By Eric Rittenberry @POETIC OUTLAWS Religion, as we encounter it today, has been diluted to suit the tastes of the masses—sweetened and simplified, promising celestial kingdoms for those who merely ‘believe.’ Yet, this simplification strays far from the core of what religion once was—a fiery, transformative force that seeks to ignite the human spirit. As the ancients used to say: “If you die before you die, you won't die when you die.” Metaphorically understood, this points to a transformative experience where, while still physically alive, you undergo what feels like a spiritual death. This involves letting go of your superficial identity and all the trappings of materialism that come along with it. You no longer live on the surface of yourself. In this modern spectacle, belief has become a cage. As Krishnamurti pointed out, when religion becomes merely about belief, it shackles the mind, preventing it from soaring freely. Jung, too, was wary of “belief,” sugges...
