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Hey all-I posted this blog recently-would love to get some discussion going about this:

The Power of Belief


I know it's been a little while since I've posted a blog...sorry!

I've been considering this for some time-the power of belief. Belief is strong on this planet; belief in people, belief in signs, belief in spirits, belief in religion, belief in God, belief that there isn't a god, belief in brands, belief in the self...and so on.

Why? Why DO we believe? And why does belief so often separate us? Belief in racial dominance fuels many wars in the world; belief in religious dominance many others. Belief in patriotism divides our nation at home, as those who dare disagree with current foreign policy are deemed "unpatriotic" and unfaithful to the country (I still haven't figured out how fighting natives in Iraq is "fighting for our country..." but that's a consideration for another time, and so many others have spoke so much more eloquently on the topic).

Belief in religious distinctions divides many in the world..."I love God!!!" "No, I love God, you don't really know God!"

In America, the main belief of the day is belief in the "American way..." this way is the belief in a McDonald's on every street corner, a "democracy" in every nation, and a car in every driveway. Why is our way the best way? Is ours the oldest way? No. Is ours the most proven way? No.

In the American church (the nation's own religious brand-american christianity, which has delightful varieties, flavors, and colors for your distinct personality...), branding is crucial! Branding the "suffering, rights-deprived" evangelical church is one of the favorite flavors of the day. Railing against the "elite liberal media" and campaigning for "bringing back prayer in schools" are the two favorite condiments...

So my question is this: when will the spiritual people (who sit in evangelical pews, catholic kneelers, mosques, temples, prayer rooms) in the country "depart from among her" and reclaim the spirituality that mistakenly drove them to find fellowship in the wrong place (the well-dressed hell of dogmatic religious groups)?

Belief CAN transcend the dogmatic: we have all witnessed simple, pure, unadulterated belief.

Leave the garbage behind-make a statement: consumerist spirituality is no spirituality at all.

Expend your desire for dogma on your cell phone preference and political views-that's where it belongs. Spirituality dies a small death every day when it is choked by the heady smoke of religion.

-Dan

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Fear always drives zealotry.

How can we fix that?

I don't know.

Pax!

Dan, I am of the opinion that many have rejected the silliness of religion and simply look for their own way. you never hear of these people because they simply have left the "church" and have no need for it. A few people dabble in religion yet that's just about all it is, dabbling.

As you walk along your path just bless the people you encounter. Naturally some may prove to be irritants and need a swatting but that swatting may bless them anyway. Or deceitful and need evading.

Just do your best and treat others as you would be treated by them.

All will become magically clear one day when you are loosed from the prison of your earthly life and zoom back to ein sof.

Good point Logos. To quote a great novel..."Fear is the mindkiller." I don't know what the antidote is. Knowledge? Understanding?

Thanks for the advice CoolH.

This is a great concept, NBK. I definitely belief that many HAVE rejected religion, and because of the fact that the "individual path" is not organized (by definition), you just don't hear their slogans and branding pitches.

I would like to think that the heightened clamour that is coming from religion is nothing more than the death-knell of organized religion, but I fear to be too optimistic...

-Dan

Logos says:

Possibly brains.....which is why this is so hard to fix.

Thought provoking post Dan.

I would say that belief gives confidence.

"fear is the mindkiller". I don't know what the antidote is. Knowledge? Understanding?"

Yeah both. For Christians, it's their learning that Christianity is not the only way, truth and life for everyone; because the doctrine of Jesus was established for his Judaism, and not for the entire world. Other people in their own diverse religious beliefs have the same confidence in their own ways, truths and lives. Convincing Christians on these elements of "belief" in different cultural traditions is the key to peace on earth and good will to all men, imo.

Roselyn said in part.




I agree. One thing I saw after 911 was the realization that the Taliban sounded like christian fundamentalist. Some of my Christian friends were deeply affected by this. The religion of our creation was way to universal for their liking. These things will take time. As Globalization takes hold people will see the commonness of their religion with so many they thought were so different from their own.