The Need to Control Other People

The Archangels Discuss How to Relinquish It

The Fifth District Court of Appeals in Texas found in favor of the state regarding the mandate of posting the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms this week.  It reversed a precedent already in place from decades ago, it disregarded the fundamental, constitutional, foundational law of the separation of church and state and, in my opinion, it goes against the first amendment regarding freedom of religion.  Just as important, as a retired teacher, I can promise you without any doubt that it will make a lot of non-Christian teachers, parents, and students – the adults all tax payers – feel not only uncomfortable, but as though they are less important, accepted, and valued.  This is unacceptable.  I can only hope the decision will be reversed by the Supreme Court, although I have very little confidence in that institution these days.

Based on various sources I’ve read, most Americans are not in favor of this, both Christian and non-Christian.  Most people do not want the public schools involved in religious education or promotion, upbringing, or influence, including teaching the Bible in schools under the pretext of historical value, and posting scripture from the Bible or any other religious text.  It’s the people at the top, the few who wield power in politics and those who orchestrated their elections, who want to force their religious views on others.  This is a major problem, certainly in Texas and other states along the Bible belt, as well as in the country, and in the world, and we will never have peace until people stop trying to force others to follow their beliefs and adopt their practices.  This and greed are what are behind all wars presently and throughout history, and until we stop trying to force others to do what we think they should do, whether they agree or not, we will never have peace or harmony on the planet.

This need to control others is something the Archangels have been talking about for a very long time, so I asked them to comment on this as well as how we can put an end to it, and their response follows.

Question:   You have mentioned many times that people must relinquish the idea that they know what is best for other people and trying to force others to follow their lead.  A lot of people are guilty of this, and I agree that it’s a problem, but how can we go about changing this?

Answer:

We know there are indications to the contrary, including this latest ruling regarding the Ten Commandments, but we will tell you that this idea of controlling others is already on the way out, not only when it comes to religious views, but in many other areas, as well.  It is as we have said, although the people in power are still focusing on controlling virtually everyone else, the masses are well on the way to releasing this habit and view of controlling others and forcing them into compliance.

As is the case with most habits, the idea of forcing and controlling others will take time to break, however, we can tell you that most people are leaning in the opposite direction.  You see evidence of this in the mass exodus of people from churches and religions that demand certain behaviors and persecute those who deviate from them.  You see this in how many people are questioning the beliefs they’ve had for many years, and acknowledge now that they do not resonate or make sense to them anymore.  You see this in those who reevaluate their beliefs and change them as needed in order to be at peace with themselves, regardless of the guidance they have received from relatives, friends, and others who have guided them in the past.  Also, you see this when people who are not being persecuted stand up for those who are being targeted, even though their own lives and practices are not being targeted, and this is exactly what it will take to put an end to the practice of forcing others into compliance.

People are well on the way to realizing that they do not have to agree with others’ actions and ideas in order to accept and respect them.  Consider even recent history, perhaps the last few generations.  There have been gains, however slow and incomplete they have been, with regard to civil rights, racial discrimination, gender discrimination, sexual identity, sex discrimination, employment practices and opportunities, and more.  Yes, there have been some backwards steps, and there continue to be those who want to reverse previous civil rights and integration measures among people intended to increase personal rights and choices, but the majority of people have not supported these measures and continue to speak out against them.  Eventually they will be reversed, and personal rights will gain ground once again. 

It is easy to see the fault in others and much more difficult to see it in yourself in many cases, and as we said, habits are usually difficult to reverse, but people are beginning to change.  Not long ago, interracial marriage was illegal in some places.  Homosexuality and sexual practices connected to it were also illegal and legally punishable in some places.  Women were treated no better than property.  Slavery was rampant, even in more advanced societies.  Neither women nor minorities were able to attain employment that paid well enough to support them, if at all.  Men of particular race, religion, and social status held all the power in various regions.  Yes, we are aware that all of these things still exist in certain places, and we are also aware that there are those who want to return to those days when they were common and acceptable, but the fact is, they are much fewer than you often think, and they are not only not gaining more power, they are steadily losing it.  They have already lost the support of the masses.

The most difficult thing for people to realize is that not all issues surrounding control over others are as easy to identify as the above mentioned.  Issues of control over others such as abortion and religion are disguised as other things.  Those who push for abortions to remain illegal in many cases see it as a fight for life and a protection for the unborn and do not consider that it forces women to do things they do not wish to do for whatever reason.  People such as these would never endorse slavery, yet they are fine with forcing women to give birth to children.  It is still a form of control over others. 

People who want to see the Ten Commandments required to be posted in public places, including schools, do not see it as an infringement against those who do not accept their religion, but rather as a way to honor their god and as a means of promoting and supporting good, moral behavior.  They do not consider that it is a way to control people and force them to recognize a religion they do not agree with or practice.  Most world religions have very similar religious guidelines to the Ten Commandments, yet if another religion posted quotes from their holy texts, the same people who support the mandate under the guise of the guidance for morality would be incensed. 

Those who want to restrict or cancel treatment for the transexual community suggest this as a way to protect children, based largely on propaganda and lies, instead of an infringement on not only trans children, but on the right of families, parents, to decide on which medical treatments should be given to their children.  These same people would be outraged if their child had cancer, for example, and the government or other people forbade them to pursue the treatment recommended by their doctors.  There are many souls who chose lives within the LGBTQ+ community at this time as a means of teaching others about the importance of acceptance and the relinquishing of control and forcing others to comply with things with which they do not agree or belong.

All of these things, regardless of how they are described or excused are about controlling and forcing others to do things their way, and all are unacceptable.  You cannot have peace and harmony when you restrict others’ choices. You cannot pursue or maintain peace if you take others’ rights to choose for themselves away.  It does not matter how strongly you feel about something.  Live your life as you see fit, and allow others to do the same.  No one should have the right to force others to do things they do not wish to do.  The only restrictions against others’ choices and actions that should ever be in place are if those choices and actions harm others, and simply disagreeing with or taking exception to others’ lifestyles and choices does not qualify as harm. 

This is the biggest hurdle left that is required of mankind to conquer for the sake of unity.  People must release the idea that they know what is best for other people, that their way is the best or only way that something should be done, and that they should be able to tell others how they should live their lives and curtail their choices and rights.  Regardless of how strongly someone feels about any issue, it is essential that people relinquish the desire to control others, no matter how much they disagree with others’ choices. 

Whether you are guided by religious beliefs, teachings, tradition, or anything else, no one has the right to force others to do things they do not wish to do.  If you believe strongly about something, live your life in accordance with that belief, whether it is a belief about abortion, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, sex, culture, gender roles, or anything else, as long as you do not infringe on others’ rights to do the same thing.  Be true to yourself.  If your values bring you joy, hope, love, and peace and inspire a life of kindness towards others, they are the right beliefs for you, and you should follow them, live your life according to them, but that does not mean they are right for others, or that you should try to force your beliefs on others. 

If you feel angry and judgmental, and you want to force other people to behave according to your beliefs, rather than their own, you are in the wrong.  You must allow others to choose their own paths, their own ways of living.  Until the majority of people accept that and relinquish their attempts to control others, there will be no tranquility.  This is a fundamental requirement for peace on Earth.  You do not have to agree with people’s choices, but you do have to respect their right to make them and accept that they are entitled to decide how to live their own lives as they see fit, whether you agree with them, or not.

Final Thoughts

I disagree with a lot of things people choose to do, but as long as they don’t try to force me to live in compliance with their views and opinions, they can believe and act however they want.  We can still be friends, or at the very least be civil, but neither of us has the right to force the other to do something with which we disagree.  Apply your religious beliefs to your own life, but don’t try to apply them to others.  Don’t try to justify such attempts at control by quoting scripture that does not necessarily apply to other people, no matter how much you believe in it or that your way is the right way.  It can be the right way for you, without being the right way for other people.  The same goes for politics, lifestyles, and even mundane things like fashion and food choices.  I’m very capable of making my own choices and decisions, and I neither need nor want someone else to tell me what to do.  I offer that same courtesy to others.  Let’s all stay in our own lane and in our own truth.

It’s not the majority of Christians who want religion forced into classrooms or other public places.  Neither do the majority of Christians agree with taking away personal rights, including the right to seek an abortion.  If that was the case, considering that nearly two thirds of the country’s population are Christians, there wouldn’t be such a huge divide or controversy surrounding these issues.  Christians are under a lot of fire lately, but it’s only a few who are trying to cram their religion down others’ throats, not the majority.  Most use their religion as a reminder that they have been told not to judge others, and they are happy to leave that job to God, and they remember that they have been asked by God to love other people, not force them to live in a certain way. 

The Christians I know are good people.  So are the Muslims, Buddhists, and Jews that I know.  We all respect and accept our differences.  I have straight friends and LGBTQ+ friends.  I have men and women friends.  I have Republican friends and Democratic friends.  I have friends of all races and many cultures, and we all get along just fine.  I have friends who like to talk about my work with the Angels and others who are not comfortable talking about it, and I react accordingly, always with respect and kindness, usually letting them set the boundaries and guidelines.  If someone steps over an invisible line, I set my own boundaries, and there are some instances when conversations are brought to an end in the interest of not offending people.

With regard to the Ten Commandments mandate, again, you’re entitled to your own opinion.  You always are, which is why I remind my readers often to take what resonates and leave the rest.  Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with it, however, it is still an example of forcing people to do something they do not wish to do, or there would never have been a court case to begin with, right?  The whole historical aspect of the Ten Commandments and Christianity in our country is full of holes and simply an excuse to force religion on others.

There are many things that people have no trouble accepting, even if it’s something they would never do.  The trick is to relinquish that need for control when it comes to something about which you do have strong feelings.  That’s when it can be challenging to live and let live, but it’s something we must all learn to do.  If it isn’t illegal, then people generally have the right to do it.  And if you think there should be a law in place to forbid it, just because you think it’s morally wrong, even though it doesn’t directly affect other people adversely, that’s another form of control.  Live by your own morals, and leave others to do the same.

The intention for Friday Night Meditation with the Archangels for the month of April is Balance.  We could all use more balance, right?  And it’s getting harder and harder to find, much less maintain.  If you would like to participate, just call on the Archangels and offer loving thoughts and energy to all who need it.  You can ask for help with balance for yourself, too.  I often do.

I hope your weekend is full of joy, hope, love, and peace, and I hope you find some time to identify the blind spots you might have – we all have them! – and commit to the whole live and let live thing.  Even if you can’t condone some lifestyles and choices, surely you want to enjoy a more peaceful, respectful, loving Earth, right?  The way to experience more of that is to accept people and their right to live their own life in a way that is comfortable for them, whether or not you agree with their choices.

Blessings, all.