Alienation and Entitlement
There are, I think, three types of Religious people. There are those for whom religion is mainly cultural. These are the people who are devote, but there devote because they have been born into a culture. A part of me is very similar to this type of person. I too was born into my religion; Born catholic. I grew up, and to be honest, I have no story comparable to other peoples conversion story; I have no ‘witness’, not in the traditional sense. That being said, there is nothing wrong with being born into a religion. But if that’s where it ends, then its not so much a religious belief that is held as it is a culture. Its not enough for a person to believe in something because mom and dad did, and grandpa and grandma, and all our ancestors back a thousand years. No, that’s a wonderful heritage, but it’s the beginning. So is, for that matter, Conversion.
The next type is the ideal. Religion becomes real, and one becomes connected to god, and therefore to the rest of the world. One understands, as St. Francis of Assisi came to understand, that we exist in a Brotherhood of Creation, and a Brotherhood of Humanity, and a Brotherhood of Faith. You become aware of God’s possession of all reality, and therefore, act with this universal Brotherhood always in mind. For Christians, this is why Christ died; to reconcile the world to himself.
There is another path to follow. It is the path of extreme alienation and entitlement. God becomes a vessel of culture, made a servant of culture. Culture is made into a great idol, which is fiercely worshiped. Suddenly, life becomes cheep. The worse sins a person can commit are no longer extinguishing the life of another, or defiling a persons dignity, but violating ones culture. It becomes elitist. Few pass through the narrow path, says the bible; but for these, non pass through but those who follow their own culture. Suddenly a single church, of a handful of people, becomes the only people on the earth to be saved. All other people are wicked and deserving as punishment. Sometimes, sinners are beyond forgiveness. One looses all empathy for the people around him; only believers deserve sympathy.
I see some might say to themselves, “ah, I know of these people, they are the (name)”. And indeed, another says, “I understand, he doesn’t think we should judge, like those damn (name).” I am not talking about “them”. I am talking about us. All of us. All people at some point at there life allow themselves to indulged in this sense of alienation and entitlement. “They aren’t like me. They are stupid. Or too liberal. Or too conservative. Or damned.” I am telling you, your beliefs of your own superiority are wrong. Believe me, nobody knows more about the temptation to feel superior then I, a member of one of the largest religions on the earth. And believe me, I speak to myself just as much as anyone. We need to stop believing in our own righteousness. God is righteous. We’re just human. Therein is the nature of humility.
And if after all that, you still find yourself saying, “He doesn’t know them like I know them. He is a fool to think them the same as me,” then I recommend you stop reading. Nothing will speak to you in my writing.
The next type is the ideal. Religion becomes real, and one becomes connected to god, and therefore to the rest of the world. One understands, as St. Francis of Assisi came to understand, that we exist in a Brotherhood of Creation, and a Brotherhood of Humanity, and a Brotherhood of Faith. You become aware of God’s possession of all reality, and therefore, act with this universal Brotherhood always in mind. For Christians, this is why Christ died; to reconcile the world to himself.
There is another path to follow. It is the path of extreme alienation and entitlement. God becomes a vessel of culture, made a servant of culture. Culture is made into a great idol, which is fiercely worshiped. Suddenly, life becomes cheep. The worse sins a person can commit are no longer extinguishing the life of another, or defiling a persons dignity, but violating ones culture. It becomes elitist. Few pass through the narrow path, says the bible; but for these, non pass through but those who follow their own culture. Suddenly a single church, of a handful of people, becomes the only people on the earth to be saved. All other people are wicked and deserving as punishment. Sometimes, sinners are beyond forgiveness. One looses all empathy for the people around him; only believers deserve sympathy.
I see some might say to themselves, “ah, I know of these people, they are the (name)”. And indeed, another says, “I understand, he doesn’t think we should judge, like those damn (name).” I am not talking about “them”. I am talking about us. All of us. All people at some point at there life allow themselves to indulged in this sense of alienation and entitlement. “They aren’t like me. They are stupid. Or too liberal. Or too conservative. Or damned.” I am telling you, your beliefs of your own superiority are wrong. Believe me, nobody knows more about the temptation to feel superior then I, a member of one of the largest religions on the earth. And believe me, I speak to myself just as much as anyone. We need to stop believing in our own righteousness. God is righteous. We’re just human. Therein is the nature of humility.
And if after all that, you still find yourself saying, “He doesn’t know them like I know them. He is a fool to think them the same as me,” then I recommend you stop reading. Nothing will speak to you in my writing.
posted by King O' Mauve at 6:36 PM
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