Changing Religions at the age of 64

I have been on a spiritual search for 32 years, when at age 64, in 1965, I was changing religions. I was born and confirmed in the Lutheran Church, where I was a member for 38 years. In1968 I found myself changing religions by joining the Church of Religious Science. I had no burning desire in changing religions, it just happened. I was not disenchanted nor did I have any strong issues with the Lutheran Church. I loved it. A friend became my earthly guide to the Church of Religious Science, where I was an active member for 19 years. The same was true with changing religions when I converted to Judaism. Here too, a friend became my earthly guide and I have remained observant for 20 years. (I'm not frivolous in my changing religions.) My main motivation was to find a religion were I would find a deep connection to God. This was my path to enlightenment, as it is said, while other have found what I have by staying a Lutheran or a member of the Church of Religious Science, as an example.

This feeling of connection with God is a culmination of all that I have learned in my spiritual search. From the Lutheran Church, I learned the beauty of ritual and the joy of giving to others. This is were I first learned to be proactive in the local and greater community. From the Church of Religious Science, I learned the prayer of gratitude and thankfulness, the prayer of acceptance in advance, the immediate thanks for the good in my life, and most of all the prayer of divine right action. From Judaism, I learned how to partner with God and have a deeper caring relationship towards humans and animals. I learned to question and even argue with God. There is a beautiful story that supports this Jewish tradition. Several rabbis in a concentration camp during World War II put God on trial. After much discussion they found God guilty. When they finished, they prepared for the evening prayers (Ma'arv). The rabbis argued with God but they never rejected Him. Judaism taught me that God needs us maybe as much as we need God. He needs us to care for His world and we need God to guide us through our life on earth; we are God's stewards. As our earthly father wants to give us gifts and hopes we will ask him for his help, so our Heavenly Father wants nothing less. God want us to bring Him into our world. God wants to express Himself through us. This is our challenge.

I have learned in my spiritual search that there is no one way to God. We belong to a certain religion because we were born into it or we find ourselves changing one's religion through married. Or as I did in my spiritual search, we find ourselves changing one's religion because we were led on a path that traveled through different religious houses. The ritual, methods of praying, the trappings, the laws are all man made. I believe God is only interested in a few things; are we joyful in the land He gave us, are we caring for His land, do we help the poor, sick and disadvantaged, do we take responsibility for our action in this life, and do we follow his laws, what ever version they may be.

 

A spiritual and inspirational guide. Drawing From The Well by Ruth Shults

Moonlight Over The Canal. A Memoir
by Ruth Shults.