by Mark Pitstick MA, DC

If you’ve not already, please read . . .

  1. ‘The Great News‘ (article #19 at SoulProof.com/Articles)
  2. ‘Eight Developments for Widespread Conscious Living Now’ (#125)
  3. Greater Reality LIVING Program: Integrating ‘The 8 Developments’ Into Your Daily Life (#72)
  4. Greater Reality HEALING Program: Journeying FROM Deeply Grieving TO Brightly Shining (#82)

The evidence-based information and holistic resources outlined in these articles will help you to:

  • realize your true nature as an eternal being of consciousness / life-force / energy 
  • receive guidance and assistance from highly evolved energies and Source / The Light
  • heal old wounds, release lower energies, and update erroneous teachings
  • create the greatest life YOU have envisioned (YOU = your higher self / soul)
  • help others by sharing your greatest gifts
  • make our world a better place

As enough people do this, widespread personal and planetary change will naturally unfold. 

Evidence-Based Teachings About the Nature of Reality

Please do not read any further if you are happy with answers that your religion provides about your earth experience, bodily death, and afterlife.  If you are a true believer in a very conservative or fundamentalist denomination, this article may confuse, frustrate, or even anger you.

Read on if you are searching for sensible and evidence-based answers to your biggest religious / spiritual questions.

Many people have been turned off by traditional religions — especially those of the fundamentalist variety — that teach simplistic, fear-based, and/or bizarre concepts.  From my theological school studies, I learned this historical fact: theBible has been significantly changed over the millennia by various additions, deletions, interpretations, translations, and updates.

For more information about these well-documented changes, I recommend books by Bart Ehrman, PhD, Karen Armstrong, Bishop John Spong, and Neil Douglas-Klotz, PhD.

I have some knowledge about and have benefited from Hinduism, Buddhism, liberal Judaism, Sufism, and native spirituality wisdom sources.  However, I am most familiar with Christianity: I was raised a Lutheran; attended Nazarene services; studied Biblical history and pastoral counseling at a Methodist theology school; and attended services at Unity, Unitarian-Universalist, United Church of Christ (UCC), Spiritualist, and Centers for Spiritual Living (Science of Mind and Religious Science).

The following conservative Christian teachings are, for me and many other people, most difficult to accept:

  • There’s only one way to salvation, heaven, and God.
  • Because Adam sinned, all people are born into sin.
  • God loves you but will send you to – or allow you to choose – hell if you think, speak, or act in a certain way.
  • Certain actions such as suicide and blaspheming God are unforgiveable sins that automatically lead to fiery eternal torment.
  • Heaven is way up in sky somewhere, while Hell is deep in the Earth’s core.
  • God is a huge, mercurial, bearded man in the sky who sits on a throne while judging, condemning, smiting or assisting as He – in His infinite wisdom and power – deems best.
  • The Creator and Sustainer of the entire cosmos had only one son. God would / could only forgive humans – that He created and deemed as very good – if this son suffered and died.
  • Humans need an intermediary—a pastor, priest, his only son, or angel — to forgive their sins, connect them to God, and assist entry into heaven

My sources for the following statements include: scientific, clinical, and experience evidence about the big picture of life.  These include glimpses from scientific studies indicating that ‘departed’ persons are alive, can communicate, and want to help us on earth.  Clinical evidence includes reports from near-death experiencers; replicated input from life between lives sessions; information from authentic mediums; after-death communications; and firsthand experiences such as perceptions of angelic visits.

Other sources include ‘the perennial philosophy’ – the overlap of esoteric views from major and native religions.  Finally, I consider common sense and philosophical perspectives about how the Source of All Life would most probably act.

1. You are an integral part of Source Energy right now.  This realization eliminates any question of there being only one way to God since all people already have unique relationships with It.  You are, by your very nature, part and parcel of All That Is.  Infinite Intelligence is like an ocean and you are an important part of the whole – like a drop of water in the ocean – but a very important drop.   The saying “Truth is one, paths are many” recognizes that there many ways to awaken to this great news.

I and eleven consciousness experts – Raymond Moody, Caroline Myss, Anita Moorjani, Gary Schwartz, and others – discuss contemporary understandings about this and other topics in The Eleven Questions.  You also can hear our interviews at Radio Shows.  Learn more about this topic by reading article #15: The Nature of Humans.

2. God is not a big guy in the sky. The power and presence behind the cosmos creates and sustains – on an ongoing basis – love, intelligence, energy, spirit, beauty, peace, and much more. Believing in a God created in our image has wreaked disastrous results, especially in justifying mistreatment of those who are different in any way.

I prefer the term E.L.G.O.D. when referring to the Ground of All Being to help break past archaic limiting images.  Those letters stand for the ‘energizing, loving, guiding, organizing, and directing’ process that is behind all life and is all life.  To learn more about my understandings of Source, read article #13 What Is G.O.D. Really Like?

3. Heaven and hell are primarily states of consciousness. There are many different levels of existence here and in the hereafter. You can experience heaven or hell while on earth or in any other time / space perspective.  Your consciousness can manifest different apparent physical realms.  If your awareness / way of being is lower energy  and chaotic, your perceptions of reality will appear angry, fearful, hateful, depressing, and hopeless.

If you / your level of being is higher and balanced, your world will appear to be loving, peaceful, equitable, exciting, and much more.  What we perceive around us is directly created by our consciousness, beliefs, and world view.

Your degree of love and higher energies directly determines whether your life seems heavenly or hellish.  That can be true whether you are manifesting an earthly experience now, or one in another place and time.

The only hells that exist are temporary and self-induced.  Any doors in hell can be opened from the inside.  With help from the Light and your Higher Energy Assistants – which is always a given – you can choose a higher and finer level of existence anytime you are ready.

4. Past religious teachers were doing the best they could with the information they had. Several thousand years ago, people thought the world was flat and the Sun revolved around the Earth. You can imagine their perplexity in trying to fathom the mysteries of this earthly experience, bodily death, and afterlife.  They weren’t right about a number of things, but you can benefit from their teachings that make sense and align with contemporary evidence.  Discard the nonsensical parts, release any anger toward them, and let go of fears about their erroneous teachings.

Over the years, I’ve spoken with many wise older persons.  Many of them said that schizoid messages taught in conservative churches never made sense to them as a child.  Trust what your inner heart knows about how an all loving, caring, and wise Source would be.

 5. It’s time to forgive powerful political and religious rulers who led us astray. It’s the oldest game on the planet. Some rich and powerful men (almost always men) want even more money and power – no matter how many people they hurt or oppress.  That goes on now and did during the formative years of most religions.  You can increase and upgrade your personal energy by forgiving their misdeeds and moving on.   

 6. There are no unforgivable sins. No matter what the transgression, what good earthly parents would send their child to eternal torment? How, then, can any people think that Great Spirit would do this?  You can now release any worriesthat your thoughts, words, and deeds could send you to a never-ending hell or separate you from Source.  You are inextricably interconnected with Universal Intelligence whether you know it or not.

To be clear, this view does not condone or encourage hurting others in any way.  It’s clear that we each must eventually see and feel what we have done to others.  Wrong doers experience a temporary and self-created hell – not from a judgmental deity but as a result of their behaviors.  This is well documented by life review reports from near-death experiencers.  To learn more about this important topic, see article #14 Heaven and Hell: What Are They Really?

Salvation / enlightenment / eternal life doesn’t require earning your way into heaven, joining the supposedly one true religion, or believing certain doctrines.  It’s a matter of:

a.  realizing you are a unique, beloved, and eternal being who is an integral part of
the One right now.

b. becoming aware that (a.) is true for everyone else and treating them as such.

c.  applying higher energies of love, peace, service, etc. in all aspects of your life.

7. You can release old fear-based religious teachings, but still honor their roots. Every religion has remarkably similar core or esoteric teachings:

  • Love one another.
  • Treat others the way they would like to be treated.
  • Serve others and share your special gifts.
  • Know that you are one with Source now and always.
  • Realize that death is an entry to the next phase of oft-changing, but never-ending life.

8. What churches and spiritual groups do I recommend? Over the years, I’ve found what I consider to be more enlightened, love-centered, and service-oriented denominations. These were listed in the introduction: Unity, Unitarian-Universalist, United Church of Christ (UCC), Spiritualist, and Centers for Spiritual Living (Science of Mind and Religious Science).  I’ve also found much wisdom in and guidance from the major religions and native-based spirituality sources.

Other Christian denominations can be good IF they:

  1. focus more on being like Jesus, Buddha, and other great religious teachers: love, serve, forgiv, heal, and teach the eternal nature of humans and interconnection among all life.
  2. avoid judging and pretending they possess an exclusive path to God.
  3. have respect and appreciation for other approaches that try their best to follow (1) and (2)

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Thank you for telling others about this article!  Your life, and that of others around you, will be more enriched when you:  

  1. read the article again so you really know it.
     
  2. discuss with close family and friends to more deeply internalize it.
     
  3. take action steps that seem right for you.
     
  4. share it with others via social media, discussion groups, and other ways.

Hugs, love, blessings, and let it shine!
Mark

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC
author, lecturer, counselor, and holistic chiropractic physician; spokesperson, research assistant, and strategic planner for the SoulPhone Project; founder of Greater Reality Living, Healing, Helping, and Sharing Programs

SoulProof.com    SoulPhone.org   GreaterRealityPrograms.com

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC is a master’s clinical psychologist, holistic chiropractic physician, and clinical nutritionist.  He has also helped others in pastoral counseling and suicide prevention / education settings.  His goal is to help you know and show that this earthly experience is a totally safe, meaningful, and magnificent adventure amidst eternity. 

To learn more about the Greater Reality LIVING, HEALING, HELPING, and SHARING Programs, visit ‘Greater Reality Programs’ top tab at SoulProof.com and SoulPhone.org.  Also see  articles #19, 72, 82, 119, 122, and 125 at SoulProof.com/Articles.

SoulProof.com provides many FREE resources:

  • 8 e-books Radiant Wellness, Soul Proof, The Eleven Questions, Greater Reality Living, The Big Picture of Life, The Afterlife Evidence, Ask the Soul Doctor, and Shining Light Parents Speak
  • 10 audio programs Holistic Breathing; Afterlife Contact; Ask Your Soul, Angels, and The Light; Pre-Birth Planning; Identify and Fulfill Your Purposes AND Enjoy Your Greatest Life; Your Life Review; Appreciate, Realize, and Transform; Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness; Past Life Regression; Heal and Transform Your Suffering
  • 4 audio books (Greater Reality Living, Soul Proof, Radiant Wellness, and Shining Light Parents Speak; we don’t have control over the others)
  • 125 Articles (as of 3/1/25) answering the most commonly asked questions and providing holistic solutions for your toughest challenges
  • 25 Radio Shows: interviews with experts on consciousness, afterlife, and creating an optimal earthly experience. These include Wayne Dyer, Brian Weiss, Anita Moorjani, Raymond Moody, Michael Newton, Caroline Myss, and others. 
  • 27 Videos on different pages
  • Monthly newsletters (subscriber sign-up at bottom of each website page)

Instead of payment, he asks that you: (1) fully use and appreciate the products, (2) share them with others, and (3) help others in ways you feel called, that is, pay it forward.

The following are also available for a fee:

  • 8 printed books Radiant Wellness, Soul Proof, The Eleven Questions, Greater Reality Living, The Big Picture of Life, The Afterlife Evidence, Ask the Soul Doctor, and Shining Light Parents Speak
  • Coaching / Counseling Sessions with Dr. Pitstick by Zoom to gain answers to your biggest questions and holistic solutions to your toughest challenges.

Note: This article is intended as a reference source, not to replace professional treatment for physical, emotional, or mental problems.  The author disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the voluntary use of action steps discussed in article. 

I created this article while ‘wearing the hat’ of a clinician, counselor, and educator.  My statements are based upon some scientific research; much clinical and experiential evidence; my personal experiences; and my best current understandings.  This program does not reflect my roles with the SoulPhone Project since those require solid scientific data for all statements.