Tecohe• Show poetry

We are spiritual beings having a human existence and as such, spiritual expression is natural. Religion is but a template, a format in which one may if preferred, organize their spiritual expressions.
Unfortunately, there are many, many inflexible templates into which we squeeze our natural spiritual expressions for the sake of human approval. Humans are easily offended and they attribute that characteristic to God. Among other characteristics projected upon the Divine being is jealousy, disappointment and surprise.
The Divine being cannot have anything hidden from her, him or it. They are all knowing so hypocracy and deception are for other human beings. So, those that hide their deeds are saying that while they are not afraid of the Divine Being seeing and knowing their heart, they are very afraid of humans knowing and punishing them. Thus human approval becomes the god.
Religion can be distinguished from being spiritual in a natural and God-given way when it removes the joy and expressions of music (dance and song), art and sex. When the evidence of our co-creation is tampered with through a system of belief that takes those and substitutes fear, shame and guilt, it is nothing but a religion. As a template, it is useless just as a pitcher to hold water would be useless if it did not allow the water once in to flow out for the quenching of thirst.
Love is the most important spiritual aspect that religion deforms. Religion makes love conditional and attempts to assign it to those it considers worthy in the confines of its approved actions and thoughts. That is not Love. Without the Love that is unconditional there is no forgiveness from ourselves for ourselves. Self-forgiveness is the only forgiveness needed since God does not judge, we do.