Losing Our Religion?

[puppetmaker]

I know I rarely talk about religion here. But I read an article in the Times Magazine about Americans and Religion that was kind of interesting. The article was titled American's Unfaithful Faithful and can be read if you click the link.

Apparently Americans are not only very willing to move or change jobs or spouses but they are also very willing to change religions. Sometimes it is another form of the same religion for example being raised form of Christian religion and changing it for another. The example they gave were the number of former Catholics who now say they are Baptists or leaving one religion for another religion entirely and embracing the tenets of that religion with fervor. Then there are those who sample various religions like a Chinese buffet and drift from one set of beliefs to another. I think it is great that we have these sorts of options in our society. In a number of other countries they have official religions and if you don't adhere to that set of beliefs, you can find yourself in trouble.

To my mind there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion engages spirituality but one can be spiritual without being religious. I believe that some of what is happening with this religious dance is that people are searching for their personal spirituality or beliefs. I know a lot of people who have gone through a crises of faith or a search for spirituality. Most of them end up better for it. Either stronger in the faith of their childhood or much more comfortable about themselves as spiritual beings. Again this is my own opinion and your mileage might vary greatly.

Another thing I find interesting that even though people are changing their religious beliefs, the religions themselves are pretty much staying at the same statistical level as the last survey for many reasons. So no religion is really gaining or losing members at a rapid rate. It seems more an adjustment. The only group that has shown a gain is "unaffiliated" which, given the rest of the data, makes sense.

A majority of us believe in something be it a higher power or a flying spaghetti monster or even Bob. How we come to our beliefs is very personal in my opinion. But it seems that as a group we are still seeking/striving for something even though we might not be able to define what that is. And I think that this is going to continue as long as we are allowed the ability to question our beliefs and grow in them or find something that works for us.

I am grateful for religious freedom.

Comments

[the-dark-snack.livejournal.com]

It's interesting that you posted this today. It's the anniversary of the Beatles' "bigger than Jesus" interview.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Wow talk about serendipity.

I love the Icon by the by

[chazari.livejournal.com]

I myself am an avid follower of the great spaghetti monster in the sky...

[vysion-of-books.livejournal.com]

Ack! Flying spaghetti monster!
Take shelter! Duck your heads!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Nomnomnomnom

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'm still looking for the Invisible Pink Unicorn... *smirk*

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

*grin* It is there somewhere that's what faith is about.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

That had to be the best thing to come out of that Kansas debacle. It just shows how absurd trying to get everyones point of view into the educational picture.

[adpaz.livejournal.com]

To my mind there is a difference between religion and spirituality.

Amen. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to describe that difference to people who are both. Rich is very strong in the Catholic Church. I grew up Catholic, but drifted away because there were a lot of things about Catholicism specifically and Christianity in general that didn't make sense to me.

I know what my beliefs are - that there is a higher being, there is an afterlife, and that it doesn't matter what being or beings you believe in, it's all one in the same. It's more important what you do on earth than what lipservice you pay. I also believe that hell is only there for those who believe that's where they should be going (a la Sandman, but I think I was believing that before I read the comic.)

Rich could never wrap his head around it. He always thought that because I wasn't Christian or Jewish or Buddist or Hellenic or Wiccan or some other named religion, it meant I was wishy-washy about my spirituality. I don't remember what finally got through to him, but now he finally understands that I can believe without putting a label on it. That I can believe what feels right to me.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

It is hard to make that distinction when for many religion is so wrapped up in spirituality. I had the break through (as it were) when I was studying Tibetian Buddhism for a philosophy course. That had to be the best philosophy course ever. By the end of the session the profession had you believing in whatever system he was telling us about that week. By the end of the course, he had most of us thinking for ourselves about these issues. The capper on this was that he was an active Jesuit Priest but no one on campus knew that about him.

[readinggeek451]

By the end of the session the professor had you believing in whatever system he was telling us about that week.

I had a philosophy professor like that. He was terrific. (When we asked him at the end of the course what *he* believed, he said he was an Aristotelean.)

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Good point about the "factions" that are being even further created as I type this.

I really like that we don't have a state or national religion.

Just tossing in my two cents here.

[booraven22.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting that link--very interesting!
Well, hubby and I are both lapsed Christians (Me- Methodist, Him- Catholic) and we call ourselves "pagans with a dash of Buddhist". It's nothing against those religions, we just found something that fits our beliefs better.

I'm totally with you on the Spirituality vs. Religion. Brian was the one who said to me, "Faith is what you believe, Religion is how you choose to categorize it"
I think a lot of people fall back on Religion because it's got rules and guidelines to easily define your faith. "Spirituality" is a little more nebulous and vague. Also, as we well know, people like to categorize, and label. So if you say you're "spiritual" they don't really know what to do with it.
I think ultimately people are looking for what works for them, rather than sticking with what they were raised with, which also explains the "try on" mentality of people nowadays.

Re: Just tossing in my two cents here.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of people fall back on Religion because it's got rules and guidelines to easily define your faith.

Yes! That is a point that I was delicately trying to make about the difference between the two.

[tru2myart.livejournal.com]

Very very good article. And pretty right on with my thoughts lately.

ETA: Well...lately would be over the last several years truth be told. :D

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

In the grand scheme of things the last several years is lately. *grin*

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

"I am grateful for religious freedom."

Same here. I'm also grateful for political freedom. We are allowed to worship as we like and criticize our leaders without fear of government agents breaking down our doors. I believe in the separation of church and state, that no one body should govern both, since history has proven time and again that mixing politics and religion is a bad idea.

I think of the Islamic revolution in Iran during the 80's, when wearing headscarves became mandatory and going without in public punishable. Women had rights to some extent, but as Muslim extremism flourished, they started to see their civil liberties (and other freedoms that Americans take for granted) vanish. I have very little problem with the basic principles of Islam, but, like all religions, some interpretations of holy texts are taken literally when they were meant to be more symbolic.

For example: Exodus 22:18
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live...

This phrase has been bandied about by a lot of Christian fundamentalists to denounce witchcraft. However:

"In the original Hebrew manuscript, the author used the word m'khashepah to describe the person who should be killed. The word means a woman who uses spoken spells to harm others - e.g. causing their death or loss of property. Clearly "evil sorceress" or "woman who does evil magic" would be the most accurate phrases in today's English usage for this verse."

~Quote from: religioustolerance.org ~

As a practitioner of Wicca, I can state that using magick to harm another violates our most sacred teachings. Just like harming others violates the teachings of Buddha, Mohammed, Jesus and other religious figures. Each of the major religions stresses the importance of treating others with dignity and not doing them harm. (Which is one of the reasons I had issues with my upbringing: If killing is against the Ten Commandments, then how is killing people who won't convert to Christianity a noble thing? How is it any different than what Hitler did, and others before him?) Yet, throughout history, religion has been spread, not through kind words, but through violence. One country conquers another, and forces their religion on the people.

*gets off of her soapbox*

Anyway, my point is that I am glad to live in a country where I have the freedom to pick which religion fully expresses my spirituality: a blend of neo-paganism, panentheism, feminist theology, and humanism. To pigeonhole me, I'd be PUU: pagan Unitarian-Universalist, since it's the closest thing to being both Christian and Wiccan.

Briefly, I believe in the Unitarian-Universalism concept that all people and faiths contain a piece of, and must have access to, the divine. Therefore, all religions have merit and connection with the Divine. I also, however, believe in panentheism; that God is greater than the universe and that the universe is contained within God. Part of, yet greater than. The Divine could be male or female, neither or both; sometimes God wears the face of a woman.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Hooray for freedom of religion!

And that even with stupidity like the Patriot Act, we can still express our displeasure of the sitting government without disappearing into the night never to be heard of again.

[ladyariyana.livejournal.com]

{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}


and totally off topic.. topics.. hehehehee

do you have a schedule of which cons you are going to this year? we don't get to many but I have this hope that we might eventually be in the same place and get to meet.. and hug, cuz you know thats just how and who I am lol... Though the only one I think I am going to be getting to attend at all might be Marcon this year, Chelsea's band schedule seems to be in the way of anythign else I try to do, oh and money lol)

also I found myself tickeld to death the other day (maybe you will share this joy?) a friend said soemthign abotu reading a Peter david book and I replied with hey his wife is someone I consider a friend, even though we only know each other from lj... I just thought it was cute... don't mind me.. lol

have a great day beautiful and oh so talented lady!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I think it is neat when I meet someone who is a fan of Peter's and doesn't put two and two together for while. Then they apologize for acting all fannnish and I tell them don't worry. I feel the same way sometime and I'm married to the man.

As to the Cons

Currently
LunaCon
New York Comic Con
ICon
Shoreleave
DragonCon

Possibly Wizard Philly

There are a couple that are in the works but not solid yet.