Is enlightenment for the religious only?

Question:

Is enlightenment for the religious only?

I was raised Catholic from birth, and it was all colorful for a bit but once I reached adulthood I didn't feel enlightened at all. All that once was bright and good, became a big lie. Backed up by the most spiritual person in my family, my grandmother. Maybe it's her prayers that keep me alive, I don't know. I don't see people praying ever. I don't believe the people that surround me actualy believe in anything higher than themselves. But there's something inside me that makes me believe in something bigger than all of us. I have had it with organized religion. I'll respect yours, I'm not here to destroy anyone's belief. My belief was substituted by science and paychecks. I still believe in the Golden Rule. I live trying to make sence of my perception. In the past I used LSD many times. It never handicapped from doing anything someone who wasn't under the influence could do and it never affected my judgment. I believe in my experience I saw things as they really are.

Additional Details

2 weeks ago
(continued) much like Aldous Huxley wrote on his experience on LSD. I never had halucinations, saw sounds, heard smells or anything like that. I saw individuals as independent lifeforms not linked to eachother in any way or form, other than the indulgences they seeked. In all the experience has made me seek for something I know will not fill my hungry and inquiring self. So I seek enlightenment within what I call "public conciousness". The world. I barely make eye contact when I speak because I'm afraid of what I'll find, mostly denial or rejection. Some I just don't understand why they are still ruled by cavemanish behaviour and questionable anger towards others. Paranoia is total awareness. I'd like to point out that paranoia could be real or made up by our brain. When you feel it, there just might be someone watching. I don't think of it as a disorder, it's a perception. Humans are inquiring and curious people.

2 weeks ago
I hope we evolve to be a more thinking race. Maybe we could start solving the biggest mystery of all, our existence. It isn't hard to understand. Just like there are ants roaming around my home this time of year there will always be people roaming around looking for an answer. And as small as I just made people to be, there is another very much bigger plain of existence which many of us don't dare touch or talk about. Awareness. Everyone has gone so gung ho for their own motives that we have forgotten sanity and replaced it with omniscience. Calling awareness "the know" making it ureachable for those really in it, to open the door and introduce it to those outside. To see through lies. Most people are very cowardly to talk about this, and would accuse you of being insane, mostly because they're liars and their lives are founded on them. Everyone is included. No one believes in telepathy, religious leaders, politicians are afraid of it, they will shut you down. What would Jesus do?

2 weeks ago
So fine not all of us (including me) is a well developed telepath. But everyone should know that it is there, and it should be acknowleged whenever it comes up. So this is where you find me looking for enlightenment. In what people call "the know" or universal conciousness. Many times I thought of it as a no win situation. I become skeptical about all. What if what I seek is already here and the problem being is that I don't know it's designation. On this search "where to look" for becomes "who to look for". "When", is everyday and "how" is everyway. Many of us live in love. That's great for those who experience it. I have experienced a few forms of it. Love for myself at this time seems unreachable without the help of another, caring soul. Maybe it is that person I'm looking for. the end seems too far away right now, I'm not that old. Acceptance has to be my friend and my biggest weakness. I'm not one to settle for anything. Maybe this is it. I find it absurd to think that's the case

2 weeks ago
I just wanted to add that LSD isn't a pleasure drug. It doesn't cause a high and it's not addictive. It is not for the weak minded. I did it when I was too young to understand what it did. It has taken me years to understand what I experienced and what it meant. I don't endorse the use of it. I can cause severe brain damage if missused. It happened because it had to happen.

2 weeks ago
I'm a recovering addict and haven't done drugs since May of 2005. And the last time I did LSD was 1994.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: 2 weeks ago
(continued) much like Aldous Huxley wrote on his experience on LSD. I never had halucinations, saw sounds, heard smells or anything like that. I saw individuals as independent lifeforms not linked to eachother in any way or form, other than the indulgences they seeked. In all the experience has made me seek for something I know will not fill my hungry and inquiring self. So I seek enlightenment within what I call "public conciousness". The world. I barely make eye contact when I speak because I'm afraid of what I'll find, mostly denial or rejection. Some I just don't understand why they are still ruled by cavemanish behaviour and questionable anger towards others. Paranoia is total awareness. I'd like to point out that paranoia could be real or made up by our brain. When you feel it, there just might be someone watching. I don't think of it as a disorder, it's a perception. Humans are inquiring and curious people.