LIBERTY MINISTRIES 2021
  • Blog
  • Intro/Current
    • NESARA/GESARA Updates
    • NESARA/QFS History
    • Patriotism
    • What Can I Do?
  • Devotion
    • Know Thyself
    • Messages From Within
    • Tools for Growth >
      • The Emotional Guidance Scale
    • Inspiration
    • Books|Websites|Video Links
  • Strong Families
    • Children's Education >
      • Home Schooling
      • Sudbury Schools
      • The American School
    • Healthy Living
    • Abundant Living
  • Stay Informed
    • Historical Tid-Bits >
      • Charts and Diagrams
    • Red Pill Research
    • All Things Covid
    • Current/Past Resources >
      • Reading List 2021
      • Reading List 1980
  • Contact
    • Religious Exemption Letter

What is a Religion or a Ministry?

1/18/2022

0 Comments

 
Why do we call our group a Ministry?
What is Religion?
Do we need it?
Is Religious Freedom still important?
​The U.S. was founded with a major emphasis on “Religious Liberty” or “Religious Freedom”. But what are organized religions really and what part do they play in your life? 
The 1st Amendment clearly states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
 
Short and simple. The Government body, Congress, cannot and shall not pass laws that affect the establishing of religion or how that religion operates and exercises its beliefs.
 
Using the power of the internet, let’s look at the various definitions of religion.
 
All-knowing Wikipedia says, “Religion is a social-cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements; however, there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion.”
 
How can there ever be a consensus? It has to be entirely up to the individual(s).
 
Merriam Webster is a little shorter: “religion: [noun] The state of a religious. The service and worship of God or the supernatural. Commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance.”
 
Hmm—this definition uses the same root in the definition. Not too mind-expanding.
 
Britannica goes on to state: “Religion, human beings' relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. Worship, moral conduct, right belief, and participation in religious institutions are among the constituent elements of the religious life.”
 
So these folks believe that participation in religious institutions are among the constituent elements of the religious life.” This infers that you cannot have anything that you consider holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine or worthy of special reverence without participating with an institution.
 
A well-written article by Mark Stubick is found in the website for an organization called Verywell Mind. (https://www.verywellmind.com/religion-improves-health-2224007). The article is titled What is Religion and it gives some interesting and provoking insights.
Religion is a set of organized beliefs, practices, and systems that most often relate to belief and worship of a controlling force such as a personal god or another supernatural being. While this is a basic definition, there are many different understandings of what religion is and not all religions are centered on a belief in a god, gods, or supernatural forces.
Religion often involves cultural beliefs, worldviews, texts, prophecies, revelations, and morals that have spiritual meaning to members of the particular faith, and it can encompass a range of practices including sermons, rituals, prayer, meditation, holy places, symbols, trances, and feasts.
After listing a complete, exhaustive list of the world’s major organized and established religions, the article adds, “Related to religion, animism is the belief in divine non-human beings, while totemism involves the belief in a divine connection between humans and the natural world. On the other end of the religious spectrum is atheism, which involves a belief in no god or gods, and agnosticism, which holds that the existence of god or gods is unknown or unknowable.”
 
Dictionary.com goes further giving 8 definitions:
  1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
  2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
  3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
  4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
  5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
  6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
  7. religions, Archaic. religious rites: painted priests performing religions deep into the night.
  8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

Looking into the origin of the word religion, we find:1150–1200; Middle English religioun (<Old French religion) <Latin religiōn- (stem of religiō) conscientiousness, piety, equivalent to relig(āre) to tie, fasten (re-re- + ligāre to bind, tie; cf. ligament) + -iōn--ion; cf. rely
 
This means literally to tie, bind or fasten oneself to or with piety and conscientiousness. Another definition of religion is any object of conscientious regard.
 
To most of us in this timeframe of 2022, regard religion as the territory of some organization where more pious and dedicated individuals than we are, serve to provide guidance in the form of rituals, teachings through sermons and discerning of ancient holy texts. Too vast and complicated for us to consider. Like so many things, we think “leave it to the experts.” Friends, when it comes to your personal religion, the only expert is YOU.
 
Most of us leave it to the religious workers—priests, ministers, rabbis, imams, etc.—to tell us what we should believe and how to express that belief through our actions.
 
After getting wide range of definitions of what religions are, or have been believed to be, it is time for each of us, as individuals, decide what religion means to us and how it shows up in our lives.
 
Back in 1980 when the first version of Liberty Ministries International was begun, our stress was personal freedom, especially financial freedom. We urged our members to start churches or ministries in their local area and redirect some of what they might pay in income tax toward doing good in their communities.
​
We specifically chose the word ministry, because we felt that didn’t smack head-on with organized religions. We still believe anyone who ministers in their community has a more personal relationship with their religion.
 
While writing and editing our book, America’s First Freedom, my editor/proofreader extraordinaire (and also my baby sister) and I had a spectacular conversation about dogma. She pointed out how she felt like each of us needed to spend contemplation time delving into what our personal dogmas were.
 
That is personal religion to me. What do I believe and hold sacred, what must I do, how must I behave in order to manifest and live my own dogmas/religion?
 
This has nothing to do with anyone else. Nothing to do with any organization, church or means of fellowship. Those things can be included by my choice in my personal religion or ministry, but are not the center or core of it.
 
This is a process that will probably take us weeks, months and years to identify, amend and come to peace with. It matters not what parents, teachers, religious figures from the past or what television, movies and social media influences say. This between your heart and mind – an INSIDE JOB!
 
Our Constitution—in the First important Amendment of the Bill of Rights—guarantees you can develop your own personal religion. Get started on it! Future blogs will give some guidance and steps to doing this.
0 Comments

Your Precious Children!

1/14/2022

0 Comments

 
The only way to really KNOW what your children are being taught is to participate actively in some sort of hybrid, alternative home-involved school. It is important to find what works for your family and your children. As you well know, our kids are our future! Be sure they are being taught principles that you hold dear. These principles need to include the values of honesty, leadership, love and passion. 

Do you know what makes your own kids' hearts sing? It will change almost daily, but by having constant and non-judgmental conversations often, you can stay connected to their interests, desires and personal goals. The best way to support them is to talk often, talk with fun and love in your heart and listen, listen, LISTEN. 

Do your best to be sure that your children understand what a fantastic world we live in. Be sure to show your appreciation for this country and all the opportunities it holds. Children learn by what they see and hear in your example--not what is being preached to them. Show them how blessed and fantastic our country and our freedoms are. Show them that each generation must keep the flame of the Republic alive and well. We have too close to losing it!

The internet is full of alternative educational options. Be aware that many may not fit in with your own beliefs, goals and philosophies. We have not taken time to vet all these sites found on the internet. Each family must do their own research and due diligence to find a school that will work for them. Also be sure to check with your local school district to be sure that your home schooling choice fits into the allowable curriculum for graduation (if that is important to you).

If you do your own web searches, you will find similar offerings that may be most appropriate for your area. Many home school programs have local "pods" or groups in order to let children have the advantage of mixing and mingling. Field trips and other social events can be planned amongst the group.

It is very important to allow your children to have access to sports and other "regular" types of activities that home schooling may not afford. You can easily find resources in your area to provide much of this helpful support. Be sure they mix and mingle with lots of kids around their age. Sports, music, drama and many other extracurricular activities are extremely valuable--even vital--to the development of strong, mentally heathy youngsters.

Be sure to temper any time that they spend on social media with real-life activities. They need to know the difference!

Here are a few of the links I found while internet searching (I never use Google. Instead, try Duck Duck Go).
  • https://outschool.com/ --​ Over 140,000 interactive, online classes. Keep kids ages 3-18 engaged with thousands of classes and camps on the topics they're most passionate about!
  • https://www.americaneducationdefenders.com/--this is great for teenagers!
  • The Frugal Home Schooling Mom -- https://www.tfhsm.com/free-alternatives-to-public-school/
  • K-12 Online Schools Offer Alternatives -- https://mommypoppins.com/k12-online-school-alternatives
  • Online Alternative Education & Virtual School -- https://www.edgenuity.com/alternative-education/

​Good luck in your search -- it will be well worth it!
0 Comments

My Commitment for 2022 and beyond

1/10/2022

0 Comments

 
I will NOT lie down
I will NOT go quietly
I will NOT submit
I will NOT roll over
I will NOT comply
I will NOT sit down
I will NOT give up
I will NOT shut up
I will not forget
I will NOT turn a deaf ear

But I WILL...
Forgive
Love
Support
Share good news
Speak the truth
Rise up
Be a good neighbor
Love myself
Be a Patriot
Care for those seeking help


Will you?
0 Comments

Stay Tuned Until January 15th

1/5/2022

0 Comments

 
Announced yesterday by D. J. Trump his news conference scheduled for Jan. 6th at Mar-a-Lago, Florida has been cancelled. He will, instead give important information and "many of those important topics" at his Rally in Arizona on January 15th. Stay tuned for "vital messages" at a later time.
0 Comments

A New Beginning...!

1/4/2022

0 Comments

 
It is our sincere hope that everyone had wonderful, magical holidays and are now poised for a glorious NEW YEAR. It is almost unbelievable to me that we are entering 2022! When I was younger, that seemed like a year so far off in the future I was not able to even relate to it.

We are certain that the early part of this year is going to bring astounding, memorable and exciting events. Stay tuned. We urge everyone, no matter your political leanings, to listen to the Rally/New Conference from Donald Trump on January 6th from his home in Florida. 

We've heard through the grapevine that there may be some pretty announcements that will begin those astounding and memorable events referred to in the paragraph above.

Maybe... maybe not! But do yourself a favor and listen in just in case there are. You'll want to hear with your ears!
0 Comments
    Download free copies of America's First Freedom here.

    Liberty Ministries 2021
    ​Tom & Linda Williams

    We started Liberty Ministries Int'l in 1979. We revived the movement in 2021, with a continued message of personal freedom and joy-filled living.


    RSS Feed

    You'll want to sign up for an RSS reader to have the blog sent to you when it is posted.
    ​Two recommendations are:

    ​1. NewsBlur.com
    2. Feedly.com

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly