Before reading this, [see: \u2018Triangle of Religion<\/a>\u2019].<\/p>\n With \u2018closed religion\u2019, I mean:<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n where within the core itself<\/em>, the inside and the outside of a specific system of belief are mutually exclusive. To the adherents, the main relevant question is whether you are \u2018one of us\u2019 or<\/u> \u2018one of them\u2019. The \u2018them\u2019 being alien, incomprehensible, one way or another to be shunned especially in-depth.<\/p>\n For instance, on even days being \u2018one of us\u2019 while on odd days being \u2018one of them\u2019 is deemed to be inappropriate or even impossible.<\/p>\n Let alone on the same days.<\/p>\n The essence of Open Religion: this should change.<\/p>\n Many people need a specific religion for the sake of deeper meaning of life<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n There is of course much to say for this. Many who live \u2018outside of any religion\u2019 do not seem to live with any deeper meaning of life. This way, they are \u2018trapped\u2019 within superficiality. In a way, superficiality is their \u2018closed religion\u2019. This includes the idea that one should just take care of one\u2019s own pleasure, profit, people. The latter being oneself and those who live mentally nearby. It can be one\u2019s small family-circle, or a silo on social media, or whatever.<\/p>\n So, many non-religious people see religious people as \u2018religiously trapped\u2019, while many religious people see non-religious people as \u2018superficiality trapped\u2019.<\/p>\n Everybody trapped. Everybody closed-in. That\u2019s it?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In any case, this should not be.<\/p>\n BUT: the walls that keep people in, are most frequently also defensive walls against \u2018the enemy\u2019. These walls are themselves fearfully protected. From either side, any attempt to break them down may be met with huge resistance.<\/p>\n The alternative: a gentle slope<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Forget the \u2018wall\u2019 metaphor.<\/p>\n The \u2018gentle slope\u2019 metaphor starts from an attitude of strong gentleness [see: \u2018Weak, Hard, Strong, Gentle<\/a>\u2019].<\/p>\n With hardness, one bumps into a wall, achieving little to nothing positive.<\/p>\n With weakness, one may enter the bulwark, achieving nothing.<\/p>\n No real dialogue, no ability to touch deep-to-deep, no empathic understanding\u2026<\/p>\n Strongly and gently, one may indeed be heard. Without this combination, I also wouldn\u2019t listen myself, and if you wouldn\u2019t, dear reader, I would find that very natural and proper.<\/p>\n A gentle slope should not be a covert attempt to manipulate.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Manipulation = disrespect. That should never be! [see: \u2018When Respect Ends, Manipulation Starts<\/a>\u2019]<\/p>\n Instead, in full respect, the main tool is deep listening: [see: \u2018Deep Listening<\/a>\u2019]. This way, people can learn from each other. At the very least, they can learn how to deeply touch and be touched. Without this, I don\u2019t see any kind of \u2018motivating\u2019 anyone towards anything as having really been attempted, even after 50 or 500 years of listening-while-carrying-earplugs.<\/p>\n Earplugs are disrespectful and lead to disrespectful behavior. Contrary to this:<\/p>\n A gentle slope is an invitation.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Continuously, in freedom and respect.\u00a0Thus also much more effective.<\/p>\n The direction of the invitation is not even \u2018out of religion\u2019, as much as it is clearly \u2018out of closedness\u2019.<\/p>\n The result may even be \u2018deeper into religion\u2019. That\u2019s a good thing! The deeper one goes, the more \u2018meaning\u2019 is important and the less \u2018pure form\u2019. [see: \u2018Depth is Formless Meaning<\/a>\u2019]<\/p>\n This way, people may gently evolve \u2013 from within their religion, any which way it shows itself \u2013 towards what has always been religion\u2019s true purpose:<\/p>\n connection at the deepest level<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n internally as well as in-between to the widest degree<\/em>.<\/p>\n