One of the reasons I could not possibly be religious is because I have been guided to many religious philosophies by my own spirit teachers. Plus, in readings with clients I’m often shown their own religious preferences and the preferences of their spirit loved ones. Given that spirit people of different faiths can connect through mediumship, it doesn’t appear to matter in spirit which one we favour. Therefore, which religion would I pick given it appears all paths lead to Rome? There is a book by Helen Greaves called Testimony of Light, which is the channelled communications from a deceased nun to a friend. The book indicates there are indeed people still practicing their chosen faith, in spirit.
I have appreciated reading this for the following reason. I have participated on a few forums which explore this subject matter in depth. And what I encountered was what I termed "paradigm wars." This is when one person (or group) maintains the other worldly indications point to a greater reality but that this greater reality negates the possibility of the existence of a different paradigm they interpret as competing.
I call this greater reality Level 2 (or "soft physicality) where Level 3 is this material reality which I refer to as "hard physicality." And I think the problem so many folks have is that they are so mesmerized and anchored in their viewpoint as an individuated expression of consciousness anchored in the body vehicle as it ties in with hard physicality that they then apply the dynamics of Level 3 and assume they must apply to Level 2.
So three or so years ago I shifted my own approach with another such that I would strive to identify the world views and paradigm(s) held by the other and strive to communicate through the same metaphors honored by their paradigm(s). This adjustment to my set of operational protocols has resulted in a significant expansion of relationships with those open to anything otherworldly.
Why i so much appreciated what Claire stated was that this isn't just a dynamic that applies to hard physicality. It seems that folks who are currently anchored in the Level 2 experiential realms might also have affinity with specific paradigms.
As an example, for some there might be the dynamic of a traditional Christian strain where you are born, live, die and continue in an eternal afterlife in either a heaven or a hell. With the Catholic version, there's the opportunity for purgatory (sort of a "spiritual probation" where one can earn rights back and have their record expunged). And then you may have an Eastern paradigm of a particular Buddhist strain where one reincarnates again and again until they find a way to solve their complex karmic Rubik's Cube and BOOM, their out of the trap of life after life after life - always filled with suffering. These are just examples of what I call paradigms.
And so what I currently "like to believe" (emphasis that I do not call this "my truth" or knowledge) is that we, at the level of our soul which is, for me, the heart of very being is that a spirit being can experience whatever paradigm they wish to explore, that they can modify or expand it and that
if they wish, they can leave it and engage with another paradigm. I also like to believe we can form new paradigms and even blend existing ones into new ones, etc. The Ascended Master thingie is a paradigm... Theosophy, the Fourth Way, and get this... UFOlogy has become a paradigm. The Movie / Video Game world is generating all sorts of experiential paradigms that become religions (like the Star Wars religion... yes, this actually exists) and so why cannot these paradigmatic realities form momentun that attracts others into it and
survives death as well?
Claire, in her post, indicates to me this is not only possible, it is occurring. I love it! Fantastic... and anything but boring! (harps were created in hell!... ok, just kidding).