Off-the-Cuff Religion

Starhawk
(Photo by Dedda71)

Pastor Jim Rigby of Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin explains that many “intelligent and compassionate” people colloquially describe religion with terms such as “superstition, hierarchy and… intolerance.”

They could just as well have cited examples of how religionists have uplifted women (Starhawk), children (Mr. Rogers), people of color (Martin Luther King, Jr.), the politically oppressed (Gandhi), and the Earth itself (Sadhguru).

Some on this list might not like being dubbed a "religionist." Some might prefer to be viewed as a spiritual leader.  Yet many religious adherents believe that Spirit is a core component of their faith.  Therefore, it may just come down to semantics.

The word “religion” has been bantered about in so many ways that it’s become somewhat meaningless. Worse yet, it’s become a catch-all term for all that folks dislike most about their own recalled experiences.

If only the scope could be broadened to include a spectrum of best to worst and everything in between.  That could paint a more authentic picture of religion’s many hues.

Resources

Before rejecting religion, let's define what we mean