Saturday, November 05, 2005
Why believe in religion at all?
Today I attended a workshop sponsored by the Prairie Pine Presbytery of Saskatchewan Conference entitled, “Neighbours Helping Neighbours.” The purpose of the gathering was to vision futures for our Church in a time of transition – changing culture, aging populations, shrinking communities, struggling with rural farm economies (or lack thereof!) and the increasing fatigue of lay leadership and accountable ministry personnel.
One minister who participated a concern which she has been carrying for some time – that is the changing culture around spirituality and religion in North American culture. If a person identifies themselves as a “spiritual person” who doesn't believe in “institutionalized religion,” our contemporary culture of inclusivity requires us to accept that person's beliefs as valid and acceptable. However, what is lacking – and I think this answers a question I've had trouble articulating answers to – is that there is the personal sense of a spiritual connection (to God, universe, nature, whatever), but no accountability to anyone but the self.
There are many valid criticisms of organized religions. The “Churches” have been hypocrites of the worst kind in relation to oppression, racism, sexism, war, and economics. This is a historic and (unfortunately) a contemporary fact. However – the best of what the church catholic (small “c” - as in universal) calls us to be is accountable to one another in community. This, I believe, is the real value of organized religion. It is the measure of our best selves. Granted, we fall short of the mark so often that it may seem a futile exercise to those who do not share our faith, but it speaks to the motto of our church in the United Church of Canada: Ut Omnes Unum Sint (That All May Become One).
When power functions as privilege or the lack thereof, the issue of justice arises with regards to power. If the purpose of the kin/dom of God is to enact (theologian J.D. Crossan’s) “commensality,” then justice issues are inseparable from the application and mis/use of power. Crossan writes, “Open commensality is the symbol and embodiment of ...an absolute equality of people that denies the validity of any discrimination between them and negates the necessity of any hierarchy among them.” While our worst abuses within the history of the church have been which those in privileged positions mis/use power by acting against or on behalf of others, our best successes as a church have been when we witness to the Good News of Jesus the Christ by attempting to live out commensality in communities accountable to one another as both individuals and groups.
As far as I can see it, it's difficult to act as individuals in a way that always embodies justice. Living in community together holds us accountable in a way that our minds can never do on their own. No matter how rational you are as a person, without complete respect for the inherent power to act in all individuals, our subjective minds too easily act against or on behalf of others. Despite the shortcomings of organized religion, the intention is still to hold each other accountable to a higher standard of living in commensality. Even if we fall way short of that most of the time, I still see the value in it.
One minister who participated a concern which she has been carrying for some time – that is the changing culture around spirituality and religion in North American culture. If a person identifies themselves as a “spiritual person” who doesn't believe in “institutionalized religion,” our contemporary culture of inclusivity requires us to accept that person's beliefs as valid and acceptable. However, what is lacking – and I think this answers a question I've had trouble articulating answers to – is that there is the personal sense of a spiritual connection (to God, universe, nature, whatever), but no accountability to anyone but the self.
There are many valid criticisms of organized religions. The “Churches” have been hypocrites of the worst kind in relation to oppression, racism, sexism, war, and economics. This is a historic and (unfortunately) a contemporary fact. However – the best of what the church catholic (small “c” - as in universal) calls us to be is accountable to one another in community. This, I believe, is the real value of organized religion. It is the measure of our best selves. Granted, we fall short of the mark so often that it may seem a futile exercise to those who do not share our faith, but it speaks to the motto of our church in the United Church of Canada: Ut Omnes Unum Sint (That All May Become One).
When power functions as privilege or the lack thereof, the issue of justice arises with regards to power. If the purpose of the kin/dom of God is to enact (theologian J.D. Crossan’s) “commensality,” then justice issues are inseparable from the application and mis/use of power. Crossan writes, “Open commensality is the symbol and embodiment of ...an absolute equality of people that denies the validity of any discrimination between them and negates the necessity of any hierarchy among them.” While our worst abuses within the history of the church have been which those in privileged positions mis/use power by acting against or on behalf of others, our best successes as a church have been when we witness to the Good News of Jesus the Christ by attempting to live out commensality in communities accountable to one another as both individuals and groups.
As far as I can see it, it's difficult to act as individuals in a way that always embodies justice. Living in community together holds us accountable in a way that our minds can never do on their own. No matter how rational you are as a person, without complete respect for the inherent power to act in all individuals, our subjective minds too easily act against or on behalf of others. Despite the shortcomings of organized religion, the intention is still to hold each other accountable to a higher standard of living in commensality. Even if we fall way short of that most of the time, I still see the value in it.
