Before moving to Juneau, I lived in Denver.
One of the things I have not missed about my former locale is the hubbub over Denver Broncos’ quarterback Tim Tebow’s public demonstration of his religiosity. His name has become a verb. To “Tebow” is to get down on a knee and start praying in the middle of an athletic event or anywhere else one feels motivated to do so.
I do not question Tim Tebow’s sincerity, but is this what it means to be religious? Some might argue to the contrary that “whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door.” (Matthew 6: 6)
Several years ago I was called by a reporter of a major daily newspaper down South. She wanted to talk with me about “the religious position” on same gender marriage. She assumed that the religious position would be opposed to marriage equality.
But is it?
I suggested to the reporter that asking a minister about “the” religious view on a topic was akin to asking a legislator about “the” political position on a piece of legislation.
She told me that would be ridiculous; there are many political perspectives on any given issue.
The same is true, I responded, about religion.
Pop culture often equates being religious with particular positions on hot button topics or praying after a touchdown, but there is more than one way to be religious. In this country, “religious” is often assumed to be synonymous with “Christian,” which, of course, it is not.
Even within Christianity, there is a wide spectrum of differences. We are an increasingly pluralistic society when it comes to religious beliefs and practices. In a society that is committed to religious freedom, it is essential to honor a wide variety of religious views as well as nonreligious perspectives.
No one viewpoint, religious or not, is privileged over another.
They all have to compete in the free exchange of ideas.
A Christian example of this is Paul’s visit to Athens where he encountered many religious people. He did not demand that they adhere to his beliefs; rather, he went to the public market and made his case for the God he worshipped. Some were persuaded by his arguments and others were not.
So what does it mean to be religious? The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible defines religion as “respect and awe for the sacred and divine, strict observance of religious ritual, or conscientiousness in morality and ethics,” but this raises as many questions as it resolves.
What is sacred?
Which rituals do we observe?
Why do we do so?
What is moral and ethical?
How do we demonstrate conscientious adherence to the values we espouse?
How do they influence our behavior and our perspectives on social issues?
There are a number of answers to these questions because there are many ways of being religious.
From my perspective, being religious has less to do with specific ritual observances and more to do with expressing the things I value most highly. It also means connecting with something larger than myself that both fills me with wonder and holds me accountable. For me, that something is God. Being religious has to do with the search for something “more.” I believe there is more to life than self-interest and self-preservation and that there is more than what the eye sees and the rational mind perceives.
This “more” calls forth beauty, mystery and awe. It obligates us to care for all of creation and hold it in sacred trust. Being religious also includes a commitment to compassion and respect for all people. All of us, without regard to race, class, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age or ability, are created in the image of the loving Creator.
For me, this entails working for a just social order where people are treated as if they are so created. Being religious translates into advocacy for equality and the promotion of peace and justice in public life as well as in personal pursuits.
So, what about you?
What is it that you value? What holds you accountable? Does it involve being religious? In what way? I would like to know what you think.
• Phil Campbell is the pastor of Northern Light United Church and may be reached at nluc@ak.net.
Comments (4)
Add commentGot religion?
This pastor specifically wants to know what his readers think.
Before all else, let me explain that I used to speak the pastor's language which is the language of faith or as he puts it, "there is more...than the rational mind perceives." Make no mistake, that is code for his god, specifically the war god called Yahweh though typically referred to as just "God" in Juneau. And he knows that particular god's plan for you in colorful detail right down to what consenting adults can or can't do!
I really did stop counting when I reached ten sentences that I found either begging the question, or flat out misleading. It's quite the emotional bowlful of alphabet soup spooning up thoughts that span a range of topics from atheism to zealotry. I did find one little juicy morsel, however, that I'd like to draw attention to.
He states, "In a society that is committed to religious freedom, it is essential to honor a wide variety of religious views as well as non religious perspectives."
Subtle, and wrong. It would demand a nuanced interpretation of the word honor to accept that statement, if it were possible at all. US citizens are not required to honor any religious viewpoint or non-religious view point for that matter no matter how essential the pastor believes this to be so. For instance, I will never honor the religious viewpoint that female genital mutilation isn't anything short of barbaric cruelty. I could go on, we all could.
And here's my point. Religion retains a "thou-shalt-not-speak- critically-of-a-religious-person's-viewpoints" privilege in society. Yes, I said privilege. This honorific, to take one easy example, allows child daycare providers, for instance, to be exempt from national guidelines that require inspections for non-religious daycares. I could go on. So, the pastor reinforces this meme with his use of the word honor. One might say he has a vested interest to do so.
Must I really point out the danger in elevating a topic, any topic (let alone the supernatural), to the status of something for which honor is essential when it isn't earned? Apparently I think I do.
1984 anyone?
Mike
Here's what I think
I liked the letter as well as my friend Mike's comments above. Both have very relevant points. Here's what I believe.
I have learned to separate my spirituality from religion. One does not need a religion to experience spirituality. In fact, I hold all religions in contempt, because history has shown that religion is the main cause of most of the world's suffering. My contempt is humorously displayed in my avatar to the left which displays Jesus lovingly holding a baby dinosaur. This is a slam towards those who discount science for the sake of their religion because they believe Jesus and dinosaurs coexisted at the same time.
I am deeply spiritual. I am not religious.
Many religions hold to the tenet that THEIR religion is the one true religion and that all other religions are bogus. Obviously, they all can't be right, but they all believe they are right because their religious leaders tell them so.
And this creates wars. And holy wars.
Many religions hold that their followers adhere to strict obedience of their elected spiritual officials (Mormons, Catholics, Muslims, many others). This opens up the possibility of widespread corruption. One need look no further than the worldwide corruption of the Catholic church, mired in pedophile scandal for decades, yet, this is somehow accepted in our society because it is a mainstream religion. And this is horribly wrong. Are you that afraid of pissing off someone else's god?
Many religions rely on fear (of hell, for example) to motivate their followers into blind obedience.
So I repeat what I said above, one does not need religion in order to be spiritual.
I used to joke that I started my own religion, and that it only had one person in it. Me. And by default, that made me Pope of my religion. But in reality, all I was saying was that I, and I alone had power over my destiny and beliefs. I didn't rely on a religion to define my beliefs for me. Many people rely on their religion to define their beliefs because it's easier than thinking about those things themselves. (And that's akin to watching Fox TV for political beliefs now that I think about it. . .)
So, as a self-proclaimed proud agnostic, I will be the first to say I believe in God too! I will also be the first to say, that I might very well be wrong, since belief in a god could very well be irrational. As an artist, ambiguity and irrationality coexist peacefully in my world because the world isn't black and white, and there are gray areas and unknowns everywhere.
Bottom line: I don't know it all. And neither do you (I'm speaking to the world here). And neither does your religion. So, you believe what you want, I'll believe what I want, and let's all try to get along. But if you try to incorporate elements of your religion into laws that effect us all, then we are not going to get along.
First off, I love Tim Tebow
First off, I love Tim Tebow and what he's doing for faith in America. I can't think of one downside. All over the world Christians are under attack and even being killed. If nothing else, Tebow has caused an awakening that it's just okay to show your Christian faith and to live it. How can that be a bad thing?
You know, jo, I have to agree with you. I was raised a Christian but I don't feel the need to follow any organized religion.
What I have a problem with is how certain people with a political agenda have hijacked some of our Protestant churches. And right up at the top is the Presbyterian church. Growing up I never once heard the words social justice or social order or advocacy for equality inside the church. It's all over these churches now and I question the sincerity of the leaders of these religions. Are the worshippers just another tool to further a political agenda?
The author writes "In this country, “religious” is often assumed to be synonymous with “Christian,” which, of course, it is not."
I don't think Americans equate religion with being Christian. It appears Campbell's politics slipped in by accident. What about our Jewish friends and Mormons and all the other religions that worship freely here? I don't exclude them. They're just as much a part of our country as Christians.
With all the talk of keeping religion out of government how do you or Mike explain Obama's recent assault on the Catholic church with the birth control, etc. healthcare mandate?
Is that an example of government legislating faith?
In my opinion it's Obama's hatred of the Catholics for exactly what their faith requires them to believe.
Isn't it ironic that the Catholics have always been on board with the social justice issues (illegal immigration, socialized healthcare and equality this and that) but now they're being "eaten" by this administration.
Be careful who you hang out with!
Hell just froze over
Even though I don't believe in hell, it must be mighty cold down there when Calypso agrees with me. But I do feel compelled to trash the rest of your arguments. . .
First off, many people from many religions all over the world are persecuted and killed. Christians don't have the monopoly on that. Quit implying that they are somehow more persecuted than Jews.
And while you claim that certain people with political agendas have hijacked some Protestant churches, you always ignore that the opposite is also true; that many right-wing religions with a religious AND political agenda have hijacked the Republican party so much so that it is a fraction of the party of Lincoln. The current Republipuke party is so far to the right, it seems that every tenet of their beliefs falls in line with the most evangelical of christian religions. The religious right is the base of the republipuke party. They are their minions. To evangelicals, their religion and their politics are synonymous.
And this is very, very dangerous. When your religion becomes your politics, you get Taliban, or any other nation with a state-sponsored religion.
And as a recovering Catholic, I refute your claim that the Catholic church has always been on the side of social justice. This is partly true, but, there is an ulterior motive in most things the Catholic church does. Their ultimate goal is to collect the most baptized people possible, then squeeze 10%-20% or more of their income for the church. Also, it's a known fact that pedophiles seek careers which give them unfettered access to children. And this is more apparent in the Catholic church than any other worldwide organization. So please, don't think that all their motives are sincere. They always have an ulterior motive for everything they do.