The day before yesterday marked the beginning of the holiest time of year for Christian’s worldwide. But Christmas, isn’t that in December? Yes, Christmas is in December, and with all the snow the U.S. received these past few weeks it might have felt like December. In actuality, however, the holiest holiday for Christians is Easter. Easter is the focal point of Christianity, based on the belief Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of the Father, was crucified on the cross (Good Friday), and on the third day rose again (Easter). Easter is on Sunday, so what happened the day before yesterday? Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which marked the beginning of Lent.
Lent is a forty day period during which Christians fast in what is considered to be the preparation of the believer. Historically, observing lent meant all animal products were forbidden and even went as far as to require only bread was to be eaten. With that said, as civilization evolved so did Christianity. Present day Irish Catholics like myself are required to abstain from the consumption of meat on Ash Wednesday and on each Friday during the holy period. The forty day fast is meant to signify the forty days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by the Devil.
Catholic credence aside, religion, regardless what the belief system it may represent, is on the outs with the younger generation; and not just here in the United States, but the world over. Increasing fanaticism within all of the prominent religions has overshadowed the positive place religion has in our cultures. The Catholic Church has been marred by numerous counts of child molestation, the Jews are frowned upon for their abhorrent treatment of Arabs in Gaza and Palestine, and Islam is viewed with negativity and even fear throughout the world for the horrific actions of only a few. Today, more than ever, it’s clear being religious not only carries a stigma, but requires one to constantly defend their beliefs.
It is hard to get the whole picture when we constantly see only one side. Being Irish Catholic, this week was another wake-up call, as the Pope meet with Irish bishops about a widespread cover-up over abuse reports. Perhaps if we were to take a look at Religion from another view point, it would change your perspective.
I often hear the argument that religion is outdated and that modern constitutions and laws have taken its place. However, in looking at the pillars of modern law it is hard to find anything that hasn’t been influenced by religious text. Far before formal governments, religion guided one’s life. Religion is a vessel that offers interpretations and explanations for many of life’s greatest questions.
Religious texts offer us a guide by which to live our lives. Many of the lessons we teach our children, “Turn the other cheek,” or “Do onto others as you wish done onto you,” are rooted in religious texts. Religious texts are rich with lessons to help guide one’s life and manage interactions with others.
Religion has a very constructive place in our society, but the modern media chooses to ignore positive stories and impact of religion to do good in the world. With its constant trumpeting all that is wrong with religion, the media has played a large part in turning many Americans against religiosity as a whole. Gone are the days of a quality Christian education bringing together mind, body, and spirit – at least in the United States. Even Christian soup kitchens and homeless shelters have come under fire.
Older people often have a tendency to believe that to be religious one must strictly adhere to all that a religion requires, whatever that religion may be; but I’m not so sure.
So many times I’ve heard people say I was raised Christian, Muslim, or Jewish, but I’m not anymore. That being the case, they still continue to hold on to the core values and beliefs found within their Holy Scripture. When we’re young, religion provides the black and white structure needed to give our lives a moral compass. When we grow older, religion evolves with us as well - regardless if we choose to accept this. Some of us might not agree with the organized faction of a religion, or the path upon which a religion choose to relay its message. With that said, so much of what is good within us is derived from faith and religiosity.
And for those of you who think we would eventually learn the moral essence of humanity within a secular vacuum free of religion, I ask you to consider Thomas Hobbes. The politcial philosopher believed people were in fact inherently evil, and if given the opportunity, would act devilishly in the name of hedonistic self-preservation.
So the next time you’re walking around and happen to see someone wearing a cross, don’t assume they support priest abuse, are abortion fanatics, or gay bashers. If you see someone wearing a yarmulke, don’t think they’re an Arab hating Zionist. And if someone is wearing a hijab or a kandora, don’t assume they’re going to blow something up. Why not ask about their beliefs and what their religion means to them. Because if you just walk by blindly, and continue to believe in the preconceived notions you hear in the news, you are no-less of a fanatic than the people you criticize.
Your fanaticism lies in your prejudice.
From Gibbs Burke…
Writer’s Note: In the spirit of Lent, I would like to wish everyone good health, love, and prosperity. I know that I am not without sin, so I am sorry to all those whom I’ve offended.
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In a perfect world we could all stop and talk to each other, respect how each of us has chosen to find security and happiness in our lives, and empathize with each other like brothers and sisters. The only problem is that this isn’t a perfect world and it never will be be. Holding hands and singing kumbaya is just never gonna happen. Its not in our nature to do so.
I couldn’t agree with your the message within your post more and it is entirely possible despite what Mr. Dark and Gloomy says above. We are more the same than we are different. Its only in the details, details, if we take the time to learn them, that will seem so much less important.
Within the American political Arena there seems to be two extremes in terms of religion. I have seen Conservative Christian fundamentalism grow here, just as Liberal Agnosticism and Atheism. We grow wider apart by the minute, and more medium ground is needed, more of what you are calling for here.
“And for those of you who think we would eventually learn the moral essence of humanity within a secular vacuum free of religion”. So society needs religion to glean the moral essence of humanity because we are selfish creatures and will act delivshly without out..is that what you are saying? Are you saying further to this that religion helps people behave and without it we are just walking ids? I appreciate your candour and your thoughts on the media weighing in on the negative aspects of religion but religion is just another thing we like to fight about and just another thing that co-exists with other things like political affiliation, sexual orientation. Religion is just another competing norm or interest and vesting that much of yourself and that much of ones moral development into sublime assurance, is scary to me. However, it’s good if it helps just like a good album or book which also can steer your morality. In your article, you never mentioned common sense, strength in character, learning from mistakes, learning from others, intelligence including emotional intelligence and genetics. All of this also acts as a moral compass. Religion is not necessary to point in the black or the white direction. I think your argument completely ignores those that choose to or simply did not have religious or faith based upbringing but developed all the moral canvassing you described including what is “good”. Is there room for survival without religion at all? Is religion so paramount that those who reject it, surrender their right to exist, or am I too being fanatical?
I prefer Nietzsche’s characterization as the majority of humanity as “weak” and “sick” because they lack the power to direct their aggressive instincts outward. I think religion or faith can (not always..it can be a beautiful thing) reward us for being content with weakness in choosing to not move beyond or grow strong just as Nietzsche argued.
Sorry for the long post…very interesting article.
whatliesbeneath – wow you are so smart. You’ve enlightened all of us with your grand wisdom. Typical intellectual bullshit. You ignore the whole article and its overall message of coming together and mutual respect to focus on one line??? Then you launch a pretentious arrogant attack with some looooooong winded ready made philosophical counter. Sorry for the short post… very interesting comment.
I believe that an author’s duty to the reader does not stop at the end of the page, but rather should continue on into a discussion format. It is so hard to take the multitude of thoughts on a subject matter and condense them into a concise fully encapsulated argument. With that being said I would like to respond to whatliesbeneath’s post.
By my above quoted statement, I was not trying to argue that without religion people would lack morale compass. This was not meant to be if you’re not A then you must be B, when you very well could be C, D, or E. It was more of a reference to the fact there are many ideologies behind “Human Nature.” I could have very well have chosen to highlight Freudian thought in the belief that religion is meant to oppress our animalistic nature. Would you then argue that I thought that we need religion or we would all become animals?
It is interesting, as you brought up, that within a discussion of say a book or an album we as individuals can respect people’s thoughts and opinions. But if you were to bring up the same subject matter in the veil of a religious discussion, people would ignore other points of thought, and defend their stance to the death.
If we boil down religion to its core points it serves as a reminder of human character. The beliefs in hope, charity, sacrifice, etc… are points that every man of every belief can agree with. So while one might set an alarm as a reminder to do something, faith in many ways is that constant reminder.
I do not believe that one “needs” religion. I am simply adding it to the list of tools that are applicable in the creation of morality.
Thank you all for your responses, and I look forward to reading many more of your educated responses.
I thought this was about multiplicity of perspectives, T-Rex. Because I gave a so called intellectual response, you feel the need to berate me. Why? Maybe that is how I process things. It doesn’t make me removed from reality because I process my own experience in a cerebral fashion. We communicate differently, isn’t that the point? Who shit in your cornflakes? Are you going chuck sand in my eyes next?
Gibbs, thank you for your response that gives me something to further consider. I understand what you’re saying and appreciate the message but the message leaned on morality found in religion/faith, just as you said “so much that is good about us is derived from faith and religiosity”. My meager hope is that we can also derive meaning in anything we choose if helps us grow, even if it’s not a higher being assisting us to get there. My “tools” from my experience (outside of faith, outside of religion) can contribute towards morality that is just as purposeful. But, I guess it comes down to how we define faith? What outcomes are we looking for when we have faith in something? When do we have faith in something?
One must not blame “the tool” for the action.
An individuals implementation of the “tool” is what decides the morality.
So do not blame “the tool” for the wrong doing, but rather the individual.
WLB – so your cerebral? Hmmm.. is that code for pompous? Just wondering…
Name calling is not constructive from any point of view, and goes against the nature of the point being made in the piece.