Funny, how religion and money always gravitate towards each other… Don’t you think?

In the beginning, there was no money. People shared what they caught or gathered. As we progressed to symbolic thinking and began to create artifacts and tools, people with skills began to find there was a demand for their products and they could trade their wares for something they wanted but had no time or skill to produce.

Later, to facilitate a wider range of trading relationships, tokens (as currency) became common-place: shells, beads, gold. Still, the value-relationship between token and commodity (goods and services) was close.

Then, some enterprising man came up with this idea: “I know all that gold you are carrying is heavy and you don’t want to take the chance some thief will notice your bulging money-belt and rob you of it and possibly your life; so, I will look after it for you and provide you with a promisory note which you can exchange for what you wish and I will guarantee the payment. Of course, there will be a small charge for my services…”

What a great idea! It really took off; no need to guard your gold, somebody else would do it for you. And, as is the way with hoarded wealth, once it was in the bank it was not very often withdrawn. “Why”, thought the enterprising banker “I could lend my promisory notes to people (for a small fee) and as long as I am repaid before this gold is called upon, I will be sweet”.

We’ve all seen where this leads.

Unfortunately, we are trapped inside a system that nobody knows how to get out of, even if they want to do so. Opting out and relying on the generosity of strangers isn’t possible for most people.

Getting back to religion… If you substitute, the loaded word, “God” with “Life” in the saying: “you can’t obey two masters; God and money” -and, if, you acknowledge the unity underlying all things, then, you begin to get the guts of what I am saying.

The question is: What is Life all about?