Whatever Happened To Keith Giles?

I suppose it’s not a secret that, over the last few months, I have been shifting away from Progressive Christianity [and Christianity in general] towards something closer to whatever one might call the notion of Divine Unity or Non-Duality.

So, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised when friends of mine send me messages that people have been asking them about me. Or, specifically, “what happened to Keith Giles?”

Here’s one example I received from a friend of mine just the other day:

Now, I could complain about the fact that this person could have just sent ME this message to ask how I was doing or to inquire about where I was at spiritually, (and I do wish they would have done so), but I guess the main thing I wonder about is: “Why does this person care what someone else thinks about what I believe?”

I mean…think about it: This person wants to know what another person thinks about what Keith Giles thinks about God.

Isn’t that kinda…weird?

They’re not asking me what I believe, and they’re not asking my friends what they believe, they’re asking my friends what they think Keith Giles believes.

So, this is why I wanted to write this article today: because this person exemplifies a huge part of what I’ve been trying to say about gurus and religious authority figures. We can’t help but want to mimic the ideas and beliefs of others.

Many of us have been so conditioned, for so long, to believe whatever our pastor believes; to repeat what our denomination teaches; to parrot what our favorite author says, that we can hardly imagine thinking for ourselves.

Another case in point: I posted a few months ago a quote about how Jesus [in the Gospel of Thomas] says that only the blind require a guide and that everyone should develop their own ability to see the Truth for themselves. In response, I got so many comments from people who just could NOT wrap their heads around the idea that they don’t need a leader or a guru. Everyone was responding on the assumption that they needed a teacher who was anointed or inspired or wise or well-studied. No one seemed to be able to take the step that would allow them to imagine that the best teacher possible was already inside of them.

I tried to make this point with several of them, but, sadly, most of them seemed completely oblivious to the idea that the only guru they needed was within.

Being your own guru just isn’t something most of us are comfortable with. Especially if they’ve grown up being indoctrinated against such an idea for most of their lives. [And Evangelical Christians are most certainly conditioned to doubt themselves and trust “Pastor Bob” more than their own ability to hear the voice of God for themselves].

So, “Whatever happened to Keith Giles?” Did he “go off the deep end?” Has he “left religion”?

Yes, I did leave religion. And you should too if you ever hope to become truly free to think for yourself.

Have I gone “off the deep end?” Maybe. At least, from the perspective of those who are still clinging to the unique divinity of Jesus and the exclusivity of the Bible, yes, I certainly have.

But, I must say the water is fine over here on the deep end. It’s warm and it’s calm and it’s soothing. It’s also much more interesting than the shallow end of the ocean where everyone can touch the bottom and everything is “safe.”

Still, the main point I want to make is that it does not matter [and it should not matter] to anyone what you think about Keith Giles, or what someone else thinks about Keith Giles, or what Keith Giles thinks.

What do you think?

What do you believe? And better yet, why do you believe it? Because your pastor told you? Because your favorite author said so?

Or because you, personally, have direct experience with the Divine presence of the Living God? Because you know something in the deepest core of your being that no one can explain in words?

Is it because what you believe resonates through every fiber of your being? Is it something so deeply personal and real to you that no one can take it away?

Think about what you believe. Take it very seriously.

Do not allow anyone – not even me [especially not me] – to tell you what you should think or believe about God.

All that matters is what you think. All that counts is what you believe right now, and why you believe whatever that happens to be.

One day, very soon, every single one of us will part the veil of mortality. We will come face to face with the Divine Presence of God.

In that moment of eternity, there will be no one there with you to tell you what to think, or what to believe.

Don’t let that moment be the first time you’ve even come into the Divine Presence.

Find a way, and make the time, to sit quietly and listen for the voice of God.

Get used to that voice.

Listen for yourself.

Because your connection with the Divine is the Ultimate Reality.

Please don’t relinquish your experience of God to someone else.

Your connection is yours and no one else’s.

But who cares what I think?

What do you think?

**

Would you like to learn more about The Gospel of Thomas? My online course, INSIDE/OUTSIDE takes a deeper dive into this text and it’s totally self-paced so you can start whenever you like and revisit the lessons anytime you want. The entire course is just $19.99 so what are you waiting for? Learn more and register here today>

Keith Giles is the best-selling author of the Jesus Un series. He has appeared on CNN, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and John Fugelsang’s “Tell Me Everything.” He hosts the Second Cup with Keith podcast, and co-hosts the Apostates Anonymous podcast, and the Heretic Happy Hour Podcast.

His latest book, Second Cup with Keith is available now on Amazon HERE>