William James - Varieties Of Religious Experiences

Father Leo’s

RELIGION

“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.”
–Paul Tillich

That part of me that does not know is vibrant in spirituality. Problems are part of what it is to be human and an element of doubt is essential. With the doubt comes the growth. However, as a younger man I was told that it was a sin to doubt; God demanded a steadfast faith and doubt could have no part of faith! I remember going to confession and feeling guilty and ashamed about my doubts — but I did doubt and doubt has always played a part in my life. In some ways I think that my religious doubts have been the most creative part of me — certainly they have enabled me to grow and build a bridge of understanding with others.

Master, hear, through the doubts, my love of You.

Father Leo’s May 20 2026

RELIGION

“You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.”

–Viscount John Morley

I need to remember that you cannot force a person into faith. You cannot make a person believe. You cannot bribe a person into prayer. So much of my early religion was “a deal”: you do this and you will get this. If you do this for God and His church you will be happy and successful. There always seemed to be a “payoff” with God, or that was how it seemed.

I think many of the silent majority sense the same kind of thing; God has got lost in “the business” of religion. Spirituality accepts the pain, confusion and anger of this silent majority and says, “find a God as you understand Him.” Discover your power in your life – and then God will be perceived.

Lord, in my silence is the “shout” heard.

The Eye Opener - May 15 2026

There is such an abundance of religions, sects, creeds and cults that it is little wonder that many thousands of non-alcoholics have thrown up their hands in disgust and proceeded to ignore them all. The poor confused alcoholic certainly could not be expected to wade through this maze of contradictions.

To them, the simplicity of the AA program has been its greatest attraction. Here they have been asked only to seek a God of their own understanding and to accept a spirituality based on common sense and universally accepted moral standards.


Hazelden Foundation

Father Leo’s - - April 27 2026

RELIGION

“All religions must be tolerated .
. . for . . . every man must get to heaven his own way.”

–Frederick the Great

There are many ways to God and I believe that Christianity is one way.
However, I am convinced that there are other ways with or without
religion. My experience of the church has been good, and I have been
encouraged to question and doubt, search for new areas of faith within
my agnosticism, explore other religions. My experience of Christianity
has been supportive of openness and compassion.

God is not a prisoner of any religion and we can all learn from each
other’s experiences – but we need to listen. To dismiss arrogantly the
value that a religion can bring is, to my way of thinking, as negative and
sick as to accept what a religion says without question.

Let me find in the religions of the world the ONENESS of Your truth.

ONE DAY AT A TIME - April 21 2026

RELIGION

Religion is for people who don’t want to go to hell.
Program is for people who have already been there.

~ Unknown ~

I was religious when I came into program and I was ready and willing to tell everyone what the “true” faith was. I went to church every Sunday. I was a religion teacher. I knew it all.

The truth is I didn’t know ANYTHING. It didn’t take long for me to begin to question my own religiosity. In fact, it began at Steps two and three. Before long, I wondered if there was a God at all. If there was, is God a He, a She or an It? Then I decided, yes there was a God, but did He/She/It care about me?

The real truth is God is who God needs to be to work through me. There’s no right or wrong answer to my questions. What I DO know is that God loves me just the way I am.

The greatest gift my Higher Power gave me came on the day I looked up to “heaven” and told God, “I don’t believe in You!” And that still, quiet voice inside of me asked, “Then to Whom are you speaking?”

One Day at a Time . . .

I don’t have to have theological “proof” that there is a Power greater than myself. I just need to believe.

~ Debbie ~ 

Emmet Fox - April 16 2026

TAKE STOCK OF YOUR RELIGION

What has your religion done for you? For years probably, you have been attending church, reading spiritual books, studying the Bible. Now I suggest that you have a spiritual stocktaking. Ask yourself what difference religions has made in your life, in your home, in your affairs. How much peace of mind has it given you? How much courage? How much understanding? How much opportunity for service? For, make no mistake, real religion does give all these things.

If your spiritual stocktaking does not turn out to be satisfactory, I believe that you will find the explanation to lie in the following law: What you put into yor religion, that you get our of it.

If you put in 5 percent of yourself, you will receive a 5 percent dividend or demonstration. If you put in 20 percent of yourself, you will receive a 20 percent demonstration. Complete returns call for a 100 percent investment.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might... (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

THE EYE OPENER #essentialsofrecovery

We in AA have many religious affiliations and there are some of us who contend that AA is all the religion they need. Yet this fact remains: the spiritual facts on which AA is based would not have survived the ages but for the tenacity of formal religions.

Without religions, our moral, political and social structure would collapse. There is a lot in all denominations that can be criticized but without them life would be chaos.

Published by Hazelden 

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FR. LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #essentialsofrec #Hate #Love #Frleo

RELIGION

“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”
~ Jonathan Swift 

Religion is a powerful influence in the world, but often the power is negative. It has been used to judge, divide, separate, and control people; rob them of their freedom and creativity; and chain them to creeds and teachings that are not comprehensible. Unfortunately, religion has become dull and lifeless for many people, and God’s love is missed.

But the power of creative spirituality is always alive in God’s world. It unites and frees people so they can be discovered in their individuality. Difference is accepted, choice is respected, and healing is perceived in our ability to love.

May I bring Your gift of spirituality to those who have misplaced it.

© 2008 Leo Booth

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Religion

RELIGION

“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.”

–Paul Tillich

That part of me that does not know is vibrant in spirituality.  Problems are part of what it is to be human and an element of doubt is essential. With the doubt comes the growth. However, as a younger man I was told that it was a sin to doubt; God demanded a steadfast faith and doubt could have no part of faith! I remember going to confession and feeling guilty and ashamed about my doubts — but I did doubt and doubt has always played a part in my life. In some ways I think that my religious doubts have been the most creative part of me — certainly they have enabled me to grow and build a bridge of understanding with others.

Master, hear, through the doubts, my love of You.

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrec #Principles #Religion #BillW

A Saving Principle, p. 164

The practice of admitting one’s defects to another person is, of course, very ancient. It has been validated in every century, and it characterizes the lives of all spiritually centered and truly religious people.

But today religion is by no means the sole advocate of this saving principle. Psychiatrists and psychologists point out the deep need every human being has for practical insight and knowledge of his own personal flaws and a discussion of them with an understanding and trustworthy person.

So far as alcoholics are concerned, A.A. would go even further. Most of us would declare that without a fearless admission of our defects to another human being, we could not stay sober. It seems plain that the grace of God will not enter to expel our destructive obsessions until we are willing to try this.

12 & 12, pp. 56-57

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EASY DOES IT #ESSENTIALSOFREC #RECOVERY #RELIGION

EARNING REWARDS
I got a religion that wants to take heaven out of the clouds and plant it right here on earth where most of us can get a slice of it.

~ Irwin Shaw ~
We learn that there are no free trips to abstinence. There aren’t any “rain checks” we can take that will give us a head start back to abstinence if we slip. We can’t argue that bad luck or betrayal by others were responsible for the relapse.

We won’t ever be promised that we will have overnight comfort or success. Our success in the Program is decided by how hard we work it. We will get from the Steps only as much as we give it. Our investment in serenity and security will earn simple, real interest. There aren’t any easy contests to win.

The rewards I receive from the Program will be equal to the effort I put into my recovery.

©1990 by Anonymous. All rights reserved. Published by Hazelden.

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ONE DAY AT A TIME #essentialsofrec #Religion #Hell #Spirituality

RELIGION

Religion is for people who don’t want to go to hell.
Program is for people who have already been there.

~ Unknown ~

I was religious when I came into program and I was ready and willing to tell everyone what the “true” faith was. I went to church every Sunday. I was a religion teacher. I knew it all.

The truth is I didn’t know ANYTHING. It didn’t take long for me to begin to question my own religiosity. In fact, it began at Steps two and three. Before long, I wondered if there was a God at all. If there was, is God a He, a She or an It? Then I decided, yes there was a God, but did He/She/It care about me?

The real truth is God is who God needs to be to work through me. There’s no right or wrong answer to my questions. What I DO know is that God loves me just the way I am.

The greatest gift my Higher Power gave me came on the day I looked up to “heaven” and told God, “I don’t believe in You!” And that still, quiet voice inside of me asked, “Then to Whom are you speaking?”

One Day at a Time . . .

I don’t have to have theological “proof” that there is a Power greater than myself. I just need to believe.

~ Debbie ~

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THE EYE OPENER #essentialsofrec ##Religion #Spirituality

The churches in their quarrels over purely sectarian issues have done much to divert attention from the primary purpose of religion, which is spirituality.

Some pastors take a more critical attitude toward the neglect of church duties than they do toward moral transgressions.

AA should be kept free of all controversial questions. We have but one purpose and that is to help the suffering alcoholic. Ours is a way of life; not a way of worship.

Published by Hazelden

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A DAY AT A TIME #essentialsofrec #Religion #Recovery

Reflection for the Day

If a chemically dependent person wants to live successfully in society, he or she must replace the power of chemicals over his/her life with the power of something else—preferably positive, at least neutral, but not negative. That is why we say to the agnostic newcomer: If you can’t believe in God, find a positive power that is as great as the power of your addiction, and give it the power and dependence you gave to your addiction. In the Program, the agnostic is left free to find his or her Higher Power, and can use the principles of the Program and the therapy of the meetings to aid in rebuilding his/her life. Do I go out of my way to work with newcomers?

Today I Pray

May the Power of the Program work its miracles equally for those who believe in the personal God or in a Universal spirit or in the strength of the group itself, or for those who define their Higher Power in their own terms, religious or not. If newcomers are disturbed by the religiousity of the Program, may I welcome them on their own spiritual terms. May I recognize that we are all spiritual beings.

Today I Will Remember

To each his own spirituality.

© 1989 by Hazelden Foundation

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ELDER'S MEDITATION OF THE DAY #essentialsofrec #DWAMISH #Native #Religion

“Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors, the dreams of our old men, given them in the solemn hours of night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people.”

~ Chief Seattle, DWAMISH ~

Our Spiritual ways have carefully been given to chosen people. Slowly, through our past generations, through past conflicts, our Elders prayed for guidance, which the Creator provided. Then it was passed down to the next generation through culture, ceremony and oral traditions. our Indian religion has been tested and is about how we should behave and treat other people, animals and the earth. This knowledge is written in the heart of every person. We can find this knowledge by looking inside ourselves.

My Creator, today, when conflict occurs, I will look inside myself for the answers.

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THE EYE OPENER #essentialsofrec #Religion #Recovery

It is very noticeable that most of the great religious teachers or prophets prescribed nothing but a code of morals and ethics. All their teachings were characterized by an almost complete lack of formal religious observances.
They have pointed out the direction but never the path. If we follow other men’s paths we fall over the same stones they fell over and we got lost where they got lost. Each of us must carve out his own path and the progress we make will be determined by our own efforts to advance.

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THE EYE OPENER #essentialsofrec #Recovery #AA

We in AA have many religious affiliations and there are some of us who contend that AA is all the religion they need. Yet this fact remains: the spiritual facts on which AA is based would not have survived the ages but for the tenacity of formal religions.

Without religions, our moral, political and social structure would collapse. There is a lot in all denominations that can be criticized but without them life would be chaos.

Published by Hazelden

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

FR.LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #frLeo #Essentialsofrec #Recovery #Christianity

CHRISTIANITY

“Going to Church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car.”

~ Laurence J. Peter 

I believe Christianity is about bringing humankind together, rather than creating division and resentment. It must be much bigger than what we do or say in any building. Christ’s truth seeks to discover God in the splendor of this varied world.

My addiction made me a small person with a small god. Constantly focusing on differences in the world stopped me from seeing the glaring similarities. The world of black and white, rather than shades of creative color, is sick and dangerous. Christ reveals for me the bridge by which reconciliation and harmony are achieved. The message is not so much dogma as a revealed journey into Truth.

In the created stranger, help me discover the friend.

© 2008 Leo Booth

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FR. LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #essentialsofrecovery

RELIGION

“We have just enough religion to make us hate, hut not enough to make us love one another.”

~ Jonathan Swift ~

Religion is a powerful influence in the world, but often the power is negative. It has been used to judge, divide, separate, and control people; rob them of their freedom and creativity; and chain them to creeds and teachings that are not comprehensible. Unfortunately, religion has become dull and lifeless for many people, and God’s love is missed.

But the power of creative spirituality is always alive in God’s world. It unites and frees people so they can be discovered in their individuality. Difference is accepted, choice is respected, and healing is perceived in our ability to love.

May I bring Your gift of spirituality to those who have misplaced it.

© 2008 Leo Booth 

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery