Easter will be upon us in a few weeks. All manner of religious observance is being foisted upon the believer. The not so subtle message is, "If you really love Jesus, you will want to obtain merit badges for all of the following: Ash Wednesday, Lent, Maundy Thursday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. Self-flagallation is available for extra credit"
The problem is that each of these observances is merely a symbol... a remembrance. The problem with symbols of all types is that they are not reality. They merely symbolize what is real. They remind us of a thing, but they are not actually that thing.
Religion loves to wrap its symbols in a divine mandate. The reason for this is no less than the survival of the religious collective. These man-made organizations must make YOU believe that anything less than drinking every drop of their religious kool-aid is equivalent to disobeying God. That is simply not the case.
For me, I desire to experience God more and more. To know Him more. To feel Him close to me. To hear His voice. To do His will. Unfortunately, for me, spending time with symbols does nothing to accomplish that end. For after all, symbols are just that. Symbols.
Seeking to know God more deeply by embracing religious symbology makes about as much sense as seeking to enjoy nature by spending time in a natural history museum. Yes, I may learn some things about nature, but I cannot truly experience nature unless I go out of doors into nature.
Copyright 2014 by Religion Optional. Permission to copy and distribute granted as long as this copyright notice appears.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Religion and panda bears
Panda bears are so cute and cuddly. That is until you climb into a cage with one. They are entirely capable of mauling and eviscerating a full grown man in very short order. They are after all bears.
It seems to be that religion is a lot like the panda bear. It's stated aim is to help you get closer to God. "Hey, just follow our rules, be a good boy or girl and God will be really happy with you. God loves you more when you practice our religion."
But climb into the cage with religion and things can get nasty. Because you see, religion is primarily concerned with its own survival. To do that, it needs to constantly refresh its membership rolls (people die) and collect more money (money gets spent).
God help you if you get between religion and its thirst for power and money. Ask me how I know.
Copyright 2014 by Religion Optional. Permission to copy and distribute granted as long as this copyright notice appears.
It seems to be that religion is a lot like the panda bear. It's stated aim is to help you get closer to God. "Hey, just follow our rules, be a good boy or girl and God will be really happy with you. God loves you more when you practice our religion."
But climb into the cage with religion and things can get nasty. Because you see, religion is primarily concerned with its own survival. To do that, it needs to constantly refresh its membership rolls (people die) and collect more money (money gets spent).
God help you if you get between religion and its thirst for power and money. Ask me how I know.
Copyright 2014 by Religion Optional. Permission to copy and distribute granted as long as this copyright notice appears.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Religion and striving
It's Lenten season. I received an email from my Pastor this week, encouraging me to observe Ash Wednesday and Lent, even though he admitted that there was no true scriptural basis for either one.
I guess that this got me thinking about the nature of striving, and to what degree it is beneficial in knowing and following Christ.
In my first book, I wrote about my personal journey from a rules-based theology to a relationship-based theology. How, for so many years, I imagined God was daring me to clear an every higher bar of personal behavior to gain his favor. But that once I laid hold of the real truth... that God was actually rooting for me, constantly reaching out for me, and holding onto me tighter than I ever could hold onto Him, life changed drastically for the better.
Back in my rules-based theology days, the Peace of God was merely an abstract concept to me. Oh, I knew that I was entitled to feel at peace. Christ had already done everything necessary for me to feel at peace, I just never did... feel at peace... feel at rest.
Given Christ's emphasis in scripture that Sabbath rest is given for man's benefit, not the other way around. It is against the backdrop of these thoughts that I consider this constant drumbeat of religion... pray more, read the Bible more, go to church more, give more money, pray more, read the Bible more, go to church more, give more money, etc.
I think we are once again faced with one or more flawed assumptions. You see, for a man to accomplish greatness on earth, striving is necessary. Whether one wants to jump higher, run faster, or make more money than another man, he or she must strive harder than that other man or woman.
So I think that we naturally assume that striving harder will draw us closer to God. After all, it works so effectively for everything else in life. If a little is good, more must surely be better, right?
At the end of the day, I can only tell my story... what Christ has done for me. For me, at this point in life, I am far more interested in being than striving. To be a friend of Christ. To be a simple man, going about his business in as God-honoring a way as He gives me grace to do. But when I feel that hand on my shoulder, being ready to say, "Yes Lord, what shall I do?"
Finally, I cannot help but feel that this emphasis on striving in some way actually debases what Christ has done for us. As if, by striving harder, we can add something to our relationship with Christ.
I keep coming back to this... when I think that I am holding tightly to God, it is actually He who is holding onto me far tighter. He is with me always, and as Romans 8 reminds us, nothing can separate us from the love of God. No amount of striving can add or subtract from that. It is only by being fully present in each unfolding moment, that we can experience God. We cannot experience him by contemplating the future, nor dwelling on the past.
Blessings and peace, 'Mo Spheric
Copyright 2014 by Religion Optional. Permission to copy and distribute granted as long as this copyright notice appears.
I guess that this got me thinking about the nature of striving, and to what degree it is beneficial in knowing and following Christ.
In my first book, I wrote about my personal journey from a rules-based theology to a relationship-based theology. How, for so many years, I imagined God was daring me to clear an every higher bar of personal behavior to gain his favor. But that once I laid hold of the real truth... that God was actually rooting for me, constantly reaching out for me, and holding onto me tighter than I ever could hold onto Him, life changed drastically for the better.
Back in my rules-based theology days, the Peace of God was merely an abstract concept to me. Oh, I knew that I was entitled to feel at peace. Christ had already done everything necessary for me to feel at peace, I just never did... feel at peace... feel at rest.
Given Christ's emphasis in scripture that Sabbath rest is given for man's benefit, not the other way around. It is against the backdrop of these thoughts that I consider this constant drumbeat of religion... pray more, read the Bible more, go to church more, give more money, pray more, read the Bible more, go to church more, give more money, etc.
I think we are once again faced with one or more flawed assumptions. You see, for a man to accomplish greatness on earth, striving is necessary. Whether one wants to jump higher, run faster, or make more money than another man, he or she must strive harder than that other man or woman.
So I think that we naturally assume that striving harder will draw us closer to God. After all, it works so effectively for everything else in life. If a little is good, more must surely be better, right?
At the end of the day, I can only tell my story... what Christ has done for me. For me, at this point in life, I am far more interested in being than striving. To be a friend of Christ. To be a simple man, going about his business in as God-honoring a way as He gives me grace to do. But when I feel that hand on my shoulder, being ready to say, "Yes Lord, what shall I do?"
Finally, I cannot help but feel that this emphasis on striving in some way actually debases what Christ has done for us. As if, by striving harder, we can add something to our relationship with Christ.
I keep coming back to this... when I think that I am holding tightly to God, it is actually He who is holding onto me far tighter. He is with me always, and as Romans 8 reminds us, nothing can separate us from the love of God. No amount of striving can add or subtract from that. It is only by being fully present in each unfolding moment, that we can experience God. We cannot experience him by contemplating the future, nor dwelling on the past.
Blessings and peace, 'Mo Spheric
Copyright 2014 by Religion Optional. Permission to copy and distribute granted as long as this copyright notice appears.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Discretion is the better part of valor
I've learned the hard way that people love their religion. They love it quite a lot. Arguably, most love religion more than truth.
But if one is to continue in relationship with religious folk, it's just not sensible to go around peeing in everyone's punch bowl. A bit of decorum and diplomacy goes a long way.
I can attest from past experience that you will meet like minded folks along the way. Folks who have been chewed up and spit out by the religious machine and are ready to ditch the whole religious mind control deal. But they will be the exceptions. Most folks are happy to suck it up after being abused and still declare ultimate loyalty to their religion. After all, if they have no religion, what do they have?
For me, as long as I have Jesus, I need nothing else. But I am decidedly in the minority on that point.
Copyright 2014 by Religion Optional. Permission to copy and distribute granted as long as this copyright notice appears.
Copyright 2014 by Religion Optional. Permission to copy and distribute granted as long as this copyright notice appears.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Sort of like a "clothing optional" beach for the soul
Since completing and publishing my book, The Apostate Chronicles, I'm more convinced than ever that religion just really gets in the way of things (at best).
Most folks assume that if someone is anti-religion that they must be an atheist (anti-God). Or if one does believe in God and is anti-religion, they are some sort of spiritual bottom feeder who is really just looking for an excuse to do whatever the heck they wish, with no constraints or input of any sort.
Yeah, well that's not what's going on with me, or what's going on here. I hope to explore some of these ideas in preparation for my next book.
Copyright 2014 by Religion Optional. Permission to copy and distribute granted as long as this copyright notice appears.
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