Religion as we know it - exoteric religion - is a collection of principles which accrue upon spiritual development.
But these principles, which can be adopted mentally, are not the heart of spirituality. The heart of spirituality is unconditional love.
Love alone leads us to union with God.
The rest: goodness, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, morality, honesty, truthfulness, moderation, charity generosity.....are all side-effects.
It is when side-effects are adopted as absolutes that religion hardens into bigotry and prejudice, driven by fear.
Morality is not an absolute.
Morality is a side-effect.
St. Paul said, "but if I have no love, I am nothing." Corinthians 13:2d (GNB)
"There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear." 1 John 4:18a (GNB)
[Scriptures (marked GNB) are taken from the Good News Bible published by The Bible Society/Collins copyright American Bible Society.]
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