Photographs – Richard Duffy-Howard – award winning photographer – https://loudhailer.net/

I am an extremely spiritual person but I am totally opposed to all organised religion.

My spirituality is also based on a numbers of things:

• Wonder and awe at the incredible splendour of the universe – the macrocosm and microcosm – black holes, galaxies and quarks.
• Wonder and awe at the beauty of nature – life in all its forms
• Creativity in all its forms – art, poetry, dance, writing, architecture, photography, film,
• The splendours of natural phenomena, landscapes, seascapes, trees, rocks, gorges, mountains, lakes ……
• The wonders of consciousness
• Love

I do not really care if there is a god or not. It is of little importance to me. I want a secular spirituality. I reject all religion for a number of reasons

• I believe all the religious books were written by men. None are the word of god. (This is evident to me when I see the way they were written, who they were written by and what previous texts they were based on).
• I believed organised religion is used for power and to promote division and hatred for personal gain (status, power and wealth).
• Religion is used to prevent any opposition to a state’s power.
• The fear principle of heaven and hell is psychologically damaging. No sane god would create such a thing.
• Too much religion is sectarian and thus creates division and fosters hatred.
• I think the indoctrination of children is obscene child abuse
• To live for a possible after-life (which I do not believe exists) can prevent a person from experiencing the short life we have
• Following all the multitude of different rituals, dress codes, eating restrictions, prayers, (each religion has its own set of instructions from ‘god’ – all different) etc. is risible.
• Much of religion misses the point of spirituality

However I know some people gain personal fulfilment by following a religion, find companionship and psychological reassurance. Religious people can be spiritual, kind, generous and tolerant.

My spirituality creates a wealth of warmth and connection. It is a positive affirmation of life. There is no division, hatred or need to justify it. My spirituality exists and requires no god, purpose or imposed morality. The morality I live by comes out of it. I respect and hold as precious all living things, fellow humans and the world around me. I’ve no need to put that into commandments.

I have no need for religion. I have no time for superstition. My universe is a world of wonder to be investigated, marvelled at and enjoyed. There are many things to be understood. I have a life to revel in it.