Using religion to shut out God - part 2

[mylodon]

Sometimes traditions, habits, long observed practices, have become an end in themselves rather than a means to understand and celebrate the nature of God.

I love the language of the King James version of the bible and the prayer book but at times they become impenetrable and meaningless and can reduce rather than increase enlightenment. Similarly, traditions based on culture become 'canon'. Sometimes the church (or parts of) takes a bold step and changes direction - for example in the matter of women priests. We need to keep our ears open to the promptings of the spirit and try to drill down through what we do. Is it really what God wants or is it what people have decided to settle for?

Comments

[tiggothy.livejournal.com]

One thing our new vicar keeps reminding us is that Christanity isn't a religion - it's a relationship with God. We were discussing this sort of thing in our lent group the other night, about how sometimes our humanity & focus on following rules and doing things "right" can get in the way of listening to what we ought to be doing.

I'm loving how much the topics you're bringing up here are mirroring what we're talking about in our church and village :-)

(although if you start talking about open-air meetings and revivals I'll know that you've got a secret identity as a member of our village!)

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Your new vicar has got it spot on. I've on my list to post about getting obsessed with rules...

And that mirroring of topics thing is interesting - the spirit moving? No open-air meetings or revivals on my list, though!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

When I was in primary school, aged about eight, we had to learn passages of the King James by rote. Nobody ever explained what they mean, we just had to learn it and recite it :/ Same with the Shorter Catechism. I barely understood a word of it.

However I suppose there is a flip side to this, though I consider myself to be an atheist I will still happily read passages of the King James for the beauty and and joy of the language.

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

See, that makes no sense to me. Why learn it just to spout back parrot fashion? May as well be a parrot.

The language is marvellous though, like Shakespeare. and like William S, you need the context and the understanding to go with it.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

See, that makes no sense to me.
It made no sense to me either and learning the Catechism by rote positively depressed me :(

you need the context and the understanding to go with it.
Very true. One passage I learned parrot fashion that lodged in my head and that now actually means something is Proverbs 3.13-18. The penultimate line still brings a wee tear to me eye: "Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace." I like that :)

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

I love that line, too. It's adapted in 'I Vow to Thee my Country' which also makes me well up.

If only there'd been less catechism learning and more of what Jesus really taught...