Hope for the Sacred

This book is for seekers who have tried formal religions and found them lacking. Though religious organizations tend to promise much (whether "salvation" or something else) they are not an end in themselves and once they draw you into "membership," you are often left on your own to navigate the treacheries of the spiritual path. Of course, many fall by the wayside, disillusioned and resentful, never to return. This is unfortunate because spiritual development can be one of the most fulfilling tasks a person will embark on.
This book is also for seekers who have experienced spiritual abuse - seekers who question whether they can rely on society's officially sanctioned outlets for spiritual growth. My hope is that this book will be an invitation to realize that you are on a journey and that there is more to this life than what our theologies will allow by their dogma.
While these establishments and their dogma can be assistive in finding our way on the journey, they are not essential and, at some point, can serve as barriers to opening and experiencing the Sacred in one's own unique way.
Religious dogma may have worked for some people throughout history, but it does not work for all people and can be the source of shame and doubt if you do not seek the Sacred in the "right" way. Ultimately it can become oppressive and controlling. Everyone seeks and finds the Sacred in their own way and can do so without the accouterments of religious dogma. Though many have suffered abuse from religion, it is not my intention to discredit religious practice or its function in society. I believe religion has played an important role in the evolution of humanity and although it can be credited with a great many evils, its benefits are also many. In fact, as I grow in my own spirituality, religion has become for me more informative and beneficial in my personal experience of the Sacred.