It is short, sharp and to the point. So-called 'truth' is always controversial - anyone who knows the truth - knows this. It is what it is.
And it is simply information - that is correct. All information connects with other information. Everything does connect eventually. It is what it really is.
When so-called information remains in isolation - you should begin to doubt it. That if it doesn't connect - there is something amiss?
It does have to be said - that religions are not sources of 'information' as such. These are organizations/entities that serve their own self interest. Are really concerned with themselves and only give the appearance of being 'spiritual' or whatever else they do.
Does 'God' really exist? I don't really think so. All you can be sure of - are people speaking for 'God' all of the time.
The really foolish are those who go on a mass murdering spree - yelling - 'God' is GREAT!. These people - if we can call them that - are the scrum of the Earth - and are quite 'mad' with their ideology. These are negative people doing negative acts - of which no good is possible.
In these so-called Modern Times - Truth usually comes last. Because it's a world of self promotion. Truth is just plain facts. We all know that politicians are all self promoting - and about putting on a good show - supposedly showing the best of one's qualities. Churches/religions follow this same kind of pattern don't they? Sure, some actually do some genuine good acts for their community - and perhaps that is why we still put up with them, being in our community.
I think that those who choose to give a wide berth to religion(s) and steer well clear of them - keep their own thinking processes intact. That people generally do not know that religions mess with our heads - with their programming. They mold their followers into being model disciples - not by using logic but by the use of circular logic. Saying that if it's in their holy text - it's the TRUTH.
Of very strange things - that need explanation.
This is not to say - that there are not weird and wonderful stuff (information) around - which we cannot explain fully.
If you ever watched any episode of Paranormal Caught on Video - or some such title? There are some amazing stuff caught. Some of these are very tough to discount as being faked or misidentified, etc.
There is no profit from telling the truth - and no power to be gained from doing so. Whereas we see all the time - how people profit from telling lies.
Some one like Oprah - should be telling the truth as much as possible. But she does not show that sense of awareness nor the tenacity to want to be truthful in everything. Because this will cause her ratings and popularity to plummet. She would then upset a lot of people - especially Christians, Muslims, Jews and the like.
Being a person in the mass media all of the time - she has to not upset her fans and those who look up to her. The truth rarely enters the mass media and stay there. If people were doing their jobs properly - the truth ought to be in our mass media a lot of the time?
I think it is OK to change your viewpoint maybe several times during your life - as you gain experience of life, have time to go over exactly what do you believe in? And what evidence is there for it? And whether it falls into a logical and common sense pattern. That it does take time to really go over the details to work out what is the least possible and what is more likely to be? You have to discount all the political going ons around the topic. Recognize the politics of religions - how they are very political indeed, although they may claim not to be. You have to be able to discuss religions and politics to see what they are truly about. Even in sciences and academic fields - there's still politics involved.
No one probably have heard that Darwin was attention seeking and solely concerned with his own ego - of seeking fame and recognition, and that he would do anything to gain that. Even falsify evidence for his ideas.
There are stories around Mother Teresa - how she sold the very children she was suppose to be helping and sent that money onto the Vatican. She had her own doubts about 'God'.
There are two very basic ideas or equations to be aware of - that help keep you focused on what is true.
One is what I call an Eb = Eb in which everyone is just like everyone else. That if we can agree on this - we can all advance together on this planet.
And recognize there is no exception to this. We are all human beings - no matter what status you have in life, what position you may hold, whether you're gifted in this or that, etc etc.
We all live and die just like everyone else. This has not changed over the centuries, nor millions of years - and is not going to.
Claims otherwise are truly false. Stories of Jesus/Buddha/Mohammed/etc ascending into heaven and residing there - are false.
People who live their lives here - are just like you and me. What we have are greatly exaggerated accounts of what they have done in their lives. If we can get to their original, unedited stories - they would be something else altogether. Just like legends and myths - they are based on real events that happened - but we have to be able to determine exactly what did happen, and how much of this is accurately recorded (written) for us?
There can still be a worthwhile story worth knowing about - in there somewhere, if we can get to it.
If you want to get to the real story about Jesus the human being - I believe you can. Via the Talmud Jmmanuel account.
https://www.avilabooks.com/Jmmanuel.htm
This is the introduction to the following pages - which are of a transcript/presentation about the basic concepts outlined in the Talmud Jmmanuel document. It gives a very good overall view and summary of the material.
Here is a scientist who gives a recap of the material. His lecture is on Youtube under the title
Talmud Jmmanuel - Dietmar Rothe.
Other presenters are - Ed T Martin, James Deardorff and Wendelle Stevens.
Unfortunately world religions do not tell the original story intact - concerning the figures they promote.
What they should tell us - is simply to behave as decent human beings and treat everyone else as the same. Do not judge others - because you do not have that right to do so. If people do not treat you with respect - then you have every right to avoid them -when they do not listen to you.
Everyone is always entitled to express what their views are - and no one can make up their own mind, except you. In the latest Mulan movie - it stresses the point about - be yourself, be true to yourself. Embrace who you are.
And that means not being molded by others - unfortunately world religions do this all of the time - leading away from a true and proper path. A measure marker, if you like - to keep you on the straight and narrow - is to ask - are you positively living a life - that does not involve hurting others? To not bully others and not be bullied - is the same kind of thing. Be aware and wary is another.