It’s easy to think that life is easier without religion. At first blush, it feels liberating to remove all those pesky chains of dogma that seemingly restrain us from being powerful individuals. There is, no doubt, a romance to the idea of being a righteous rebel, especially in our individualistic society. Yet, there’s wisdom in latching onto something bigger.
Give this post a chance. I’ll begin by acknowledging why anyone would give pushback on this subject - seek first to understand, eh? I’ll also expose the insidious dangers we potentially welcome into our lives when we neglect to do so. I’ll then share why it’s a good idea to plug in.
Ironically, this is not a religious message, per se. That said, I will give my opinion on which religion I believe is best. Spoiler alert: it’s Christianity. You, of course, can disagree and, if so, let me know why in the comments section. I won’t debate you nor try to dissuade you - neither is helpful. Also, since this is a sensitive subject, I ask for you to do the same with each other… if there happen to be any comments or discussion.
Before moving into the meat of the matter, if you haven’t yet, please subscribe to my SubStack. You’ll get messages that challenge your mind, lift up your spirit, and boost your motivation.
Seek first to understand
Want to know a secret? No one is born with a religious belief. Yes, we can be “brought up in the church,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to subscribe to its teachings. Each person has free will. It comes standard in the human package. Along these lines, any belief system is basically opt-in. Even folks like the Amish who are born into their belief system offer an exit strategy. Rumspringa gives each individual the choice of whether to stay in or get out. It’s not the mafia (nor a gangster’s paradise).
Do you consider “religion” to be the belief in a deity and the practices of a doctrine associated with that deity? Or, better put, when you hear “religion” do you imagine hordes of simple-minded yokels cowering before some perceived invisible overlord, scared to express themselves for fear of punishment? I did and I rebelled against such nonsense. It wasn’t until I dug deeper that I realized that I created a strawman of God.
At the same time, we all are hardwired to latch onto some sort of belief system - deity-centric or otherwise. We, as mortal humans, want to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Maybe that’s a god, maybe it’s a cause, or maybe it’s a philosophy. Regardless, it’s in our code.
Disbelief is dissaray
Artists do their best work when they have limited resources. I like the series “The Movies That Made Us” on Netflix. Often, you’ll hear about how the filmmakers had to get creative on the set due to budget constraints. Conversely, we’ve seen movies with bloated budgets that were duds because the filmmakers shoved too much onto the screen simply because they could.
What I’m saying is, as humans, we work better when we know our boundaries and limitations. When we have access to do anything and everything, we tend to either get lost in the mix or retreat into ourselves.
Being open-minded sounds great, but if your mind is open to anything, that could drive you insane. You have to have boundaries, filters, and a failsafe. Without them, you’ll default to nihilism. Simply rejecting religion because you’re “open-minded” or “free to think for yourself” will welcome all sorts of crud into your mind and soul. You’re free to do it, of course, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Plugin
Humans are communal creatures. We thrive when we’re part of a community. Our present culture, however, is fragmented and fragile - shifting sand. Few organizations have the fortitude to withstand the myriad flaws of humans. This is why it’s paramount to get in with a group of people who are loving and forgiving.
What’s that you say? You’ve known church folk and they weren’t as loving and forgiving as you would like? News flash: they’re human. Also, we have to have some agency in the deal. We must make sacrifices on our end to fit in with the general ordinances of any group. What matters is finding a group that is simultaneously exclusive and welcoming.
Christianity, at its core, serves a God of Love. If a church calls itself Christian yet doesn’t have love, it is, what the Apostle Paul would call something akin to a noisy racket. And no, love isn’t enabling nor allowing you to do whatever you like. That’s called being spoiled. Love gives and pride consumes. I don’t have to name the god of pride…
The choice is yours
You can choose any religion, but, like anything in life, there are differences, and depending on your outlook, you’ll naturally deem some better than others. Regardless, the act of choosing a belief system (and a sect within that system) provides a compass in a chaotic world. It also allows for connection with a community of people going in the same direction. Of course, choose wisely. You may have to kiss a few frogs, but if you’re in tune with love and wisdom, you’ll find a home eventually.
As for atheism… well, following that anti-belief system is akin to using a blank sheet of paper as a blueprint for a house. Sure, you can argue that Naturalism can fill that void. I wouldn’t recommend it due to the nihilism avenue warning I stated earlier. That’s your choice though.
The Biblical figure Joshua said:
“But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:15
Thank you for reading. If you believe others in your life would find value in this post, please share it. Have a great day!
Lock Into Religion
Wonderful post! Joseph and I both enjoyed it very much. We need to find another group to plug into soon....