Great posts, very thought-provoking
and honored to have provided any help or impetus
Still digesting, but wanted to post a link to a copy of Dr. Hawkin's MOC (Map of Consciousness):
Your Advancement toward Enlightenment - Power vs Force
The God-view column in particular correlates very well with the 7 stages you described.
I do have one comment about traditional religions, and that is that they portray a relationship with God in a linear way, thus limiting the growth of consciousness. With a consciousness-based approach it is a lot easier to see where you are, and where the next step is; but with religion, they just give God to you straight up, usually with bits and pieces of all the stages jumbled together, and they expect you to believe and trust in that God faithfully. Even if you do manage a "good relationship" with God, there is no explanation of how to improve that relationship and know God better -- people get bogged down in inconsequential details and dogma, like going to church more, stopping swearing, reading more bible verses, etc. No wonder so many people are put off by religion
No idea on what we can do to improve the situation, though. Seems like the best way is just to focus on yourself, become enlightened, and lift mankind's consciousness through your own LOC.