Sacred Subtraction #

This is an excerpt from Religion Unburdened by Belief: The Way of Open Inquiry.

What if everything we thought we knew about religion was backward? We often assume that religions are built on beliefs–beliefs about gods, the afterlife, and the nature of reality. But what if belief actually blocks us from genuine religious experience? This book pursues a radical idea: the less we believe, the closer we get to religion.

This may seem counterintuitive, since religions are usually defined by their belief systems. Christianity has its creeds, Buddhism its doctrines, Islam its articles of faith. Yet direct religious experience often involves setting beliefs aside instead of taking on new ones. Mystics across traditions speak of emptying the mind, surrendering certainty, and embracing mystery. Rather than adding new beliefs to your existing collection, we’ll work on identifying and releasing limiting beliefs.

This exploration draws on diverse fields including anthropology, neuroscience, psychology, and religious studies to develop practical methods for direct religious experience. We’ll examine how techniques like careful psychological work, meditation, and psychedelics can facilitate genuine encounters with mystery. Along the way, we’ll tackle challenging questions: How do we distinguish authentic religious experience from self-deception? What’s the relationship between religious experience and mental health? How can we explore these territories safely?

Examining your beliefs—especially cherished religious ones—requires courage and may be uncomfortable. You may discover that ideas you thought were helping your inner growth have actually been holding you back. If you’re ready to look beyond belief, turn the page and begin.