The other day I brought up the hypocrisy that Christians in my area growing up seemed to embody. Like they were avatars of Juno. There was a lot of it, but this didn't seem to phase my wife.
So, here I am, reading the bible nightly with her now. It feels good. I don't have the tranquility I did a few days ago, but sitting with her and talking feels like home. I really need the comfort right now.
P.S. I'm earnest about the learning element of this. The Mrs. says that I should've done this first, and I'm trying hard to just take her hand and leap. So far it's working out pretty well.
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I think a mistake a lot of us religious types make is to deny the wrong that has been perpetrated in the name of God.
Human beings have this natural inclination to belief in . . . well, something. God, karma, faeries, whatever. Personally, I think it's a God given part of our spiritual selves that helps us learn spiritual truths. It's the part of us that the Holy Spirit communicates with, that helps us recognize and understand. But regardless of how I explain it, it certainly seems to exist.
Human beings can also be miserable little pricks. There are plenty of unsavory types that will take advantage of things we don't understand, cater to that desire to believe and sell us a religion. Or once we've committed to a religion, take advantage of our faith and trust to accomplish there own petty ends. The result is that a lot of individuals, have done some things in the name of their God that have varied from just kind of contrary to what God actually teaches to downright horrific. Some of those people may have been well meaning and ignorant others just grateful to have a scapegoat to justify pursuits of their own malfeasance.
Personally, I think the instances when mankind has gotten religion wrong has far outnumbered the times we've gotten right. Is it any wonder that someone questioning the existence of God or the value of religion would look at those instances and then doubt all religion? I don't think so. I don't blame them.
The problem is that they're taking the collective individual acts of many, many diverse people and painting all religions with that same broad swath. I don't think that's a good way to understand any single given religion. But I certainly understand the frustration. If the first dog I meet bites me and so does the second and third and fourth . . . well, eventually I'm going to decide that dogs bite. I'm not even going to try and make nice with any more and my friends will have a hard time convincing me they've found one that doesn't.
Even Christians are - gasp! - imperfect! We make mistakes, we repent, we believe in forgiving others, and we hope others will forgive us. We have faith that God will forgive us.
Making religion "an ongoing thing" is what brings me joy and tranquility. I hope it will do the same for you.
James Barrie posting on Sylvia's account...
This is why I've always thought of religion...true religion...as being a journey rather than that "Aha" moment of being "born again" as some of our southern friends say. I've been affiliated with my current source of contact with God (or as I prefer, Father in Heaven) for over 17 years. I hope in that time I haven't stagnated...my wife would suggest (I think) that maybe I read enough from the scriptures and other sources that I'm progressing at least a little. If "born again" were sufficient, we'd all be like Enoch, right?
I agree with Jack that humans have a natural inclination, perhaps even a desire, to believe. Humans also have an equally powerful inclination to use the first desire to achieve their own ends.
SO maybe the church is true, but sometimes the members aren't?
There's the thing. I can't seem to really separate the two. That means that, generally, I see the LDS church as better than the rest. Most of the people I know in it are decent folks that are at least making an effort to be "good people". This makes it the most likely candidate for my advocacy (I really don't hate the church, nor even dislike it, despite previous posts). Still, I've met a good number of rednecks that need a good butt-whuppin' to make me hesitant.
And then there are people who join the Church (or other religions) and profess it dishonestly for their own nefarious reasons, making the rest of us look bad and sullying the name of Christianity (or whatever, see also Islam) in the eyes of outsiders. I really HATE it when people do that. Especially when they have the nerve to complain about other people being hypocrites.
But that's just my two cents.
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