I believe there is a conspiracy, but it's not what most people think of as a conspiracy. In all of Jesus's teachings, he tried constantly to get people's minds off the physical realm and into the spiritual. He knew the spiritual was what mattered - the eternal realm.
I believe the conspiracy is not by people or by the catholic church, but by spiritual beings and powers. Believing there is some physical cover-up or conspiracy by men is a dead end - that kind of thinking leads us away from God and keeps our minds busy on things that have no real meaning. If wicked spiritual forces can trick us into chasing illusions, then they have succeeded at keeping us from focusing on the things that truly matter: helping other people, doing what's right in a kingdom of conscience, and allowing ourselves to illuminate the lives of others by using the gifts God has given us. It's such a simple thing to be close to God because God is the God of relationship.
As long as we're running around here on earth, searching dark catacombs, flipping through conspiracy books, and ultimately chasing our tails, we'll miss the true path of enlightenment. If you want the real path, forget about secrets of the catholic church, forget about the rise of the anti-Christ, forget about the end of the world... instead, go call your wife, your son, your daughter. Tell them you love them. Take food to someone that is hungry, write a song that inspires, stand up against those around you that oppress others, and embrace a kingdom of conscience. Follow Christ's example and ignore organized religion. A true church is a gathering of believers in faith. It is not doctrine, rulebooks, large buildings, or secrets. It's a gathering of hearts. There is the way, the truth, and the life.
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