[recycled post - first appeared here]
The past few years have seen the release of a number of controversial books about religion (such as Sam Harris’ The End of Faith, Daniel Dennet’s Breaking the Spell, and Richard Dawkin’s The God Delusion). Thanks to these books — books I may not wholly agree with — my thinking has been stimulated. I have come to view religion as something that provides both a personal and a social raison d’être. A reason for being.
On the personal level, religious beliefs and practices can provide meaning, with reasons why and how to live. A personal raison d’être consists of those aspirations and relationships that give life meaning, as well as the activities that generate feelings of awe and/or immersion in something greater. On this level, religion is frequently referred to as spirituality. Many a person will say, I’m not into organized religion, but I am a spiritual person.
Established religions can and do provide ready-made blueprints for personal reasons for being. The personal and the social overlap significantly, but to differing degrees among individuals and cultures. In our highly individualistic culture, believers need not be one-brand shoppers. Rather, beneath the single roof provided by the label “religion,” there are whole aisles dedicated to differing types of belief. Seekers will pick and choose to suit their needs. Sometimes they grab items from separate aisles that don’t necessarily go together: a pint of Jesus, a gallon of Buddha, a quart of Deepak Chopra.
As for this individual, my own raison d’être could be summarized as “to love and to learn.” I don’t need religions in general, or Biblical teachings specifically, to motivate nor guide me in either pursuit. In fact, I believe Bible-based religions might limit how and what I learn and possibly impede to whom I extend a loving intention.
As for the personal raison d’être of my associates and community members: so long as they are not hurting themselves nor harming others, it’s none of my business. That said, if I am dragged or invited into a discussion about values or claims to truth, I’m not going to pretend I concur, nor apportion someone’s values or claims greater respect simply due to the tradition or language their raison d’être may be steeped in.
Much is made of a line between science and religion. To me, a better line to draw is that between public and private. A personal reason for being is necessarily a private thing.
Social reasons for being are another matter, and I will be addressing those in part III of this three-part post.
Tags: atheism, Christianity, humanism, religion
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