What is Religion? 


Jim is a metaChristian. 

Our Church is having a 3 weekly Tuesday night series of Lenten reflections. We gather about 6 pm for a simple meal of soup and bread and conversation, and then we spend an hour together discussing issues in the book we are reading, The Mystery of Christ and Why We Don't Get It by Roger Capon. The study/reflection is led by Rev. Anne Kelsey, our rector. About 20 souls are participating, most of whom I have been attending church with for 20 years now, but a few new folks. We end our evening with Compline in the sanctuary.

I wasn't sure I was going to be able to participate, with one of the cars being in the garage and Stephen with a performance last night. But yesterday I decided I would at least try to be there as a part my Lenten discipline for the year. I found out that there was still space, but that no books were left. I ordered a used copy from Amazon. Then I braved the 5:30 traffic getting Stephen to his ride and walked into the South Parish Hall just minutes before the meal began. (Right thumb up, arm extended.) Etta had made a fine bean and spinach stew and Irish soda bread in honor of St. Patrick's day, and we sat around three tables of 6 to 8 people and conversed.

Since I wasn't prepared with the reading, I decided to be quite reserved in my comments, and as it turned out, I said nothing. But the wheels of my mind were engaged as the provocative and lively discussion ensued. The long-timers at Trinity love intellectual repartee, and they were ready. The Rector had prepared an outline study sheet for us, and I am not going to try to report the discussion's progress. Rather I am going to tell you about an insight I had while listening to it.

Rev. Kelsey led a reflection on the question "What is religion?" People were reflecting on the different examples of religions, and a long list was made on the whiteboard. Also, she recalled the several characteristics of religion from the reading, as people contributed to the list. It was a good opportunity for someone like me to reflect on my own religious practice, and to wonder how well I matched up to the various examples. If you've read this blog, you know that I alternate back and forth between wondering if I am a Christian and defending my appropriation of that label. You also know that from time to time I report a "being lifted up" experience: a mental, but also really full-bodied state of being more alive and fully aware, and sometimes thinking I have actually had an insight. Heh.

Let's see if I can articulate a description of my insight during the discussion last night. As I looked at and listened to my fellow church members and friends reflect on religions and their religion, I began to imagine that all over the world, at one time or another, there were groups of devotees to various religions just such as this one going on. All filled with people at some level sincerely seeking to understand their relationship to God; God the Creator, God in Us, and God with Us. I considered that each such reflecting person perhaps only dimly perceived the truth, but wanted to understand as much as he or she could. I considered how foolish it is to argue with someone of a different religious persuasion (that would be everyone). I listened to the Rev. Kelsey relate a story about how she had one sister who had studied Hinduism. She had asked her sister, "Well, do you really believe in all of that (meaning all the deities in that religion). And her sister had replied, after some reflection, "Well, yes, I do." And Anne had remarked about how difficult it was for her to imagine how someone could go from Christianity to Hinduism." I started to explain it to her, but I stopped myself, although others did comment. But I am glad that I stopped myself. I thought instead, "Here is an expression of Anne's sincere seeking. Can I really resonate with her as a fellow spiritual being unless I try to get what she is saying?"

Now I know that there probably are exceptions to what I am going to say next. I think the next step in the evolution of the human spirit is the ability to experience unity in disharmony, that is, sure all these religious practices are not in harmony with each other and conflict, but the harmony is in the unified outreach to God. We must love each other in our pitifully inadequate outreach to God. Sometimes I get close to that for a few seconds. I just happen to have settled in an Episcopal church, although I continue in my meditative practices (daily SRF and tai chi Yang form). I am a committed Christian. I do worship with my church community. And I do stand in solidarity with the billions who worship God in a different form that I.

My friend Heidi showed me a card yesterday that she was going to give to one of her friends, now I forget which one. But the card was one of those new musical cards, that plays a familiar song when you open it. This one played the John Lennon piece Imagine.

Imagine all the people living life in peace.
Oh, you can say that I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will be as One. 

Posted: Wed - March 18, 2009 at 09:44 AM          

©