Lincoln

Hi Obara.

queenleelee1
Blogger
9 years ago
Reply to  Lincoln

Boy Lincoln you must be a carpenter cause you always a lick the nail pan the head..Our forefathers oppressors used Christianity as a method to control our otherwise unruly ancestors. ..They had to do that..to keep them docile. AND IT STILL A WOK..I bet the man who thought up this concept never realized it would have this contagious effect.. But good luck to them because only a weak damaged and abused mind will be drawn to what he/she thinks will give them peace.. and then they reproduce and think this is what we must do and our children’schildren children too… Read more »

Cher
Blogger
Cher
9 years ago

Good day Obara, and fellow bloggers. Great in depth article Obara, very interesting thought provoking piece.

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