Joseph Campbell said, "Religion turns poetry into prose."
So I'll set aside specific dogma, and rather include every person that has looked to religion, philosophy, literature and music as a way to express their depth.
Let's say you uncover a "truth" for yourself. This, in my opinion, is the only real way to have genuine beliefs.
My question, rather, is why do some claim "lip service" to an entire set of beliefs? (I don't mean people who earnestly believe in and doing their best to follow the path of their choosing.)
It doesn't seem that such people are being honest with themselves. And be declaring an superficial affiliation to others is just increasing the dishonesty.
I present that following as an example only, not an indictment of religion, or of Christianity in particular. It is just something I have the most experience with.
I have a neighbor whose car proudly announces her Christian faith. The "fish" symbol, a religious radio station bumper sticker, and a decal from her church-affiliated college. This communicates to me that she considers herself a Christian.
The Christian's goal is theoretically to be Christ-like. Of course it is in theory, since the Bible illustrates that man cannot be perfect. So if she considers herself a Bible-believing Christian, she should possess a genuine desire to be like Christ, correct?
Her language, dress, and the activites she professes in the presence of company all seem in direct contradiction to Biblical principles (cleanliness of speech, modest dress, sobriety, chastity). I am not passing judgement, but merely sharing an observation. She is certainly free to do and say and act however she chooses. I have no qualm with how she lives her life, nor should I ever attempt to. I am just relating what I have witnessed.
It seems to me, that the concepts of Christianity should be in her mind, even when acting in contradiction to her stated beliefs. From the point of a witness, I would guess that there must be tremendous conflict within her-a feeling of failure as she "stumbles" so easily from what she believes to be right. Otherwise, she is just paying "lip service".
This might be to appease or protect the feelings of a family member or friend who would be disappointed to know she wasn't practicing her claimed beliefs. She might have felt oppressed by a life of church, and is now experimenting with life.
Whatever the cause, she is being dishonest with herself. She is "on the fence". My question is, why? How is she making a positive chioce for herself? If she has found real "truth" in something else, another religion, no religion, atheism, etc., then so be it.
Maybe she is holding out for a get a "Get-Out-of-Hell-Free-Card", should she die and actually bump into J.C. Maybe she likes the social community of church.
The concept, not the neighbor is what strikes me as insincere. At the same time, genuine effort in the face of a mountain of failure, is still infintely more respectable.
The same situation is as true for Pagans, Hindus, atheists, whomever. Religion isn't even the issue. It is the holding of beliefs one does not act upon.
Of course, I have beliefs that I fail in following 100% of the time. I will offer a personal, non-religious example:
I am disturbed by careless driving. People recklessly speeding, cutting through traffic without warning, showing no courtesy when the situation left plenty of time for them to do so. I know that there is a better way to do things, I believe this. So I try to practice thoughtful driving. This doesn't mean that I stop at the offramp to let seven cars get in line in front of me. (That is overkill, not to mention how impolite it is to the people behind me.)
When I can, I try to allow people in. Once in a great while, I might be distracted and drive past the offramp without stopping for someone by accident. Another day, I might be frustrated or in a hurry to get home. I fail. But I know I failed. I remember that I am not in such a break-neck hurry to get home that I need to cause an accident, incite someone to follow me and beat me to death.
But I make it up the next time. I am back on track. I was never "on the fence". I moved towards it, but quickly followed my convictions back to where I felt right.
That analogy, however lame, is an illustration. Whethter claimed religious beliefs, or an atheist's personal code. There are truths we discover and should hold onto. There are times when we should simply "know better".
What do the rest of you feel?
So I'll set aside specific dogma, and rather include every person that has looked to religion, philosophy, literature and music as a way to express their depth.
Let's say you uncover a "truth" for yourself. This, in my opinion, is the only real way to have genuine beliefs.
My question, rather, is why do some claim "lip service" to an entire set of beliefs? (I don't mean people who earnestly believe in and doing their best to follow the path of their choosing.)
It doesn't seem that such people are being honest with themselves. And be declaring an superficial affiliation to others is just increasing the dishonesty.
I present that following as an example only, not an indictment of religion, or of Christianity in particular. It is just something I have the most experience with.
I have a neighbor whose car proudly announces her Christian faith. The "fish" symbol, a religious radio station bumper sticker, and a decal from her church-affiliated college. This communicates to me that she considers herself a Christian.
The Christian's goal is theoretically to be Christ-like. Of course it is in theory, since the Bible illustrates that man cannot be perfect. So if she considers herself a Bible-believing Christian, she should possess a genuine desire to be like Christ, correct?
Her language, dress, and the activites she professes in the presence of company all seem in direct contradiction to Biblical principles (cleanliness of speech, modest dress, sobriety, chastity). I am not passing judgement, but merely sharing an observation. She is certainly free to do and say and act however she chooses. I have no qualm with how she lives her life, nor should I ever attempt to. I am just relating what I have witnessed.
It seems to me, that the concepts of Christianity should be in her mind, even when acting in contradiction to her stated beliefs. From the point of a witness, I would guess that there must be tremendous conflict within her-a feeling of failure as she "stumbles" so easily from what she believes to be right. Otherwise, she is just paying "lip service".
This might be to appease or protect the feelings of a family member or friend who would be disappointed to know she wasn't practicing her claimed beliefs. She might have felt oppressed by a life of church, and is now experimenting with life.
Whatever the cause, she is being dishonest with herself. She is "on the fence". My question is, why? How is she making a positive chioce for herself? If she has found real "truth" in something else, another religion, no religion, atheism, etc., then so be it.
Maybe she is holding out for a get a "Get-Out-of-Hell-Free-Card", should she die and actually bump into J.C. Maybe she likes the social community of church.
The concept, not the neighbor is what strikes me as insincere. At the same time, genuine effort in the face of a mountain of failure, is still infintely more respectable.
The same situation is as true for Pagans, Hindus, atheists, whomever. Religion isn't even the issue. It is the holding of beliefs one does not act upon.
Of course, I have beliefs that I fail in following 100% of the time. I will offer a personal, non-religious example:
I am disturbed by careless driving. People recklessly speeding, cutting through traffic without warning, showing no courtesy when the situation left plenty of time for them to do so. I know that there is a better way to do things, I believe this. So I try to practice thoughtful driving. This doesn't mean that I stop at the offramp to let seven cars get in line in front of me. (That is overkill, not to mention how impolite it is to the people behind me.)
When I can, I try to allow people in. Once in a great while, I might be distracted and drive past the offramp without stopping for someone by accident. Another day, I might be frustrated or in a hurry to get home. I fail. But I know I failed. I remember that I am not in such a break-neck hurry to get home that I need to cause an accident, incite someone to follow me and beat me to death.
But I make it up the next time. I am back on track. I was never "on the fence". I moved towards it, but quickly followed my convictions back to where I felt right.
That analogy, however lame, is an illustration. Whethter claimed religious beliefs, or an atheist's personal code. There are truths we discover and should hold onto. There are times when we should simply "know better".
What do the rest of you feel?
