Religion is the most profound and uplifting aspect of human life, as well as the most ambiguous and contradictory. Religions have, more than any other domain of human culture, served to instil ethical values and raise human beings to higher levels of consciousness. We see this in the mystics, saints, sages, seers and yogis who have existed to some degree throughout the various religious traditions of the world.

On the other hand, religions have been the main cause of misunderstanding, mistrust and hatred between human beings, and have been responsible for the greatest violence and inhumanity, which persists to the present day. We see this in the propaganda, forceful conversions, inquisitions, crusades, holy wars, and terrorism perpetrated in the name of religion which often has no respect for life.

Religion means "to unite," referring to the unification of the soul, the essence of our being, with God, the Supreme Universal Principle. This definition of religion is the same as that of Yoga, which refers to uniting the individual with the Supreme Reality. Religion - properly understood as a means of union with our fellow human beings and with the underlying Divinity - has brought many people to the awareness of the Divine as their true nature. Religion - improperly understood as an exclusive belief system which places us against those who think differently - has become the basis for murder, pillage, genocide, wrecking entire cultures, and condemning to hell our fellow human beings, our own brothers and sisters.

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