The definition of religion has picked up too much heavy baggage. I prefer the term “belief system.”
It is an incomplete belief system that does not encompass the very concepts of its contradiction.**
Otherwise it is only half a truth, constructed in fear of its own demise.
A belief system should be a nourisher of the believers, else it does not justify the intrusion on the silence. It should give to its adherents not its truth, but provide a sacred environment to realize their own truth.
A belief system is a tool to aid a person in producing a result.
Never can the tool be more important than the craftsperson.**
Too often religion is practiced in the absence of these things. In such improper practice, religion becomes the sarcophagus of a once living truth. In such hands, religion is the rigid remains of what was living and life imbuing, but has a monument to itself and its leaders.
Try not to take excessive offense when confronted with another’s beliefs that you cannot abide. We re are often introduced to our own beliefs by defining their conflicts with something we disagree.**
If you could design a religion, what would it look like?
copyright 2008 CG Walters
Words do not contain truth, but may reflect the truth that you hold within.
This is my truth. Only you can determine if there is any value in it for you.
C.G. Walters primarily writes fiction that focuses on the multidimensionality of our loves and our lives. His current novel, Sacred Vow is a metaphysical novel about a man who responds to the mysterious call of [his soulmate], opening the way to redefinition of both himself and his understanding of the world around him…Highly recommended. —Midwest Book Review.
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In celebration of CG’s upcoming non-fiction book, **Strike a Chord of Silence, for a limited time autographed/signed copies of Sacred Vow are available! – or buy from your favorite brick and mortar, or online store (Amazon.com ). Purchase Sacred Vow as ebook http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=79405&Origine=3971 or the Amazon Kindle version
2 comments:
A fascinating challenge.
I'm not sure if I can articulate very well, but I am a Christian (a progressive one) at heart, so I would say something like:
-Take Christianity
-Strip out the parts about proliferating and expanding Christianity as an organized religion (bits that condemn non-believers and other religions)
-Strip out legalism but replace it with guidelines that center around significance, not actions. (Example: sin is any act that steers the individual away from God -- whatever that means)
Religion is also a culture and code of conduct based on the survival/environmental needs of the people who developed it, so it will always be tied to its time and place. I must admit, the value religion offers me is its rituals and structures -- buildings and processes designed to get in touch with and ponder my spirituality. And that, I'm afraid, will always be culture-specific.
Not sure if I made any cohesive sense, but that's what I have to say on the subject. Thanks for an intriguing question!
ari
Indeed you have made sense to me, Ari.
First of all (imo) that would be 'Christ-like'--not necessarily the same as 'Christian.'
Time/place relative, contextual...definitely.
Very good points. Thank you for sharing.
peace and wonder,
CG
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