The Lakota Sioux have a story about the original teachings that Wakan Tanka (Great Mystery, Great Spirit, Creator...God) caused to be delivered to the People. They are, in no particular order; There is a God, it is not me... What I give away, I keep; What I keep, I lose...Love the People. These 3 teachings are all that was needed for the "Old Ones" to stay on the "Red Path" and live the life that Spirit wanted for us all.
As I studied the major religions of the world, I found a remarkable similarity in their core teachings. All of them, the pre-Christians, the Celts, the Druids...all of the "Old Ones" appeared to receive the same teachings...albeit with different names and slightly different objects. I pondered that for a time...but finally this thought came to me. I believe that Wakan Tanka is a perfect being, and is the Creator. When Wakan Tanka was ready to teach his People the lessons necessary for us to sit by His side...How else would he teach the People. He sent his Spirit Helpers (Angels is one analogy for them) appearing in a form each tribe would recognize, using their language and objects. That would be the "perfect" way.
So, what happened to this perfect, core spirituality? The Lakota, along with other Indigenous Peoples around the world, did not change their original spirituality. They still pray to Wankan Tanka, Tunkashila (the spirit that walked among us as a man), and all of our Spirit Helpers. You may recognize this "Trinity"...It seems to be very close to God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit...indeed, I believe they are all the same. Just different names and language.
However, many groups around the world added layers of other stuff around the spiritual core teachings...Layers that seem to be labeled Jealousy, Greed, Control, Perversion, Hatred...I could go on, but you get the picture. I believe that when each group wrapped enough of this "stuff" around it, and had what they desired...they called it Religion.
For me, and no judgment is intended here for it is not for me to judge...Religion gets in the way of my spiritual journey. Those awful layers are barriers between Wakan Tanka and me. I believe that my relationship is with Wakan Tanka alone...No one can tell me how to take this journey, and no one can keep me from Him.
Please do not see this as some kind of evangelism, for we are not commanded to do that. Just as someone cannot instruct me, I cannot instruct anyone on his or her spiritual journey.
To close this post, I would like to share one remarkable thing about me. For 35 years, between the ages of 15 and 50, I was an Agnostic. I was not a lazy Agnostic, but quite studied. I attended the Nazarene, Southern Baptist, and Methodist churches...and even studied Judaism for a time...but they all stopped making sense to me. I decided that there must be something greater than humankind in the universe, but I stopped believing in a higher power that had any affect on day-to-day life on this backwater planet. All of that changed, a couple of years ago...in a most simple and holy place. Since that single event, I have "shut up and listened" and Wakan Tanka speaks to me, as I believe he speaks to all of us.