Re: The Gangrenous Hand of God (was Re: Religion)


Subject: Re: The Gangrenous Hand of God (was Re: Religion)
From: Pasha Paterson (gpaterso@richmond.edu)
Date: Mon Feb 28 2000 - 04:51:28 EST


At 08:49 02/28/00 -0000, Scottie wrote:
>
> On paper, the teachings of Jesus seem indisputably the wisest
> & most wonderful guide to life. Why is it, then, that those
> who attempt with absolute sincerity to put them into practice
> become so arse-achingly unbearable? I'm not speaking of the
> perfectly normal human hypocrisy that we all embody. I mean
> the process whereby the kinder, the more forgiving, the more
> prayerful, the more 'spiritual' an individual becomes - the more
> dreadful, dreadful, dreadful he also becomes.

I think a religious person only becomes truly unbearable once the practice
of a religion has stripped the person's ability to function. Religion is
about morality, and morality is about proper behavior within a society. If
your observation of religious stuff paralyzes your interaction with your
fellow man, it's doing you more harm than good. Recall the Zen koan:

    Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
    After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.

You can worship whatever god(s) your religion calls for to your heart's
content; just don't forget that you've also got this physical life to live
out, too. The truly unbearable worshippers of Jesus are the fanatics who
lose sight of their earthly engagements.

>[...]
> Does the very decision to 'practise a religion' automatically
> start some kind of corruption in the human heart? Or is
> there something about the kind of people who are drawn
> to it in the first place?

I don't want to say that religion == degradation, because I don't believe
it. Religion is really a role-playing game. Consider other, more
recognizable "games" in the same category, like Dungeons & Dragons. There
are some people who can handle it, and there are some who simply can't.
With religion, too, the game must be kept in check, in perspective, while
earthly concerns still get tended.

_________________________________________________

  Pasha Paterson gpaterso@richmond.edu
  Owner/Designer/Operator, The Digital Dustbin:
  http://www.student.richmond.edu/~gpaterso/
_________________________________________________

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