I had an interesting thought this week. Why do we (read: I) care about other people’s practices? I had this thought about religion specifically. There are certainly many different ways to answer the question, but when it comes right down to it, it shouldn’t matter to me one way or the other how/why anyone observes their particular religion/philosophy/spirituality/etc.
For the record, I was raised catholic. Church every Sunday until I was an “adult”, baptized, communion, CCD and confirmation. Christmas was a birthday and Easter was a resurrection. As soon as I was old enough to make my own decision, I was out. I can’t put my finger on exactly when, but it was around the first time my parents didn’t force me to church when I was away at school. As I grew and learned and formed an intelligent view of nature, the world and its people, there was a point when a bell went off in my head. That bell signaled the end of organized religion in my life. It didn’t make sense any more. I grew out of it – thankfully. I say thankfully, because I can’t imagine being one of the lemmings any longer.
Now hold on a second. Before you start your hate mail because I just insulted you, consider that this is my choice. Just because I see it as silly doesn’t mean it shouldn’t work for you.
For the longest time I viewed adults, especially those I would consider intelligent, who stuck to organized religion as sad, weak sheep. But, in the spirit of live and let live, I think I could actually be wrong about that. Not about the religion being bunk part, but in the looking down my nose part. I understand how silly it is to believe in an all powerful god/creator and a virgin birth and resurrection. But I suppose some people need to cling to that faith. I can’t imagine why, but as long as they don’t try to force it on me or my family, why should I care?
I know it sounds like a simple thing, but coming to this acceptance wasn’t easy for me. Respected friends and family fall into the above categories, and I don’t like thinking any of them as being so naïve or needy. However, since I’m absolutely pro choice in all aspects of life I needed to let myself relax and allow others to do as they wish without judgment (when possible – hehe). You may choose to have faith that there actually is a heaven where people go when they die. That’s cool. You may believe that we constantly come back as other beings for eternity. OK. I can’t prove otherwise, so until I can I guess wll just agree to disagree.
So as a shepherd to my sheep I say, “Go to you fields, graze as you like, where you like, when you like. But don’t let anyone shear you while you’re out there. At the end of the day we’ll all be together again in the barn.”
RALSTON HAS SPOKEN
THAT IS ALL
You won't catch me defending organized religion, but you will catch me defending belief.
ReplyDelete"I understand how silly it is to believe in an all powerful god/creator and a virgin birth and resurrection."
There are more thing in heaven and earth, Ralston than are dreamt of in your philosophies. I think an off-hand characterization of faith as a state of silliness or illogic is completely unfair. We humans know damned near nothing, even about the natural world, and we are aware of numerous hard-evidenced contradictions to what we know to be fact (think quantum theory).
I think it might be wrong to see God as a bearded old man and to take what is in the Bible literally, but I don't think faith in a higher power is silly. In fact, there are arguments that not believing is silly. (First cause, for instance.)
Humans are arrogant enough to actually believe that they know what is possible and what is not. That's silly.
That said, we should ceretainly not care who believes what, nor shoud we respect unthinking lemmings, but we should not discount anything.
I don't understand how out of one side of your mouth you say it doesn't matter what other people believe and out of the other side you make comments like how silly it is for people to believe in a virgin birth/resurrection or people of faith need to cling to something aka "we are weak". Please just say what you really feel and stop hiding behind political correctness, "I am absolutely pro choice"
ReplyDeleteAlso please define for me an "intelligent view of nature", I don't quite understand, I must have an "unintelligent view"? If an intelligent view of nature means I haven't evolved into a narcissitic, self absorbed human being who believes that there could never be something greater then me in the universe or concerning spiritual matters...then I am guilty.
The kicker for me, is when you likened yourself to a shepherd...really? Right there and then I prayed that the kook who is predicting the rapture is actually right, and the end is near.
It seems you do not believe in heaven or reincarnation so just wondering how do you know for sure that at the end of the day we will all be together in the barn, and what does that barn symbolize for you?
Love ya XO,
"Lemming"
Guess there's a point that even I consider myself over the line arrogant. Someday I'll find that line and hopefully I'll have the guts to step over it. Until then, I'll be glad we can have these debates. The reason I consider my friends so wonderful to have is that even though we have such differing philosophies, we can coexist in love.
ReplyDeleteSee y'all next week.
Love,
Shepherd Ralston