This morning, I was listening to Air America on the radio, and Jerry Springer was fielding calls related to the topic of this post. Jerry’s point, which I wholeheartedly defend and agree with, was that, just because a person believes that his or her religion is the correct religion (thereby making all other religions false), it doesn’t make it any more true and factual than anyone else’s beliefs and religions. Saying that there is only one God, and only one way to worship that God (such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Muslim, etc.) and saying that the one belief is the only belief, is in and of itself, also incorrect. I am writing about this, because it kind of relates to my post about evolution, in that many people chose to ignore, or worse, invalidate, another person’s beliefs because of their staunch stance that they, and only they, have the correct explanation; and I don’t understand why that is so.
After taking several courses in religion, my own faith in Christianity changed; I finally realized for the first time in my life, that there is no absolute right and wrong with respect to personal religion or faith in “higher power” or spirituality (whatever you call it). By believing and stating that my religion is correct and no other religion can be, I am invalidating my claim in my religion, mainly because anyone else can make the same claim about his or her religion and be equally as correct as I am. By believing that my belief in Christianity was the only way, I invalidated that belief. I see how that has the potential to really shake up someones belief system, but it wasn’t such a shocking revelation that it defeated my beliefs all together. I found it is just as easy to believe what I believe, and at the same time, believe that other people’s religions are correct FOR THEM. I don’t believe in them, but that doesn’t make them any less true.
This is honestly the main reason why I don’t understand how it can be so difficult for other religious people to understand. Just because something you believe to be true has a counter belief or even several counter beliefs, it doesn’t weaken or threaten your views; mainly because they are your views that you chose to believe. There is no need to defend your religion to anyone that believes a completely different religion, because both of you are correct; that is the beauty of something like religion that is based solely on acceptance, faith, and belief; and not on absolute fact.
While it may be a fact to you, it is equally valid for it to be an incorrect statement to someone else. Now that I have said my piece, let the bloodbath begin; I can practically hear you salivating to attack this one. I just had to say my piece about it.
I completely agree with you!
Hmm…are you sure you’re not a Unitarian?
I almost agree with you here. I think it’s not so much a matter of correct and incorrect as better or worse. Or, rather, helpful or unhelpful. If a religion/spirituality is life-giving to folks, then good on them. When it’s harmful to them, or to other folks, then we run into problems.
Now that I think about it, you kinda sound Hindu about it, minus Ganesha and Krishna and all that. Which is to say Unitarian.
“One of us! One of us!”
Hee!
chutney,
I couldn’t agree more. I think that is in addition to what I said, and was not so much an omission on my part, as it was a different level to be considered. In otherwords, I totally agree!
I completely agree with you as well. A minor nitpick, a Muslim is a follower of Islam not a religion as implied (at least to me) by the list. Nice post, in my opinion it shows spiritual maturity on your part.
This is why I’ve kind of distanced myself from Christianity in the past few years, I still call myself a Christian, but I’m quite embrarrased to be associated with people that insist that there way IS THE ONLY WAYS and anyone who doesn’t believe that is going to burn forever and ever. Perhaps it’s because I’m gay but it’s so obviously narrow minded that it aggrivates the shit out of me.
Ethnocentricity
Slubbage, why must you constantly post such negative comments towards duane?
For some reason it reminds me of the people who say “your favorite band sucks”.
I’m no theologist but it seems obvious to me that if you are a follower of a monotheistic religion such as Christianity or Islam you have no choice but to consider your religion the only right one and make it your mission to convert as many infidels in order to save their souls. Otherwise why bother?
My opinion is that if you are going to be religious then be a fundamentalist, or stay far away from that shit like I do.
I am so tired of religion ripping humanity apart. But I also know that it’s not going to change anytime soon; I mean, remember what the Crusades were all about AND how many years ago they occurred?
I am especially annoyed because the concept of religion is entirely human made. Humans obviously have named and categorized everything in this world in order to make sense of it. We have so many contradicting religions that someone, somewhere will always think that they are right. Some religions were started simply because a person didn’t like the popular religion and started his own.
And some religions are ridiculous. Scientology? Don’t get me started. Similarly, Madge’s beloved Kabbalah may have once been a mystical offshoot of Judaism, but it has been perverted into just another Hollywood cash cow. I remember a 20/20 interview with the Berg family who stated that one does not need to be able to read Hebrew to gain insight from it. Um, what?
Lastly, anyone who thinks 100% of the Bible is a true, unadulterated historical account needs to remember than humans wrote the Bible; not God, and certainly not Jesus.
OK, there, I’m done. I’m more than certain that I will now be ripped apart for my opinion. But realize that all I’m saying is that I’m sick of people using religion to further their personal agendas, such as slowing the progress of gay rights.
My indoctrination started in a little Baptist Church at age four, as I and a dozen other kids were led in multiple renditions of “One way God said to get to heaven, Jesus is the only way…” It took over three decades to get that tune out of my head and grasp what I knew deep down, intuitively, was the Truth. Great post Duane
That’s a good point, Simon. Duane, what are your thoughts on that? One of the keystones of Christianity seems to be that the only path to salvation is through Jesus.
Garrett - that’s exactly what the “friends” who told me I was going to hell in middle school said. There I was, trying to be peacemaker and mediator and common-ground-finder at age 13. But no, they weren’t having it. JESUS IS TEH ONLY WAY!!1!
Religion is like so late 90’s. I mean, really.
hahaha
“We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.” Minority Report: H.L. Mencken’s Notebooks [1956], p.3