Let’s talk about SELF-WORTH and RELIGION.

As a person who is deeply spiritual but doesn’t practice a religion AND lives in the Bible belt, I’ve taken a deep dive into trying to understand ancient religious texts.

Consider this:

The word “sin” was translated from 9 words with varying meanings.

The ONLY one Jesus is recorded as having used was “hamartia” - a morally neutral Greek word that means:

• To live blindly

• To miss the mark

• To miss the point of life

Similarly, “repent” (“metanoia”) had a much different meaning:

• To change the mind

• A transformation of thought

So WHAT IF we’ve been looking at it all wrong.

WHAT IF the mainstream narratives about “original sin” and inherent brokenness are not at all what was meant.

WHAT IF the message was more congruent with our modern understanding of healing.

WHAT IF the purpose of these teachings isn’t to follow a certain set of rules because of what happens when we die, but instead, to transcend our EGO, our SMALL SELVES, our WOUNDS, our PROJECTIONS while we’re here?

This aligns with our modern understanding of healing beautifully (see 10 part series in “resilience” highlights).

I can’t unsee it.

Rather than something from shame, fear, or a place of not-enoughness…

A loving invitation to pause, reflect, realize our conditioning, our black-and-white thinking…

And evolve.

The inner journey for me has certainly been a spiritual one, and my WORTH has become grounded in an inner essence, a light, a sturdy place within that is unaffected by external things.

And I can’t think of any ‘purpose’ for us as humans that is more our birthright than reclaiming our WORTH,

Our AUTHENTICITY,

And our connection to something greater.

I believe this is the real invitation behind these ancient teachings: to shed what no longer serves us, to reconnect with our essence, and to live from a place of clarity, worthiness and love.

What do you think? Let me know if this resonates, and read a similar post I wrote a few months ago here.

Further reading:

“A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle (my all-time favorite book)

Blog posts related to his work:

Awaken to the Infinite Possibilities of the Present

Finding Unity in Spiritual Wisdom

Recognizing the Human Condition: Insights from Ancient Religious Teachings

The Ego and the Higher Self

The Transformative Power of Recognizing Our Pain-Body

Unlocking Presence

“Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender” by Dr. David Hawkins

Blog posts related to his work:

A Framework for Everything

The Map of Consciousness

The Map of Human Consciousness and Humanity’s Tipping Point: An Optimistic Lens

Biblical Mistranslations, Spiritual Unity, and Our Modern Understanding of Healing

Dr. David Hawkins' Journey

-Dr. Jen