Many Christians talk about having a relationship with God. Evangelicals in particular speak of the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They say this begins when one “receives Jesus into your heart” or “accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.” This relationship is thought to continue after death in heaven, where one will have a relationship with God and Christ forever. 

Evangelicals frequently distinguish themselves from other Christians – like mainline Protestants and Catholics - by saying that these groups only have religion, but “born again” believers have a relationship with God, and that makes all the difference. The slogan goes something like this: “It is not a religion. It is a relationship” or “It is not about religion; it is about a relationship with God.” You can even buy t-shirts, mugs and caps with that slogan, if you are so inclined. 

I go one step further. I say, “It is not about religion or relationship. It is about realization.” By “realization” I am referring to Self-realization or God-realization, waking up to the Spiritual Reality that Jesus called the Kingdom of God. Others call it spiritual awakening or enlightenment. 

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