Religious Doctrine
I've been thinking so consumingly about religion lately, I feel compelled to somehow state my faith, my real faith, the faith that exists inside me in all its fallible details.
I find that I do believe in God, that God is. In fact. Like a blanket, God is all around, over everything. Defining God beyond that is difficult for me. I see patterns in our world. I see the sameness between and among what's perceptible on our earth, and I see the minute differences that render everything yet different. It's a miracle, and it's what convinces me of the existence of the divine. Even if there are scientific justifications and explanations for everything, there is still something not explainable about it, and that part is God. Two children can have the exact same experience... loved the same, taught the same, given the same opportunities and lessons and advantages, and while one might achieve competence on a musical instrument, for example, the other might be able to make it sing, to weep, to laugh, and to move hundreds of people to tears. That artistry, that instinct, that genius, that is not explainable. The unique spirits of individuals, that is not explainable. That is the fingerprint of the divine on each of us.
Religions strive to explain or introduce God, and while I have found enormous comfort in the moments I've been able to quell my doubts and simply accept a religion's perspective on God, most moments I cannot escape that religious texts spring from people, all of whom are fully engaged in the frailty of human experience. Instinctively, I resist worshipping religious text and religious tradition. Both come from man.
However, I do not believe that religious texts exist to "prove" religion, they are a manifesto on the right way to live. They are instruction manuals on living properly and rightly, and there are right ways to live, I believe. But the signficance of such instruction is personal. What I mean by that is that by accepting the Bible as my instruction manual, I must accept it prioritally. I'm not even speaking of moral relativism, here. As I said, I do believe that right and wrong ways to live, and the most important commandment is for me to focus my whole heart and soul on God; I must also live right by loving others, by honoring marriage vows, by satisfying myself with what I have, and honoring the rest of the commandments. Doing so makes it impossible to look at everyone else around me and exclaim, "But she isn't doing the right thing!" If a friend invites me to offer input, or if someone is clearly in physical or moral peril, then I can try out of my love and influence to support that person in a time of crisis, but mindful of living well to me means starting with myself.
Then there is the Jesus thing. I need to do more research to satisfy some questions I still have in regard to Jesus. Right now, I don't feel comfortable making a conclusive declarative statement about Jesus and where I believe he fits into the big religion picture. What I can say now is that I do believe he existed. I believe he was a real person.
I suppose that many faithful Christians follow doctrine out of a love of God and a desire to fulfill the birthright of salvation. Perhaps some perceive a fear of hell. Some behave with a devotion to Jesus that seems cult-like and arguably disturbing. Frenetic. For them, it's as though Jesus is an imaginary friend, but in addition to being available for them whenever they'd like, he comes along with an entire book that tells them just what to do, how to live, and what's good and bad, and it guarantees that if they follow the rules, they can take comfort that they're "right," and they will win the prize of eternal life. Some wear their rightness like a badge... like bus patrols from elementary school. The real question to me is what motivates people to accept Jesus and behave that way? For salvation to have any value to someone, that person must first believe in it. Maybe that's the "real" real question. What about salvation?
For now, I've gone as far with this essay as I can. I will think about salvation... and read up on Jesus... and come back another time with more.
I find that I do believe in God, that God is. In fact. Like a blanket, God is all around, over everything. Defining God beyond that is difficult for me. I see patterns in our world. I see the sameness between and among what's perceptible on our earth, and I see the minute differences that render everything yet different. It's a miracle, and it's what convinces me of the existence of the divine. Even if there are scientific justifications and explanations for everything, there is still something not explainable about it, and that part is God. Two children can have the exact same experience... loved the same, taught the same, given the same opportunities and lessons and advantages, and while one might achieve competence on a musical instrument, for example, the other might be able to make it sing, to weep, to laugh, and to move hundreds of people to tears. That artistry, that instinct, that genius, that is not explainable. The unique spirits of individuals, that is not explainable. That is the fingerprint of the divine on each of us.
Religions strive to explain or introduce God, and while I have found enormous comfort in the moments I've been able to quell my doubts and simply accept a religion's perspective on God, most moments I cannot escape that religious texts spring from people, all of whom are fully engaged in the frailty of human experience. Instinctively, I resist worshipping religious text and religious tradition. Both come from man.
However, I do not believe that religious texts exist to "prove" religion, they are a manifesto on the right way to live. They are instruction manuals on living properly and rightly, and there are right ways to live, I believe. But the signficance of such instruction is personal. What I mean by that is that by accepting the Bible as my instruction manual, I must accept it prioritally. I'm not even speaking of moral relativism, here. As I said, I do believe that right and wrong ways to live, and the most important commandment is for me to focus my whole heart and soul on God; I must also live right by loving others, by honoring marriage vows, by satisfying myself with what I have, and honoring the rest of the commandments. Doing so makes it impossible to look at everyone else around me and exclaim, "But she isn't doing the right thing!" If a friend invites me to offer input, or if someone is clearly in physical or moral peril, then I can try out of my love and influence to support that person in a time of crisis, but mindful of living well to me means starting with myself.
Then there is the Jesus thing. I need to do more research to satisfy some questions I still have in regard to Jesus. Right now, I don't feel comfortable making a conclusive declarative statement about Jesus and where I believe he fits into the big religion picture. What I can say now is that I do believe he existed. I believe he was a real person.
I suppose that many faithful Christians follow doctrine out of a love of God and a desire to fulfill the birthright of salvation. Perhaps some perceive a fear of hell. Some behave with a devotion to Jesus that seems cult-like and arguably disturbing. Frenetic. For them, it's as though Jesus is an imaginary friend, but in addition to being available for them whenever they'd like, he comes along with an entire book that tells them just what to do, how to live, and what's good and bad, and it guarantees that if they follow the rules, they can take comfort that they're "right," and they will win the prize of eternal life. Some wear their rightness like a badge... like bus patrols from elementary school. The real question to me is what motivates people to accept Jesus and behave that way? For salvation to have any value to someone, that person must first believe in it. Maybe that's the "real" real question. What about salvation?
For now, I've gone as far with this essay as I can. I will think about salvation... and read up on Jesus... and come back another time with more.
posted by bluedana @ 1:55 PM
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