I do not think there are any safe roads (paths) to God, and
that is why people normally opt for a safer alternative.
I concur with the late Carl Jung when he said, "One of the main functions of organized religion is to protect people against a direct experience of God." (I am not saying that is true among the initial creators and followers of what becomes an organized religion.)
If we do choose (or probably more likely find we have no other viable alternative) to going after the real thing we will almost certainly find we are always somewhat wrong and frequently very wrong in our beliefs and motivations. Additionally, we will find that we are often unsuccessful in living out those beliefs and motivations even when they are mostly right. As such, the only way we can actually be successful is if we are continually reflecting upon/contemplating our path with whatever connection we know from experience how to make, and then willing to admit and correct our mistakes as we realize them.
In this way, over time, our actual (as opposed to aspirational) beliefs become refined to something more and more accurate and we do improve considerably in successfully living them. At the same time we are generally drawn to new and more challenging arenas of beliefs and actions to live in and share the ever expanding Grace we find, which keeps us forever in need of a great deal of contemplation/reflection/prayer and the willingness to admit and try to correct our errors as we discover them.
I concur with the late Carl Jung when he said, "One of the main functions of organized religion is to protect people against a direct experience of God." (I am not saying that is true among the initial creators and followers of what becomes an organized religion.)
If we do choose (or probably more likely find we have no other viable alternative) to going after the real thing we will almost certainly find we are always somewhat wrong and frequently very wrong in our beliefs and motivations. Additionally, we will find that we are often unsuccessful in living out those beliefs and motivations even when they are mostly right. As such, the only way we can actually be successful is if we are continually reflecting upon/contemplating our path with whatever connection we know from experience how to make, and then willing to admit and correct our mistakes as we realize them.
In this way, over time, our actual (as opposed to aspirational) beliefs become refined to something more and more accurate and we do improve considerably in successfully living them. At the same time we are generally drawn to new and more challenging arenas of beliefs and actions to live in and share the ever expanding Grace we find, which keeps us forever in need of a great deal of contemplation/reflection/prayer and the willingness to admit and try to correct our errors as we discover them.
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