Posted on Wednesday, 22nd March 2006 by Maritzia
Boy, did you ask for it *laughs*.
Last week, I ran across this link on 
Traelle's journal: http://wgds.blogspot.com/. I've only read the first entry so far, but it's one that really struck home with me. One thing that has always puzzled me is why one would want to be spoonfed anything, much less religion. I was raised Southern Baptist. One of the main reasons I left the Baptist Church was the strong emphasis on not questioning. I question everything, it's an integral part of my nature. I became Catholic because it seemed that the Catholic Church was more open to religious musings than most other Christian denominations (not to mention the fact that I think ritual is one of the most incredible things, something the Baptists have lost, even if they do have really good music). Then, of course, came John Paul II.
Now, don't get me wrong. I think the late pope was a very good man. I think he had a very deep spirituality. But he really cracked down on anything he considered dissident. Which, of course, made me crazy. And over the years, in my questioning and searching, my beliefs have broadened. I still consider myself a Christian at some level, but these days I'm at least as much Pagan as I am Christian.
My main problems with the Baptist Church as well as the current Roman Catholic Church (as well as any number of other Christian sects) is this doctrinal dictatorship they want to hold over their members hearts and minds. For me, religion is about the relationship one has with her Creator. Whether you call that Creator God, Goddess, Hecate, Jehovah, or whatever name you want to give…whether you consider your God to be a creator or not, it is about the relationship with the divine. How can you have a relationship, other than a very one-sided, dysfunctional relationship, if there is only take and no give. There must be communication for a relationship to develop and flourish.
So why would someone want to be in such a relationship as the one that these churches seem to proscribe? That is what puzzles me. Why would anyone want to be told what to believe? That's such a personal thing, your beliefs. I know most people don't tend to be as introspective as I am, but still, surely they have some desire to know themselves through the eye of the divine? Don't they?
*shrugs* Maybe not. And I still don't understand it.
Posted in Religion/Spirituality | Comments (0)
