I’ve actually heard people, well one person that I can remember, say this out loud — “The problem is organized religion”. And I sort of think the same way. But only sort of. I am currently not “affiliated” with any religion. Aside from the Kansas City Friends of Jung, I’m not a member of any church, temple, synagogue, congregation, gathering, meeting, club, circle, group, or troop. And I really don’t see myself participating in any “organized” religion in the near future.
The problem is that I also don’t participate in any religion. Period. And that’s something I need to change.
If we are going to condemn “organized” religion as the root of all evil then unorganized religion must be the holy grail. If “organized” religion is causing physical and psycological harm to the world then there must be another form or type of religion that is good. Otherwise we would leave off the “organized” adjective and just say “religion”.
Is it really the “organized” part that we don’t like or is it really the “organizers”? Or is it the dogma? Is it really possible to have a religion that is not “organized”? Weren’t the apostles “organized” in the early Christian church? What would a non-organized religion look like? I mean, it seems to me that Wiccans, Pagans, Animists, etc. are really all rather organized. They have books and meetings and levels, don’t they? Is it really just power-hungry, money-hungry authority figures that we abhor? Are there no power-hungry Wiccans?
Maybe I just don’t understand the definition of “organized” when it comes to religion.
So, I’m asking everyone who is against “organized” religion — and not just “religion” — to let me in on their secrets and explain their good-for-me religion. What spiritual practices to you do? How do you worship? Do you worship alone or in a small, unorganized group? How did you find your religion? What do you call your God? What happens after you die?
These are serious questions and I am petitioning serious answers. One of my goals for 2007 is to start some kind of spiritual practice. I don’t think it will be going to church but it has got to be something. I’ve been bad-mouthing other people’s religious beliefs far too long without having any of my own.
It’s time to starting doing … something.
I’ve never been keen on organized religion even though I spent 16 years in all-girl Catholic schools (nuns, rubrics, dogma, the whole nine yards). Inherent in the nature of an institution is it attempt to “survive”. Once survival is at stake, the purpose of its founding gets lost…what I think happened in all religions.
I consider myself a spiritual person in that i acknowledge that all things in my life [and Life] have a relationship to God, Goddess, All That Is. There is no worshipping, rather a gentle appreciation of all that I can see, imagine, experience; and the intention to be open to giving and receiving love. I do believe in eternity, but not heaven and hell, judgment by anyone but my own choices to create contrast, learn from them for whatever purposes and create again, returning to my godliness, growing and creating some more. I ultimately am part of God, even if I forget it from time to time. Meditation is a good way to develop an inner life. I applaud communities of like thinkers who can provide support, socialization, etc. for their members, but spirituality may or may not be a result and certainly not to be confused with “doing church” for the sake of “being saved”. I’ve only read about the experience after death from several channels, none of which contradict each other; however, it sounds as reasonable as anything else I’ve heard…that we create our own afterlife. If we expect to see streets paved with gold, the Blessed Mother, hell, the face of God, we will create that. I was told many have created “fire and brimstone” because they thought that’s what they deserved, but no one yet has “jumped in”. All this is to say I believe we create our own reality, by the universe’s law of attraction. Creating my own reality is an easy concept for me to accept because what I create, I am also responsible for and can change, recreate anew. And, I intend to keep reaching for the next highest truth…no absolutes.
Valerie,
“even though …”? Don’t you mean “because …”
I agree. In addition, once leaders get a taste of power their main goals are to maintain that power and increase it if they can — even if it results in catastrophy. Look at James Bakker, Jerry Falwell, and David Koresh.
Thanks for sharing your spirituality with me.
I agree that love should be a huge part of our spiritualty. Thomas Merton said that a lot. So do most mainstream Christians but in many people there is a huge disconnect between saying “the greatest of these is love” and actually doing the loving.
You said, “I ultimately am part of God, even if I forget it from time to time” and this is so true. That is exactly the viewpoint of the mystical versions of all religions. There is no duality between God and me but a forgotten unity.
You said, “All this is to say I believe we create our own reality” and I’m starting to think this is true. This sounds very “new age-ish” and I’m not sure what I think about new age, but I’ve been thinking about prayer and have come to the conclusion that prayer has everything to do with us and nothing to do with God. It’s all about changing our attitudes and becoming open to new things. After all, Jesus himself said:
Talk about creating your own reality!
I’ve beent thinking about a post on prayer and this verse but I just haven’t gotten it all worked out. Soon, I hope.