In one quick answer, it would have to be said that no, religions are not worth saving in their current format. On the other hand, because billions dedicate trust to the deity depicted through religions, they are worth reforming. However, to reform is not that easy, especially as many religions are involved with criticism and torture of others.

A very devout man, Abraham Ben Samuel Abulafia, with the absolute conviction that the Church should be reformed through uniting all churches and the Jews returned to their native land, i.e. Israel, approached Pope Nicholas 111 in 1280. Unfortunately, the Pope did not listen to him and reform did not come about for a few hundred years. A hundred years later, during the lifetime of St. Catherine of Sienna, the church went through reform but lapsed again. To this day, the repetitiveness of inaction leads the Church to once again consider reform.

This is the circle of churches, religions and humanity since time immemorial and shall continue to do so because church leaders, religious leaders and state leaders are too involved in worldly affairs. Superstition plays a major role in the circle of life, more so than we may think and consequently, prevents clear responses to life.

Jesus said what is the point of gaining the world, if you lose your soul. What do we repeatedly perform, but lose our souls to worldly affairs? Is our world worth finding solutions in order to alleviate the many sufferings that pervade humanity? Moses thought it was and encouraged God not to destroy the people, yet hundreds of years later another prophet would have taken a different choice.

Perspective is everything, and no matter what we may think about people, it is essential we believe in the greater good otherwise what would be the purpose of living. While religions serve the greater number of people than not, it shall benefit those in authority to alter their stance on life, if they desire to introduce the people to the treasures within.

As one reads the lives of those enlightened mystics through the ages, one cannot help but wonder what did we miss? What was deep within their wisdom that humanity failed to recognise thus preventing mass destruction of civilisations and habitats? Canon Law is one example where the message of Jesus was obliterated and mismanaged for the advantage of narrow-minded patriarchs, who lost the message, or perhaps they never understood the truth of Jesus' words.

In reality of applied appropriate perspective, there should not be any form of poverty whatsoever. There should be no divisions within peoples, countries, or even genders let alone ethnicity. Nevertheless, there are many diversions and as such, humanity struggles while the minority control the wealth of the world and children die unnecessarily.

Is the point of wealth accumulation worth the suffering that ensues because of satisfying board members and stockholders? Is the decline in wildlife, like Tigers and Jaguars especially, worth the weight in disadvantages to the circle of life through eradication?

Returning to the original question about relevance of sustaining religions, the answer has to be absolutely and unequivocally no. The problem with religions, all of them, is they differentiate, and it is not our duty to differentiate. It is our duty to love unconditionally and leave the differentiating to God.

What we need is greater awareness that life is not about wealth accumulation unless it is for the greater good. Our destiny awaits the return of justice, mercy and especially love, unconditional love at that, nothing less shall suffice.

When we cross the path from materialism to spirituality we shall understand what Jesus said; ‘It is the spirit that gives life, not the flesh.' Meditate on these words; ‘out of the believers heart shall flow rivers of living water.' John 7:38. God bless!

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