Religion
I've heard it often said, "Christianity is not a religion. It's a relationship with God." I've also heard it said, "Buddhism is not a religion. It is a way of life." While both statements contain an element of truth within, I also wonder why are both religions trying to avoid the definition?
Well, I guess firstly, no one likes to be boxed in to a category. I suppose there are stereotypes which I find great for guessing a general manner of approaching people. You wouldn't approach an atheist by declaring how great is the day the Lord has made, would you? (Unless you were looking for a fight.) But then stereotypes fail when trying to guess what an individual might do. No atheist, christian, black, asian, etc is the same as everyone else in his or her category.
Then there is the 'uncool' factor about being in a religion. It carries the conotations of being backwards, non progressive, stodgy, boring. On other levels it is viewed as stupid and ignorant. And sometimes it is viewed as hypocritical, overbearing, selfrighteous, proud and intrusive. There are historical and personal experiences to validate these views, I am sure.
However, let us look at that word. Re - ligion. The root words are Re and Liege. Re meaning again or a second time. Liege meaning loyalty. A new loyalty. Perhaps not so much for Buddhists (although certainly for many Buddhists) but almost certainly for Christians that is what they are doing. Declaring a new loyalty. Christians declare themselves loyal to a new set of rules. A different reality. I find it difficult to call myself Christian (because of the beliefs I hold that might not quite fit in with 'traditional' Christianity) but certainly whatever I am practicing today is in fact a religion. I have dedicated myself to a new way of thinking about things and a new way of doing things.
I hope to whoever reads this maybe we can rethink our associations with this word. In a world where money drives many things and kills many things in the process (a subject of a much longer post for later), but just consider whatever your passion may be, the environment, poverty, hunger, sickness, science, war, art, etc. - today I feel religion is needed. As a humanity we need to re liege our selves to something different from the global to the personal levels. Some thing new. A new way of thinking. A religion.
I for one and for starters shall say I am proud that I have changed my ways of thinking. I am proud to be a stronger, wiser person. I am proud to have a religion.
Well, I guess firstly, no one likes to be boxed in to a category. I suppose there are stereotypes which I find great for guessing a general manner of approaching people. You wouldn't approach an atheist by declaring how great is the day the Lord has made, would you? (Unless you were looking for a fight.) But then stereotypes fail when trying to guess what an individual might do. No atheist, christian, black, asian, etc is the same as everyone else in his or her category.
Then there is the 'uncool' factor about being in a religion. It carries the conotations of being backwards, non progressive, stodgy, boring. On other levels it is viewed as stupid and ignorant. And sometimes it is viewed as hypocritical, overbearing, selfrighteous, proud and intrusive. There are historical and personal experiences to validate these views, I am sure.
However, let us look at that word. Re - ligion. The root words are Re and Liege. Re meaning again or a second time. Liege meaning loyalty. A new loyalty. Perhaps not so much for Buddhists (although certainly for many Buddhists) but almost certainly for Christians that is what they are doing. Declaring a new loyalty. Christians declare themselves loyal to a new set of rules. A different reality. I find it difficult to call myself Christian (because of the beliefs I hold that might not quite fit in with 'traditional' Christianity) but certainly whatever I am practicing today is in fact a religion. I have dedicated myself to a new way of thinking about things and a new way of doing things.
I hope to whoever reads this maybe we can rethink our associations with this word. In a world where money drives many things and kills many things in the process (a subject of a much longer post for later), but just consider whatever your passion may be, the environment, poverty, hunger, sickness, science, war, art, etc. - today I feel religion is needed. As a humanity we need to re liege our selves to something different from the global to the personal levels. Some thing new. A new way of thinking. A religion.
I for one and for starters shall say I am proud that I have changed my ways of thinking. I am proud to be a stronger, wiser person. I am proud to have a religion.