Label Versus Path
Catholics constantly wonder what drives young people away from the church. The easy, obvious answer: rules and dogma. Modern society teaches us to analyze something, question it, measure it against our own world view, and pass judgement--not blindly accept doctrine that largely conflicts with our own views. Yet, the Catholic church expects us to do just that: accept dogma and follow rules.
How can Jesus be all man and all divine at the same time? Dogma. What compelled God to sentence his only son to crucifixion? Dogma. Why is the act of homosexuality considered sinful? Dogma.
Regardless of individual belief or objective morality, the Church hierarchy and tradition tells Catholics to drop skepticism--eventually--and follow. Frankly, I think that's stupid. The church has made absurd claims in the past--i.e., Jews are evil, women are idiots. And, it will continue to make absurd notions because humans will continually run it. Times change. And, most young people today don't want to submit themselves to things they find repulsive, like the Catholic stance on homosexuality. It will likely change, but for now, that particularly drives me away.
This framework only intensifies with the modern view of religion as label, not as path. As a Catholic, says the person, I must believe certain things because I am a member of the Church: that's what being Catholic means--I eat Jesus every week, I honor the Lord's day, I abstain from sex before marriage, etc. I'm not quite sure what anyone hopes to get out of this--perhaps the feeling of being part of a club that carries Roman torture devices around necks and follows strict rules.
But, Christ had no intention to found a club or oppress humans with more labels. He hoped to accomplish the complete opposite and cleanse the Jewish faith of strident regulation. Jesus healed on the Sabbath because helping humanity trumped following a rule. He honored the excluded because kindness trumped cleanliness. He condemned religious showmanship because true faith always beats projected faith.
These things mattered. Not rules
I think Jesus meant to clarify the path. Rules are meant to guide, not constrict. Life is meant to be lived, not choked. People are meant to be loved, not excluded. The same hierarchical structure that condemned Jesus now drives people away.
I'm not quite sure what the path is, but I doubt mindlessly submitting to controversial rules will help us find it or walk it. Perhaps one doesn't need a religion at all. And, that's exciting. I just try to keep an open mind and act from love. Sometimes that's difficult, but it feels right.
How can Jesus be all man and all divine at the same time? Dogma. What compelled God to sentence his only son to crucifixion? Dogma. Why is the act of homosexuality considered sinful? Dogma.
Regardless of individual belief or objective morality, the Church hierarchy and tradition tells Catholics to drop skepticism--eventually--and follow. Frankly, I think that's stupid. The church has made absurd claims in the past--i.e., Jews are evil, women are idiots. And, it will continue to make absurd notions because humans will continually run it. Times change. And, most young people today don't want to submit themselves to things they find repulsive, like the Catholic stance on homosexuality. It will likely change, but for now, that particularly drives me away.
This framework only intensifies with the modern view of religion as label, not as path. As a Catholic, says the person, I must believe certain things because I am a member of the Church: that's what being Catholic means--I eat Jesus every week, I honor the Lord's day, I abstain from sex before marriage, etc. I'm not quite sure what anyone hopes to get out of this--perhaps the feeling of being part of a club that carries Roman torture devices around necks and follows strict rules.
But, Christ had no intention to found a club or oppress humans with more labels. He hoped to accomplish the complete opposite and cleanse the Jewish faith of strident regulation. Jesus healed on the Sabbath because helping humanity trumped following a rule. He honored the excluded because kindness trumped cleanliness. He condemned religious showmanship because true faith always beats projected faith.
These things mattered. Not rules
I think Jesus meant to clarify the path. Rules are meant to guide, not constrict. Life is meant to be lived, not choked. People are meant to be loved, not excluded. The same hierarchical structure that condemned Jesus now drives people away.
I'm not quite sure what the path is, but I doubt mindlessly submitting to controversial rules will help us find it or walk it. Perhaps one doesn't need a religion at all. And, that's exciting. I just try to keep an open mind and act from love. Sometimes that's difficult, but it feels right.