Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation homepage > Notebooks of Paul Brunton > Category 17: The Religious Urge
The Religious Urge
The essence of religion does not consist in dogma and ritual but in faith in a higher power, worship of that higher power, and moral purification to come closer to it.§One of the Commandments warns men not to take the name of God in vain. The simple and obvious and usually accepted meaning of this is not to utter the word "God'' without seriousness and reverence. But the truer meaning is not to talk of religion--and especially of attending places of religious worship--while avoiding the effort involved in seeking a truly religious experience.