We really are becoming a country that is seemingly unwilling to make a stand, declare what we believe to be true and (God forbid) tell someone else we think he or she is wrong! EEK! Don't want to hurt any delicate sensibilities out there, for sure!
This article (
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/16165/spiritual-group-sheds-church-label)
about a church that is shedding its former label in order to be "spiritual" is just another prime example of how we've become even more mamby-pamby - Amen?
I say if you're a Christian, for pete's sake be a Christian and stand up for the beliefs that Christ taught. And for Muhammed's sake, if you're a Muslim, stand up for the beliefs that Allah's prophet taught. And for the sake of 3 million gods, if you're a Hindu, stand up for the beliefs you've learned along the way! I've said it before and I'll say it again: they CANNOT all be right.
All paths do not lead to the same end. In the end, you alone have to decide which one is right, which one is true. You alone have to commit, if you're the sort that needs something to believe in. And even if you're not someone who needs something to believe in, isn't it paramount simply to believe what is true? Why spend your life living what is untrue - it seems like an irrelevant life is the one that lives by what is false.
And so what exactly is being "spiritual" that the above article refers to? I wish someone could explain it to me because in my mind it simply means 'I'm being the best person I can be.' And isn't that what most of us try to be on a daily basis without calling ourselves "spiritual?" So what, if I throw in a few readings from the Koran or the Bible for good measure - is supposed to make me "spiritual?" Sheesh. What ever happened to picking a religion - the one that makes the most sense - and sticking to it - giving it everything you have, with all you soul, heart, body and mind. Now that, to me, is something to believe in. This term "spiritual," which is becoming a psuedo-religion all to itself, seems like drinking luke warm water that does little to satisfy that longing for either ice cold water, or piping hot chocolate. Anything in the middle is just down right unsatisfying.
Being "spiritual" is kinda like not committing in marriage to the boyfriend or girlfriend you've been dating for eight years. You tell him or her, "I love you, but I just can't commit the rest of my life to you, heart and soul, because something better might come along. But, for now, I'm comfortable where I'm at." Would the other really buy that? My bet is that the non committal one would end up alone.
Now imagine one God really did exist - the Christian God, Allah, the three million gods of Hinduism or any of the other myriad of Gods out there - and you had to answer for your life to that God? When he or she asked you why you never committed what would you say? Why can't we see that all of these religions and gods are exclusivistic, that they're all jealous and demand all of their followers' attention? The point is: commit to ONE. Don't be afraid to stand up for your God, to seek out what is truth and right and good. One way will make itself clear to you. But no matter which one you choose just pick one. When will we as a culture realize that believing in something is not like going to a buffet?
Like all other good things, we Americans have once again Americanized our religions. We want the best of all of them, leaving out the things we don't like for the parts of the religions we want. What it leaves us with is a cobbled up mess of psuedo spirituality that simply builds an even more spoiled people who believe that the gods are there to serve our whims - little ATM machines in the sky doling out wealth, happiness, well-being and health. By that definition we would be gods - little gods of our own universes dictating our own wants at our own pleasures. And since our Americanized "spirituality" has turned us all into gods, what use do we even have for readings from the Koran, the Bible, the Torah or other religious texts designed to teach us or for spiritual disciplines designed to help build the character most of us tend to lack. Why pretend to follow anything at all since we ourselves dictate what's good for us? We might as well be meditating atheists, meditating on our own greatness.
