Last Sunday, my husband was reading to me from the newspaper... A big article called "God, religion, athiesm 'So what?' That's what many say." It made me kind of sad.
I'm not a big pusher of religion. I prefer to let my actions speak for me. When someone asks for prayers for someone or something, I oblige and do so without embarrassment. It's no secret that I have recently "returned to the fold" by rejoining the church I grew up in and take an active interest and role in being a parishoner there. But I'm not out to convert the world. I try to make a difference in my own little corner and hope that a movement of kindness and support will move out from there.
This article, however, tells me that the rest of the world is going the other way.
Some stats from the article:
* 44% told the 2011 Baylor University Religion Survey they spend no time seeking "eternal wisdom," and 19% said, "It's useless to search for meaning."
* 46% told a 2011 survey by Nashville-ased evangelical research agency LifeWay Research they never wonder whether they will go to heaven.
* 28% told LifeWay, "It's not a major priority in my life to find my deeper purpose," and 18% scoffed at the idea that God has a purpose or plan for everyone.
* 6.3% of Americans turned up on Pew Forum's 2007 Religious Landscape Survey as totally secular - unconnected to God or a higher power or any religious identity and willing to say religion is not important in their lives.
How sad. I'm not sure which of these statements bothers me the most. I suppose the one that bothers me the least is the question of heaven. That is something people just have to find out for themselves when the time comes because there is no way to know if there even IS a heaven. That would be a faith thing and faith is a very individual concept.
I don't believe in religion. It is not a thing in and of itself. Religion is a way to express and explore faith, community, the possibilites of a higher power and a coping mechanism for dealing with the uncertainties of life and what comes after it. What religion a person chooses is entirely up to them. I choose to be an Episcopalian for a couple of reasons: One, it's where I grew up and where I'm comfortable and Two, it doesn't tell me what to believe. There is a reason it is called the "Thinking Man's Church." While being closely related to Catholicism, it allows people to think for themselves and doesn't dictate who you should be, how you should act, or whether or not you're going to heaven, hell, purgatory, or into the body of a roach.
Perhaps the most disturbing of those statements would be the first and the last. Both indicate a disconnect between people and God - or even with each other. "It's useless to search for meaning." What a scary thought! Why be here at all if there is no meaning? On what do these people base their concept of happiness? How much money they have? How much stuff they have? The number of lovers or their ability to hold their liquor? When things are really bad, how do they rise above it and find the will to continue? One must think that nothing really bad has happened to these people - yet.
That day will come though. A child dies. Layoffs or firings happen. Spouses leave. Parents need help. A small cell grows uncontrolled within the body and threatens their very lives.
What will they do then? Money doesn't solve everything. Willpower can't cure cancer. Diving into a bottle causes even more problems. And a lack of connection with other people or the superficial one that comes with a lack of spirituality can't be relied on when serious help is needed.
This is where spirituality (and yes, religion) comes in. It provides a link within yourself to something bigger than yourself. Something that comforts. Something that heals. Something that surrounds you with love when there is nothing else. It builds you up and enables you to continue. That something is God. Or the Higher Power. Allah. Jehovah. And you can see Him in action through the people who surround you as part of your spiritual connection.
I have to wonder what that nearly half of the population thinks about or strives for or even cares about. It isn't you and me, that's for sure. And I suspect they don't care much about themselves either, in the long run.
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A friend of mine, who happens to also be an Episcopal priest, posted this on Facebook. I can't disagree with it... food for thought.
10 comments:
Something that has helped me NOT completely turn away from religion/faith is that Mr. AP's uncle is a priest in the Catholic church. He is one the COOLEST people I have ever met. It gives me faith and hope. :) Silly...maybe. But truth all the same.
WOOWWW!
Gave me chills.
loved it and will share it.
Stephanie
I never trust surveys - unless I can see the scientific results myself. I don't know who they polled or how many or from where. - Plus - do they have anything to compare the survey to? Was there a similar one done 50 years ago?
But sadly - the lack of connection is happening quicker and quicker. Technology might be Satan's ultimate tool. Why go to church and think about a Higher Power when they can just "plug" in and forget about anything else.
Everyone needs to find something to believe in. I was raised a Catholic, and not to say I do not like my religion, but I do NOT like going to any of the Catholic churches I have gone to so far. I feel no sense of unity and often cannot even understand what the priest is saying during mass. Now, when I am in PA, I go with my husband to his church. He is Methodist. I like his church! The people are friendly and there is a real sense of community, something I've never felt before. I almost feel like I'm cheating and should be punished when I go to his church, but I know that's silly.I can go to any church, any place, and worship my God...he stays the same in my heart wherever I am. God is in your heart. It's sad to think there are people out there who do not believe in anything...very sad.
Grandma Jocelyn says England is a "Post Christian" nation, and the only people in churches these days are a handful of elderly people who cannot hear the sermon, but know all the words in the prayer book. She thinks they go because it is part of a lifelong routine.
I think she has misinterpreted what she sees. But then, everyone sees things through their own eyes.
These people are nearing the end of their time here, and they may have upnresolved issues, or may be joyfully anticipating being nearer to God.
I also disagree because the few
times I have attended Llandanwg I found a fullish church, sincere devotion, and warm and loving community. There seems to be a movement, small at first but growing, of younger seekers in the C of E, and also the American expression. Perhaps this has something to do with the "...no Athiests in a foxhole" saying, as we all seem to be living in hard times.
Your other grandmother was very devout, but had an absolute rule about not prosletizing. Lead by example and never talk about religion was her way.
Mom
* 44% told the 2011 Baylor University Religion Survey they spend no time seeking "eternal wisdom," and 19% said, "It's useless to search for meaning."
means that 54% DO spend time seeking "eternal wisdom" and 81% don't think it's useless to search for meaning.
* 46% told a 2011 survey by Nashville-ased evangelical research agency LifeWay Research they never wonder whether they will go to heaven.
means that 54% do wonder about heaven...and maybe part of that 46% is sure that they will.
* 28% told LifeWay, "It's not a major priority in my life to find my deeper purpose," and 18% scoffed at the idea that God has a purpose or plan for everyone.
means that 72% are trying to find their deeper purpose and 82% do believe that God has a purpose and plan for everyone.
* 6.3% of Americans turned up on Pew Forum's 2007 Religious Landscape Survey as totally secular - unconnected to God or a higher power or any religious identity and willing to say religion is not important in their lives.
93.7% are somehow connected to God.
I can't find most of those depressing!
Religious people do not have a monopoly on being good people. Religion and spiritualality are two sides of the same coin. But the purity test is to always be spiritual with the hope to also be religious. I have been in and out of the two for my life as a catholic then baptist now spiritualist that does not participate in a man built religion. Often we see the failings of man in churches as they loose sight of the spirit behind the whole thing. In the end, its all left to the individual. Trying to show the errors of "their" way is like trying to take air from a person after he has breathed it.
But please be aware that for many people, a growing number of people, these statistics are a hopeful sign, a sign of humanity's progress, a sign of a trend that should be nurtured and respected. In other words, many, many people consider this a good thing.
I am Catholic, born and raised, and I think there is a distinct misunderstanding of the "rules" of the Catholic church. Then "rules" are there to guide us. It is often difficult to follow the "rules", just as it is difficult to do at school or work sometimes. But the rules are there to help us grow and follow Christ. Sometimes we don;t understand them, but that doesn't make them wrong!
However, I do agree it is troubling that so many people don't identify with a God.
I'm going to have to side with Greg and LarryLilly. I'm a secular humanist. I think that MOST religion is poison. I'm not knocking your faith or wanting to do good. But, my reasons for wanting to do good are not because of any particular promise of some benefit in the end or because I get a 'check' in my favor. I do it because I love my fellow man. I love humanity for all of its flaws and perfections alike. I try my best to improve my life and live it with purpose because I know it's the ONLY LIFE I'LL EVER GET! That's a motivation if there ever was one. I get one shot. And then when I die, all of the atoms and particles that have improbably coalesced and become me returns to become something else. Plant food, dust, whatever. So I get up, I'm kind, I do good in the world because I live here and I like civilization.
I've faced adversity like any person and in times of crisis, I turn to my family, my husband, and myself. I see myself as a source of strength and comfort, in the end I'm all I have, so I have to be the best ME I can be.
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