Easter has arrived and it is a time for religious contemplation. Is the religion we were born into, and which we were raised in, sufficient for all our spiritual needs? Why should anyone pursue alternative spirituality? What is the relationship between formal religions and “occult” practices like tarot reading, ghost hunting, meditation, and new age practices?
I can only speak for myself. I was sort of raised Catholic, and sort of remain Catholic. By “sort of”, I refer to the nature of my religious upbringing, which was not considered too important in my family. As a child, I was bored with Sunday school; it was a chore. It was such a hassle for Catholic confirmation. After I grew up, I became more fascinated with religion. Maybe since I was not overly indoctrinated as a child I ended up with an open-minded attitude.
I briefly became interested in right-wing evangelical Christianity of the type promoted by televangelists. I would watch as these TV guys seemingly displayed “supernatural” powers. They acted like God was talking directly to them and relaying messages to their viewing audience via the anointed televangelist. Outside of the entertaining circus element, I quickly realized I had irreconcilable differences with their beliefs. I’d have to adopt a right-wing worldview to follow them, and that was not possible. It seems that belonging to a church is as much a political decision as it is theological.
However, watching the TV guys made me appreciate the Catholic Church more. The Catholic Church really is pretty moderate in its views compared to the fundamentalist crowd. They have a progressive approach to social justice. But they have their own problems. A lot of their dogma is petty silly, like their opposition to birth control. What is up with that? And because the Church won’t let their priests marry, it seems the Church has attracted a group of sexually repressed men, which exploded in the child abuse scandals.
And recently there has been a bit of a controversy with the Catholic University of Notre Dame having invited President Obama to deliver their May 17 commencement address and get an honorary degree. Suddenly a lot of Catholic cardinals and priests protested and urged the university to disinvite the president. Why? Become Obama does not subscribe to every single Catholic position. Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George urged Catholics to protest, saying the invite “brought extreme embarrassment to many, many people who are Catholic, including their own bishop.” Oh please…Obama is not a Catholic! How can any church demand people who are not members of their church follow their every teaching?
Since I was not properly trained/brainwashed in dogma during childhood, I still have an open mind. When it comes to spirituality, I find closed minds alarming. Spirituality is not science, and beliefs are not fact. Which is the reason I like to explore alternative spiritual ideas. I am intrigued by the possibility of making direct contact with the spiritual dimension. I have seen things that strongly suggest a higher reality. How to understand all of this? That is the trick. Religion offers some hints but is restricted by their dogma into exploring further. Actually, nearly all religions strongly condemn going outside their dogma to find answers. Only a few of us dare.
Finally, below is an amusing video with commentary concerning former politican Newt Gringrich’s comments on the Notre Dame controversy. It shows why politics and religion are NOT a comfortable fit!
April 12th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I too was raised Catholic, and I too began to develop irreconcilable differences with the Catholic Church. I agree with you that “nearly all religions strongly condemn going outside their dogma to find answers,” and I am one of the “few of us who dare.” I’ve been studying the major Teachings from around the world for over 20 years to find the space in the center of the wheel where all the spokes come together. It sounds like you too are seeking these vital connections and I wish you blessings on your journey!
April 12th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Greetings Dr Deb. It seems the beliefs we were raised with as a child, we hold onto for the rest of our lives. That is why it is important to think for ourselves. Just because we were taught a doctrine as a child does not mean it was true. On the other hand there is something to be said for stability and tradition in any belief system. I suspect what most people do is cafeteria-style spirituality…pick and choose what is you want. I think most Catholics ignore a lot of doctrine. How many Catholics use birth control? Nearly everyone!
April 12th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Hello, dropping by to drop EC but found your article interesting
i’m an agnostic/atheist.
it’s great that you still have an open mind.
unlike some others.
i’m appalled at some Christians who feel the need to impose their ideologies on others, and are so brainwashed that they think that atheists are evil because they do not have a God to judge them, hence they do evil things.
Read more at my blog post…
If Atheists Ruled The World - On Atheism and Immorality
April 13th, 2009 at 1:56 am
Hi Shu Fen,
Thanks for stopping by. What scares me is when religion and politics mix. I believe everyone should follow his or her muse, as long as we don’t demand everybody else must follow our muse too. Why do some feel the need to require non-believers to adopt their beliefs? Thank goodness for the separation of church and state. That has actually increased spirituality in the U.S. It is counterintuitive but true. By not letting any religion have an advantage over another, everybody benefits. I am befuddled why this is not obvious to everybody. But a LOT of people don’t believe in the separation of church and state. If they could, some would ban tarot cards for sure.
April 13th, 2009 at 2:27 am
I used to be a close-minded fundamentalist. And now I know how damaging that can be.
It took me a while to really go and explore outside my belief system because of the fear of what others in my circle might think.
Now I realize that when you let go of God, that’s the time when you become more spiritual. Because “God” is just a concept in your head. It’s not really “God” but your own construct.
April 13th, 2009 at 2:54 am
David two points:
1. I am sure that you are aware that the separation of church and state is not part of the Constitution but was part of a letter that Jefferson wrote. Probably you also know that the intention of the free exercise clause was not to keep the church out of the state, but the state out of the church.
2. “Why do some feel the need to require non-believers to adopt their beliefs?” This is a common false argument presented by non-Christians. No one requires you to adopt any beliefs. You are endowed with free will. But you have the consequences of your choice. My holding a belief opposite of yours, does not require you to adopt mine, nor does my discussing it. But I have a responsibility in accordance with my beliefs to present you with the truth. What you do with that truth is your responsibility. The truth is that we are all sinners. That sin keeps us from God. Jesus Christ left heaven and became man. He lived a perfect life. He died on the cross for our sins. As a perfect man he defeated satan. If you believe in your heart that Jesus is the son of God and that God raised Him from the dead, if you acknowledge your sin and truly repent, you WILL be saved. It is a free gift from God.
April 13th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for commenting. If the separation of church and state was a mistake, then it was a good mistake. It contributed to making the U.S. a safely religious first-world country. European nations had a mixture of church and state for centuries and Europe is now almost completely secular. I really like the idea that we can believe whatever without fear. I don’t take that for granted.
As for imposing religious beliefs on non-believers, people try that all the time. Example, some want public schools to teach biblical creationism. Why? To promote a specific theology…not just Christianity, but biblical literalism. Who wants their children taught that weird stuff? Oh my goodness, no. I think this is not an argument about Jesus, but about the culture wars. It is a political argument. I really don’t like religion and politics combined.
April 13th, 2009 at 4:29 am
Hi Topbanana,
Religion is such a personal thing. Who am I to complain about anybody’s beliefs? It is not my place. Except…when it comes to TV preachers!
April 14th, 2009 at 12:32 am
The Separation of Church and State came about because when the this was colony of the British Crown - beginning under Queen Elizabeth I, Europe was persecuting Pagans, war was raging between the Protestant and Catholic churches and some monarchies were attempting to impose certain religious practices and beliefs on the people. There was a massacre of Hugenots in France, burning and torturing of heretics in Rome, executing of ‘witches’ in Germany…After the Revolutionary War, the founders of the United States didn’t want this same abuse of imposition of religion enforced by the government — which usually meant death and destruction. Many Puritans, Lutherans, and others FLED Europe for places where they could do what they wanted in matters of God. We DO have a Bill of Rights. I believe its in there.
I was raised very religious Catholic. I love and hate the Catholic Church. It led me straight to Paganism, so I thank it for leaving a way open to the truth.
Thanks again, David!
April 14th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Arlene, I’ve noticed the opposition to Church/State separation, and quite often they have an unspoken agenda which is establishing a Christian theocracy in the U.S. Most people don’t pay these voices much attention. But my ears perk up when I hear their views spoken. A scary version is Dominion Theology. This worldview wants the law of God (as they see it) replace secular law. Its supporters are influential…their fingerprints are all over the place.