One remark I have read quite often: "Religion is to blame for most of the violence and destruction over the last 1,000 years or so." Another is: "Organized religion is to blame for all the wars." They are both similar and yet different.
It goes without saying that there has been a lot of violence done in the name of religion. The violence and killing with some kind of religious bent to it all is not really new only because of the Christian religion. A careful reading of the Old Testament and we read quite a bit of violence. A careful reading of the Psalms and we will hear of wars, requests for vindication in some kind violent terms for the terrors that people of the time often lived through.
In the early Christian Church we have heard of the martyrs who were skinned alive, burned, eaten by lions or used as candles for the Emperor's court yard. During the middle ages we know of the Spanish and Roman inquisitions by which many people were condemned as heretics. Many were burned at the stake or given over to horrible torture in the name of defending doctrines or in some cases the politics of the Church of that time. There was a fair amount of burning and beheading that happened as the Church of England struggled to gain it's own authority apart from the Roman Catholic church. And then came the Methodists and the Calvinists, the Puritans and so on and so forth. Yes, there has been much violence in the name of religion. The Crusades are a great example of intense violence in the name of religion.
In our present day there continues to be much violence done in the name of one kind of religion or another. In the past I have written extensively about how the religious right constantly uses Spiritual abuse towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. I firmly believe that is what is going on from organizations and individuals such as Focus on the Family, Pat Robertson, the Family Research Council, the National Organization for Marriage, the Catholic church, the Family and many others.
Why then should we continue to believe in the Christian faith that is so full of historical violence? Why should anyone believe in the Christian faith that continues to use Spiritual violence some against LGBT people, others against women, and still others towards African Americans and other nationalities and cultures. We cannot exactly talk about the Christian faith and the violence they have spread without talking about the evil that has often been done to Native Americans. Why continue to believe? Why continue to be involved?
To give my own not so humble opinion I am going to draw from a couple of examples. Water is something that can be good or bad. If we do not have enough water, we can dehydrate. If we get too much water, we can drown. Swimming in cool water on a hot summer day can refresh us. Ice cold water in the middle of winter can cause us to die from hypothermia. Looking at the ocean on a beautiful peaceful day can help us refocus. A title wave that takes away our property will make us angry. Yet, we do not decide that we are not going to use water. We continue to find good uses for water. We continue to use water to wash in, wash our clothes, make food or drink. We take the good and the bad when we talk about water.
Another example I would have to turn to is sex. Sex is something that can be beautiful and wonderful. Sex can also be destructive and ugly. Sex when exercised in loving relationships can build up. Sex when done for the sake of using someone for our own selfish pleasures can wound and destroy. Sex whether it's goal is procreation or the mutual affection of the people expressing their feelings for someone else is a good and holy thing. When sex is used in violent ways such as the pedophilia by Catholic Priests or rape is evil. Yet, despite the possibility of violence we do not say that we should do away with all sex.
I would suggest that religion can be very much like water and/or sex. Religion is something that exists. It can be for our good or it can be used destructively. Because I am a Christian, I can only speak about the Christian faith. I can be respectful to people of the Jewish religion, Islam, Buddhist and Hindu and many others, and say that they too have merit and good about them. I may not agree with the philosophies of New Age, or Pagans or others I am not naming, but I can still be respectful to those who do and not become their public enemy. But they all have their merit and they all help people find their way in this world. Nevertheless, Religion does not have to be used in violent ways, nor does it have to be destructive.
In the case of the Christian faith, I have to read the Gospels and conclude that violence in the Name of Jesus Christ is neither prudent nor wise. I firmly believe that when Jesus wished peace upon his disciples after the resurrection, he truly wished and continues to wish for peace among all of us. The discrimination hurled at LGBT individuals by religious right organizations is misplaced religious conviction at the cost of Christian Charity in the worst way. It's end result is destruction of the worst kind. And it does not have to be that way. That kind of thing is not the fault of religion itself, it is the error of those who use religion in a bad way.
That is why today I am going to conclude my blog with the Prayer for the Church. We must all and always pray that the Church may continue to grow and move beyond the here and now and become one with Christ who gave his life for the Church. The Church is one of human beings all who make mistakes and misuse their authority. While we recognize that, we still implore the Holy Spirit to continue to call the Church to holiness of life and ministry through inclusion and diversity.
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all trueth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, Page 816).
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