There is so much said and done in the name of religion out there! A good part of it is just posturing! Faith is what you believe in, what you at your core feel confident to know. Religion is the mode on how you go about practising that faith It is not particularly important what you call yourself, but it is important how you live your life! A lot of people have been persecuted and killed in the name of every religion, and it still goes on.... Whether you are Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox does not matter! Whether you are Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, or any other, does not matter really. And to any just God, it could NOT matter! All that would matter is how you live your life and what you value! There are no doubt many paths to know God! I think all of them start with an attempt to be a decent human being and love your fellow human beings and treasure the Earth as our fragile common home.
Don't get me wrong, I love being a Christian and as part of that a Presbyterian, but I know that does not make me superior to someone who has chosen a different way to acknowledge the existance of a higher power we call God or Allah or whatever we choose! And how we worship and observe is fine, if it works for us! God loves all people of all races, cultures, and religions! Isn't that one of the definitions of an all knowing and powerful God??
What do YOU think?
Don't get me wrong, I love being a Christian and as part of that a Presbyterian, but I know that does not make me superior to someone who has chosen a different way to acknowledge the existance of a higher power we call God or Allah or whatever we choose! And how we worship and observe is fine, if it works for us! God loves all people of all races, cultures, and religions! Isn't that one of the definitions of an all knowing and powerful God??
What do YOU think?
Beautiful words, I am going to second them. I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI have studied many, many "religions". Taken the best little bitty bit, and put it in a bag from each one I have studied.
Once I was done, I took the bag, pulled out the contents, and decided that I was already doing all these little, but powerful things that all religions share.
I believe every religion is just like a warm ray coming of the powerful sun. All shining, and warm. Have faith, have the will to be the best you can, and want to be. That is the paved path, and there are gardens beautiful on either side to keep you smiling as you go through life. <3
Thank you so much Juna! I really like the way you put it, and of course I agree!
ReplyDeleteSeeing your perspective means a lot to me!
Well, Larry, here is how I see it:
ReplyDeleteFaith or Spirituality and Religion are not the same. No disagrement there. The former is, as you said, one's beliefs and what connection one has with our Creator; while the latter is a formalized, ritualistic, or traditional way of expressing some beliefs...usually resulting in a formula like way of make one feel better about the whole thing.
Religion is where the "posturing" you spoke of comes into play. Going to a church or a Temple or a Mosque does not necessarily mean that I know God, but that I am honoring a "tradition" and gathering with like minded people doing the same thing.
As I said before, standing in a garage all day does not make me a Buick.
It is what is in my heart,how I live, and how I share the knowledge and love of God with others that counts.
There is a difference in having religion and having a relationship with God. No matter what path one chooses, it should be (IMHO) one which seeks God, his will, and his wisdom; not something necessarily convenient or something others will approve of, but something which speaks to our hearts and the Spirit of God which is in us.
Brilliant comment Lee! You said it better than I did! Thank you!!
ReplyDelete