recently, a co-worker asked me if i was a religious person. taken aback, i responded that i was spiritual. i'm not really sure what i meant by saying that, but i knew my views on religion have changed. i was raised catholic and went to catholic school for my elementary years. i was a faithful alter server and actually enjoyed going to church. when i was in high school, it was time for my confirmation, yet i found myself not attending the necessary classes and was never confirmed. i found myself starting to question principles of the catholic faith. however, while in college, i began attending the catholic church near campus. it was completely different than the church i grew up with. there was a lot of singing, often a small band, and the priest was enjoyable to listen to, and often humorous. perhaps it's because i found that church to be more liberal (if that's possible for a catholic church), but i found acceptance there.
when i moved to north carolina, my roommate and i would attend church, nearly every sunday. it was a massive church with the largest congregation in charlotte. it wasn't that i had changed and started believing those principles that i previously had disagreed with, but i was able to do my own thinking through the routine of the catholic mass. perhaps that's where i found my spirituality, rather than religion.
i've done a lot of thinking lately, and mostly because i feel that christianity is forced down our throats in this country. while our country does not have an official religion, i feel that many christians feel that their religion is superior to others throughout the world. sure, it is a majority in our country, but it is NOT the only religion.
recently i attended a concert, madonna's "sticky & sweet" tour, and surprisingly, found myself doing more thinking about christianity vs. other religions. and there it was, right in front of me, on the large lighted screens. during "like a prayer" the names of all higher beings that people throughout the world pray to were flashed on the screen: god, allah, etc. And then, "the lamps are all different, but the light is the same.." Religions all have different beliefs, traditions, and rituals, but ultimately, they all provide the same solace to those who pray - a belief in a higher being, a spirit.
while i am not sure how i feel towards organized religion has a whole, i have respect for those that feel deeply towards their religion. in my own way, i will continue to pray to a spirit that i hope will provide guidance, assistance, and expression of thoughts for myself, friends, and family.
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3 comments:
Hmm...interesting. Give me a concrete example of it being forced down your throat in this country (not in the Catholic church). We are so lucky to live in a country where we have the freedom to express our religion and going to heaven based on Grace (not works) is something to express....loudly. (in my opinion)
I agree that it is better to be spiritually based rather than religious based. A church is nothing more than a building in which people go to feel better about themselves. Organized religion scares the heck out of me. People actually begin to think that they are bigger than the religion.
Dad
tlm - perhaps "forced down my throat" wasn't the best wording. i merely mean that it is all around us and sometimes brought up TOO much. i completely agree that we are lucky to live in a country where we are allowed to express and choose our religion. and with that, i think that ALL religions, or none at all, should be accepted - none greater than the other.
dad - i didn't necessarily mean that to be spiritual is better than to be religious, rather that it's a different way of looking at things. i also hope that i didn't generalize all people who are religious. i know (and am great friends) with people who are very religious and their faith is extremely important to them, yet they don't judge me or expect that i pray just like them.
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