After that not so well thought out post from Brian on spirituality (no offence, I know you mean well), I thought this post from Steve Pavlina was a good reality check.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2011/08...us-growth/

I also thought it was a good hit out at Steve's critics who think the man claims to be all-knowing and arrogant.

"Have you noticed that each time someone creates a linear map of consciousness (i.e. a series of defined tiers that you can progress through), they almost always put themselves on the 2nd or 3rd rung from the top, with the top tier being the idealized version of their values? Are their values universal? Of course not."


"There is no universal, tiered, linear map of conscious growth. There is simply expansion, with no direction being more or less enlightened than any other. This is true not only for individuals but for societies as well." (and IMO, religions)