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Historically, the issue of religion has fluctuated from being a hot-button topic to only getting cursory acknowledgment from followers and critics alike. I believe that in a number of cases (definitely not all) when issues arise, the issue is not with the religion per se, but with the recalcitrant practitioners and authority figures within it whose actions degrade and ruin any credibility held by said religion. In spite of these setbacks, there are still viable reasons why a person should have a religion and believe in God. Being a Christian, my point of view may seemingly appear slanted to some, but I will do my best to keep this all-inclusive.
The Choice to Believe in God
Religion in my mind is a system of beliefs - plain and simple. Smart people know that it is important to associate with people of like mind with the goal of rubbing shoulders, and learning from each other. These smart people also understand that while rubbing shoulders, they have the freewill to make the right decisions based on what they learn and ultimately how their conscience guides them. To follow a person blindly in negative and/or vulgar practices, under the umbrella of a religion that professes to believe in God, is not a fault of the religion, but the fault of the leader and follower.
Not every Christian is a devout Christian who accurately follows the laws and precepts laid out in the Bible; not every Muslim is a devout Muslim, not every Hindu is a devout Hindu, or Jew a devout Jew. In choosing a religion and deity to serve, it is a personal responsibility to identify and associate oneself with a leader that will not lead people astray. There will always be bad apples, who will never truly reflect the values of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and others. These bad apples posed as leaders should be shied away from. Let’s be wise.
Heightened Spiritual Depth
The idea that religion does not heighten spiritual depth is baseless and relegated to a matter of opinion. Having a religion can give a person heightened spiritual depth as long as that is what they are actively seeking. Obviously, I am speaking of religions whose essence is to promote positive qualities and personal growth. It is possible to belong to a religion and either remain the same or deteriorate. It is also possible for a particular religion to have illicit members. That is not the instance where the phrase “birds of the same feather flock together” applies.
The Bad Apple Problem
In an apple tree, there is always the probability that a couple of apples would be bad. No wise farmer condemns a whole tree based on a few bad apples; instead he tries to find ways to restore them or eventually removes them from the cluster. As different religions share different perspectives, they might view certain issues similarly or have totally different viewpoints. Regardless of this, the fundamental definition of good versus evil remains unchanged and it is each person’s responsibility to know the definitions of each and weigh it against what his/her religion teaches.
Spiritual Fulfillment
Having a religion should gear a person towards the pursuit of living a fulfilled life, but religion in itself does not dispense blanket fulfillment to everyone that signs up. Definitely, fulfillment of life’s purpose can be attained without a religion, but a system of beliefs does provide a structured environment with which to grow if a person is diligent enough to ensure that he is surrounded by people of like mind.
Releasing the Purse
The argument by some people that giving monetary contributions to a religious organization is foolish, evil, a waste, or better spent when given to a charity-based organization is a foolish statement in itself. Every individual should give based on choice, preferably without coercion. If a person is compelled to give, it is still a personal choice that is made (not unless his possessions are physically pried from his hands by another with superior strength). If he choose not to, it is probably safer to go about his business without being critical of others who do.
Wise people understand that it is good to give freely when they have the means to, and in some cases when they don’t because there is a foundational principle behind giving as expounded by phrases such as “Give and you shall receive”, “You reap what you sow”.
Finally, if a homeless person comes up to me and asks for money, I make a decision on whether or not I give him some money. I can only care about what he is going to use the money for before I give it to him and not after. Once I give it to him, it becomes his to do with as he pleases. After that, my relevance to his life has ended, because I do not own him. I can only hold him accountable if I have viable contract that I can exercise.
Points to Ponder…
Have you ever stopped to analyze the principles many organizations and individuals put into practice in their daily actions? Principles such as stewardship, service to the poor, humility, forgiveness etc. These principles have dated records beginning as far back as the inception of religious texts such as the Bible. I reckon that the upside is better when these principles are practiced under the mantle of a belief structure like Christianity, because based on the bible, this is when the benefits that have been ascribed begin to truly manifest in one’s life.
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