Shadows in the Light of God

Shadows in the Light of God traces the history of inspired spiritual movements as they turn into corrupt religious institutions through pious fraud and political ambitions, with archaic remnants that were shaped by the land and cultures in which they arose - from animists to matriarchies to 21st century patriarchal establishments.

This is an expose' of the shadow side of dominant religious institutions, as well as a plea for adherents of any tradition to return to their spiritual roots and resist the temptation toward worldly ambitions that have grievously wounded humanity and nature.

It may be the heresies that ultimately save us.

Topics include

Histories of Mediterranean-derived religions that begin with an inspired spiritual experience, grow into a social movement shaped by land and culture, and become a religious institution that betrays the original inspiration in its political ambitions

Differences between hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies and the religions they developed

The piecemeal writing and political editing of the Old and New Testaments

How each new religion (including Judaism and Christianity) was built on previous traditions that they then deny

Egyptian origins of monotheism

How monotheism grew with monarchy and empires

Genuine and counterfeit monotheism

Common dying and resurrected gods, virgin births

Roman Empire's shaping of early Christianity

Distinguishing between the religion of Jesus/Yeshua from the religions about him

Pious frauds

The evolution of consciousness from identification with nature to objectification and alienation that resulted in the exploitation of women, children, nature, and vulnerable populations

The influence of the personal and collective "shadow" and psychological "projection" shape ideologies and religious practices

Wounds to individuals and society created by baneful ideologies

Similar forces shaping our religion and politics in 21st century America

Humanity's yearning for spiritual experience and the social forces of belonging that can either support such experience or suppress it

A call for all people of faith to return to their spiritual roots