"Religion" won't get you where you want to go. Relationship and knowledge will. Religion is inimical to creative and abstract thinking. It rejects new information. It never produces anything different, unusual, disruptive or paradigm changing.
Religion is afraid to ask why, lest it discover it had been wrong all along. It always works from the answer, instead of sincerely considering the options produced by questioning.
It is hard to be an active learner, an open conversationalist, a curious life traveller and still be religious. The reason you are not creative and fail to make quantum leaps, is because you are religious.
I am able to draw investment lessons from Justin Bieber because I don't immediately think he's unholy and I listen to secular music, though with good judgement. Unlike Peter (in the case of the Centurion), I do not reject "Gentiles" or "Unclean Food", cause of tradition. I think.
I am able to actively create and produce unusual thoughts because I do not only read the Bible. I read science, poetry, fiction, business etc. So, I'm able to clearly see science, literary, investment lessons in the Bible. I have reference points. Religious people have none.
God is able to have a business meeting with me, because I can process business information. It's easier for him to give me product ideas than others, because he knows I have the capacity to execute. He doesn't waste too much time breaking down simplistic things.
Even when I write about God on my blog, it's easy to see the influence of years of poetry and writing music. Disparate disciplines merging and synergising.
Run very far from religion. You know those people who never attain their potential? A huge chunk of them are religious. They don't know how to think. They lack true confidence. They are always shouting, condemning, categorising and limiting. They rub everyone the wrong way.
One of the dangers religion sells is that all that's important is to be "heavenly minded". But, read the Parable of the Talents. Heck, read Like 16:9 too.
God rewards according to capacity and not just compassion and love. If you really believe that God will give you responsibility based on your capacity (both on earth and in the world to come), why do you fail to develop yourself intellectually and administratively?
How is God going to make you a leader of men and projects if you lack self-discipline and creativity? How will the source of creativity (Holy Spirit) be able to reason with you and discuss projects with you? How will he renew your mind, when there is no new content there?
Do you really expect the author of supreme excellence and standards to accept mediocrity in his Kingdom?
*Luke
PS: "Religion" in this context is a blind and dogmatic "faith" built on traditions and norms instead of relationship, thought, active questioning and love.
