Monday, November 8, 2010

Brian’s Reflection: Monday, November 8, 2010


Religion isn’t about believing things.
It's ethical alchemy.
It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that
gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.


Karen Armstrong, “alchemist” extraordinaire


Yes!

For a very long time now, I’ve said that “religion” is the Practice which binds us to our core commitments, our hopes, our fundamental Beliefs about Life. And I’m with Karen: our “beliefs” are the vision we have formed about Life, about how to live It. Our “beliefs” are not giving assent to theological statements dictated by religious institutions (like “creeds”) which make us “right” or “closer to God” than others.

We human beings, all of us, whether we like it or not, are all on a Journey. We are all seeking meaning for Life and for our own individual lives. Like any Journey, it has its dangers and its risks, with, of course, its Bliss. Like any Journey, it requires careful planning to be accomplished.

Like the great alchemists, we are attempting to make “gold out of base metal”. That is not to denigrate our human nature! Our Religion is that which we do, think, say which hold us to that Path which will faithfully guide us Home. That Practice gives us “intimations of holiness and sacredness”.

We must choose our “Religion” well, my friends. We are not seeking to be “right”. We are seeking to be transfigured as Love Incarnate.

Brian+

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