I spent a lot of time in the bible growing up. I’ve read a lot of it, but I don’t think I can say all of it. It was a constant companion as a teenager in high school and a bit of college.
My Mom has a degree in theology and studied early translations of the bible, first translations. She started in me, not questions of doubt, but question of context. Context of time and place.
I started reading more. I’m not a good reader, so that’s always a challenge, but I read all I could. Concepts, philosophies and world religions.
Then second round of college. Philosophy of Religion, Religions of the World, exploring beliefs around the world. Hindu Upanishads, Daoism, Sufism, Buddhism, Merton, Thomas, Jung, The Tao of Pooh… For me the definition of religion is maybe a bit abstract. For me this also includes, ethics and morality.
Those two concepts, ethics and morality I have more issue with today that straight up religion. What I see today as acceptable ethics and morality are far from my understanding of either concept. Yet, it feels those have been replaced, even dismissed for one thing.
I felt myself moving away from the bible. The more I read of other religions, the more judgmental christianity and the bible felt. Others too sometimes, I feel that is wrong. Then I discovered something. Humans are judgmental regardless of what they have been taught or read. And yes, I will acknowledge this is a judgement. That said, I’ll say it feels different that what I see and hear.
I was feeling that what carried me through my youth was actually counter to what I thought I had been taught. What I had actually read. The actual teachings of Jesus.
Through that format “Facebook” I was seeing and reading the thoughts of many that I thought were on the same page as me when it came to what we should do with and for others. But I was reading the opposite of what I thought from those, some of which I spent not just time with in groups in high school but sat next to in the pew, Sunday School classroom and weekend retreats. Their new philosophy was diametrically opposed to where I was and it, well it was shattering. Don’t spend a great deal of time now on that format. Honestly, it’s heartbreaking.
Humans are judgmental. Most can’t avoid it, can’t escape it. What I see and read recently, over the last few years is angry judgement. Anger that is so extreme, so directed, so specific. That anger is what I fear.
“Between what is said and not meant, and what is meant and not said, most of love is lost.” ~Khalil Gibran
Religion is a belief in worship of a superhuman. Religion is a system. Religion is a concept, an idea, that creates difference, divide and inequality. And interpretation today is just as troubling as early translations.
What if it is all fiction? All of it?
It’s words that for the most part, none of us know who wrote the words or truly know why they were written. You really don’t know me, really and you probably don’t know why I am writing this. What prompted these words out of me?
Religion does nothing for us. Maybe it’s done something for you, but what about us? All of us? Well, as I see it right now, nothing good. It pulls us apart. Creates false equivalents to non-realities and gives some weak ground to stand on to support their ideas they want pushed onto others. Often ideas based on nothing real and lack the effort to understand beyond the surface what it as stake. And in my opinion, nothing scarier then an angry Christian, (oxymoron).
Religion causes wars. Religion right now has us calling each other names and making accusations based on information not based on facts. Some are assuming the worst when for the most part truly only the best of intentions are meant. But it somehow doesn’t fit into their box, their way. Some of us, a few of us have decided they are the ones to decided what is right for all the rest. And some basing thoughts and ideas on what one person is saying, (Jim Jones?).
One side is so afraid of fear that they can’t think past that. Their hearts are closed and even hardened. Eyes closed, arms crossed and pass on harm, even trauma human to human. So much for, ‘all gods children’.
What are you afraid of? The unknown I guess can be scary, but the unknown you fear now is craftily hidden in lies and the perpetuation of non truths by lost fearful people. (another judgment, yes)
We lack confidence that people are good and know what is best for them and lack imagination or an interest to seek truth.
The bible, some read it cover to cover. Some read the words. Some like my Mom, go deeper. Context. Who was it written for and why? What was happening that needed to be addressed all those many years ago?
It’s not even a complete document. Who chose the books and why? Why not the others, the Apocrypha? Why were those left out? The last book, why is it last? Did it almost not make it in? What, who and why is it in the order that it is? What was the intention of those people?
Fear is blinding. Fear is not productive it will end us all. One by one, restriction by restriction. It will keep us in fear of a fear that is not a reality, but again just a lie that one needs to keep their ego feed and their place in a world that they were lost.
Who benefits from the sale of bibles?
Bible for sale, gently used.
-I am afraid that through others fears I will somehow be relegated to a confinement or restrictions based on my beliefs, not my actions, but my beliefs. I fear this for everyone, family, friends and those now pushing their beliefs on me. That laws will without provocation be passed that will have restriction and disenfranchise many like we have never seen before. Don’t we have enough of that already with our history? And within those restrictions, those who feel they have a religion to back up their law, I feel will one day be surprised at the laws that follow that will restrict their own life.