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Choosing our religion.
- Oct 17, 2009 at 8:02 PM
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- Comments (25) Total Views (516) Everyone can see this journal post.
I was discussing religion with a friend yesterday and was very intrigued with her story about her journey of faith. I find it very interesting how different people come to religion at different times in their life and how we view the world based on our religion and also how people view us based on our path of faith.
Many people, myself included, were sort of born into the religion they ultimately choose for their life. This doesn't mean we never question the tenants of the religion and perhaps even grow to reject some of the teachings of the church at large, while still clinging to the basics of the faith. I know that in my life I have questioned many things about the Christian church that I grew up believing. I am pretty sure that the God I believe in can handle me questioning things written in his book. He understands that, since he gave everyone the power of reason, surely this would cause them to question and search for answers.
There are many places in scripture where God's followers questioned God. Likewise with Jesus, many of the very learned men where the ones who most passionately questioned Jesus. Although, Jesus could have grown weary of their constant questions, he always took time to explain things to them. He didn't say 'don't question me', he let them question and he answered. For instance in Mark 12:18-27 , Jesus is asked to explain some Hebrew scripture to the Sadducees. They were trying to trip him up by asking him a question for which they thought there was no good answer. In the end, however, Jesus is able to explain it in a way that not only made sense, but also revealed the fact that he was their Messiah. No, God does not mind our questions. He welcomes them and uses them as an opportunity to not only help us grow as Christians, but also to show his power in the world.
What happens, though, when we completely turn our backs on our faith base and move in a different direction for a time and then ultimately come back to the place where we began? We still have the basic faith in our hearts, but our life experience and questions have taught us that the way were were applying that faith to our lives wasn't right. This brings us to a place where we are still adherent to the faith as a whole, but our way of worshipping may look different than it did before we started on our journey. I have never experienced this myself, but I can imagine that it would leave someone feeling a bit out of place in both world, not wishing to reveal to new 'religious' friends the fact that they used to be 'wicked' and un-churched and feeling uncomfortable with old friends who knew them their our non-religious days. Fear if rejection might keep us from being our whole selves in certain situations.
The fact of the matter is that we are who we are. Hopefully, even though our faith may have come, gone and come back again, our morals, principles and values have remained the same. So why should anyone have a problem with our personal choices in the area of our faith? It really is the business of no one besides ourselves and our God. People who, after having known us for a while, liked us, got along with us fine and then upon learning of our religious beliefs, change their opinion of us are probably people we don't want to invest much time in anyway. Why should we waste our time defending our beliefs and trying to convince them that we are still the person they liked just minutes before our revelation of religion? If they are shallow enough to have to be convinced that being friends with a person of a different faith is okay, then they are probably too shallow to be an asset in our lives.
I often wonder why people want to isolate themselves from people who believe differently than they. I also wonder why people care so much what other people believe. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. Our faith and our journey towards our understanding of it, is deeply personal and not exactly up for debate with a third party. We should all just be secure enough in our own faith that what other people believe does not threaten us to the point of rejecting others. Live and let live I say.
© KDV 2009
Tags: god, religion, faith, atheism, pagan, christianity, christian
Comments:
This attitude represents spiritual immaturity at its most basic. At least that's the way I see it.
Thanks for your post!
I think this is so true. What your friends beliefs are should not be a threat to you. Once we get comfortable and a bit more mature in our faith we realize this.
Thanks for reading and commenting. :)
This is all so very true. I am glad to hear someone put into words what my heart is feeling. Faith and spirituality is such a personal thing. Whether it if family, friends, acquaintances, or the random internet stranger.. it is important to me to unite in our commonalities and learn from our differences. Now, off to re-read this journal!
As Christians, we were commanded by Jesus to go and spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. How do you reconcile this with the "live and let live" philosophy? (Kim you know that I am earnestly seeking an answer here, not trying to criticize or pass judgment).
I look at spreading the gospel in a different way I guess than some do. I think that we spread the good news of God's love through the way we live, treat others and interact in the world. When I say live and let live, I mean that I will not try to talk someone out of their beliefs. To what gain is that? It will only antagonize others if I try to push them into Christianity. Far better it is to have people see us and be drawn to us because of the light of God that shines through us. I want to be a person who draws people toward God, not someone who pushes them further away.
Brilliant journal, once again, Kim.
As one who was raised as a Christian, but have not been able to sustain belief in something that I just can't believe, I have felt judged (and have also judged) because of it. Now, however, I strive to find what I have in common with other people, and find that it is so much more fulfilling to actually get to know a person for who he or she is, rather than making assumptions because of the faith they profess.
I don't like feeling like I have to be on the defensive because I am in a minority (at least in my area), and do avoid people who will pass judgement on me because I don't believe what they do. However, I do enjoy the friendship of many wonderful Christians (as well as people of other faiths, and agnostics and atheists, too) as long as the focus is on the character of the person, rather than what he or she does or does not believe.
Well spoken :)
I dont understand why so many people feel they need a RELIGION to follow. What you said was well written and said OP. but for some of us, like myself, i choose NO religion. I am spiritual, I do have faith. but i do not follow MAN.
for the lady above who talked about "spreading the gospel" there is a huge difference between spreading the good word and RAMMING it down people's throats. which is a HUGE mistake MOST christians make. You also have to remember there are literally HUNDREDS of different CHRISTIAN religions. who is to say YOUR church has got it "right"?
I have more respect for those who question, rather then those who don't, whatever religion (or not) they ultimately chose. If someone never questions and simply says "I'm (insert religion) because my parents/family was/is" there is something amiss there. As someone who has studied many different religions, and have friends and respect for all of them, I believe, fundamentally that all have common ground (such as don't lie, cheat, steal etc). I also think God (or whoever) is more concerned with rather we are good and decent people as a whole/in general (like we don't rape, pillage or murder) and make decent choices (at least most of the time, no one is perfect) then rather we belong to a "church" or a similar religious establishment, God is everywhere, we don't "have" to go to church, a meeting of a group of people with identical (or even conflicting) values who openly and calmly discuss religious views is one thing, but to just go to a building and listen to someone speak has never felt...I guess real or genuine to "ME" but it sometimes works for others and I respect that.
Aww, see, you always write the journals I wish I could write. I guess I'm just not as wise as you ;P
Everyone here knows I'm an agnostic atheist, and everyone here knows that I'm not afraid to shout it out. But what everyone here might *not* know is...very few people know what I am in my real life. I am TERRIFIED for certain family members to find out, because I know how I'll be treated: as a degenerate, an undesirable, a demon, a devil, a member of Satan's Army that must be cast into the lake of hellfire (or something along those lines).
I don't unerstand why it personally offends certain people when I state that I'm an agnostic atheist (or I just refer to myself as an atheist, it's quicker). Here's an example:
"What church do you go to?"
"We don't go to church. My husband is agnostic and I'm an atheist."
"O.O ... What? ...What did you say? You mean...you mean you're one of THEM? ...What...WHY? Why would you do that? ...Don't you care? WHY WHY WHY????"
It's like certain people take it as a personal attack against their faith when I say I don't believe in what they believe. Yet every day, I must contend with those who would try and force me to believe what they believe, and I am expected to sit back and nod my head and smile and act cordial, as if it doesn't bother me one bit. Truth is, it does bother me, it's a double standard and I don't think it's fair. But I am a firm believer in "live and let live." No personal gain is going to come to me if I try to "convert" a Christian, just as no personal gain is going to come to a Christian if they try to "convert" me. So what's the point?
I'd rather eat cookies =)
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Kim, this was a beautiful journal. You already know that I have lived through some degree of questioning my faith, but not to the point of leaving and then returning. I know people who have, though. And the judgment you have to face from others can be harsh. I actually don't tell people from my church what I disagree with or why because I don't want to subject myself to their judgment. It's easier for me to keep it between me and God.
I think I have one possible answer to these questions of yours:
I often wonder why people want to isolate themselves from people who believe differently than they. I also wonder why people care so much what other people believe.
What I think is that people misread and misunderstand Scripture and think this is what they are supposed to do. I used to be like that until I matured more. This attitude represents spiritual immaturity at its most basic. At least that's the way I see it.
Thanks for your post!