You see, the atheist argument against religion fascinates me, because I agree with so much of it. Many ancient religious beliefs are ridiculous nonsense, and many religious adherents are ignorant; if only for their failure to face advancing technology and science as having any merit when it pertains to certain sacred cows.
I don't want to argue specifics at this point, but I could't help but wonder one thing over the last few days.
Is there any middle ground between religious adherence and atheism? Because if there is, I'm determined to find it. I have seen that to the best of my knowledge, liberal religion doesn't fit me, but I also know that I believe in spirituality as a path to betterment, enlightenment, kindness, love and grace. I believe Jesus taught one of the most incredible forms of this betterment, and I believe in the spiritual connection of all things.
Christians and other religious faithful would criticize me for agreeing with any of atheism's arguments. Atheists would criticize me for retaining faith in the spiritual. Because I staunchly refuse to choose sides at things presently stand, is there a place where someone like me fits?
Not that I'm desperate to find a label, per se...it's born of wanting to know if there are others out there like me. I'm sure there are, but where are they? Is there a "community"...not so much for questioners, but for those who sit firmly in the middle and aren't interested in being swayed to one side or another?
Thoughts?
This probably won't help much at all, but this is where I am. I'm seeing that 'holding to' any beliefs, in the sense of 'identifying' with them, is just divisive and dangerous, going by where it's got humanity. There are certain things that I see as 'truth' just now, but I don't cling to them as if they were my life. Being detached from ideas, concepts etc. I find to be a very hassle free way of life, and I get on much better with folks:)
ReplyDeleteWhy worry about labels? You are who you are, and you believe what you believe.
ReplyDeleteMysticBrit - I agree, and wish I was that person, but then there are people who won't LET me be that person. It's about choosing sides for so many people.
ReplyDeleteBarry - see my above comment. :)
ReplyDeleteReally, I'm ok with where I'm at...I guess I don't know how to answer people (and I'm speaking more of people in my non-digital life). I'm not a Christian -- so I must be an atheist, right? No, I'm not an atheist, well then what am I? This is the dialog I'm trying to avoid. Maybe there is no avoiding it. I don't know.
Panentheist, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteYes, for sure. But something else, too?
ReplyDeleteAnd for sure, telling my christian friends that I'm a panentheist demands explanation or begs the assumption that I'm a witch or druid or something. (Which wouldn't be bad, but isn't true. :)
I don't like labels for their confining tendency, but they are useful in dialog, I think. Or maybe, I just want to belong to something?
"Not that I'm desperate to find a label, per se...it's born of wanting to know if there are others out there like me."
ReplyDeleteExactly!
Why haven't I been able to articulate that very thing like you just did?
I still have friends ask "Why must you label yourself?" I cannot answer them. But you just put into words the very thing that has been wiggling around in the back of my head for years.
It's not about a label. It's about finding others that think like I do. Community. :)
Thank you Erin.
You know, Kay...people are always telling me not to rush into a label, or asking why I need one. I think you get it -- it would identify somewhere I belong.
ReplyDeleteThen there are those (I think we've talked about this before) who seem to want me to rush to choose sides. It's annoying.
There isn't anyone in the atheist camp that is pushing me, it's more how I feel when I read atheist arguments (like I'm stupid for hesitating). But then there are Christians (of course) who insist I must be one or the other -- choose! Sigh.
What I really want is a place to find people like me -- and without a label, that's hard to find. (Maybe other than UU, which has problems in and of itself.)