My Sunday Thought for 021818: Religion (pars quinque) - The "Interfaith" Question

“Any person who, with all the sincerity of heart, is in search for God, on land or in the sea, is worthy of respect.”

― Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi, spiritual leader, author

In the course of ministering, my philosophy has developed from one of "religious" tolerance to one of "spiritual" tolerance. Those who read my blog understand my lack of acceptance toward "organized" religion. It made perfect sense, to me, to re-incorporate into our seemingly misguided idea of religion, any religion, this core philosophy of faith. We have so screwed up this idea of religion, it is simply prudent to return to the root impetus for the very existence of these organizations - faith.

In the 19th century, Matthew Arnold grasped this truth with regard to Christianity, but I think an important aspect of his thought holds true when discussing any religious faith:

“Protestantism has the method of Jesus with His secret too much left out of mind; Catholicism has His secret with His method too much left out of mind; neither has His unerring balance, His intuition, His sweet reasonableness. But both have hold of a great truth, and get from it a great power.”

-- Matthew Arnold, poet and critic (1822-1888)

When it comes to faith, any faith, we seem to forget the core prophetic philosophies, the teachings, the "secrets" if you will.  We miss the teacher's method, unerring balance, intuition, and their sweet reasonableness.  We try to get from them a great truth while the "religions," which curry our favor like we're marks at the world's largest three-card Monte game, evidence the great power they derive from it by how adept they are at working us over to fill the coffers.  The problem is, both parties miss the point, as usual.  The "great truth" we are supposed to understand is the "great power" which we are all supposed to discover. This "great power" belongs to each and every one of us, not some organization with agendas which oft time run contrary to the very philosophies they espouse and/or reinterpret after the demise of the original prophet/teacher/philosopher.

I love it when I constantly come across intelligentsia, historic or current, whom I can quote to help validate a point:

“The fact that religions, which usually have at their core a promotion of tolerance and peace, have been exploited to carry out violence, clearly indicates that individuals and groups have not discovered the true "peace message" that is inherent in almost every religion.”

-- David R. Smock, anthropologist, theologian, author

Well, it seems as though my philosophies mirror those of greater thinkers.  People often tell me that I put into words what they think.  I advise them to start putting their own thoughts into words.

After discussing faith with an old biker recently, he asked where I minister, where my church is located, so he might attend.  I explain, each time I'm asked, that the conversation we just had is the message I freely give, and the location we were having the conversation is as close to a church as they'll find me, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."  I have also been asked, usually online, if folks can send offerings or donations.  They could, but to what end?  I have no staff to pay, no building to maintain, and no salary I require.  Most of all, I don't want to have to explain the income to the IRS since I would not list a tax deductible non-profit.

But, we all have dreams.

I have dreamt of creating an "Interfaith Sanctuary" at some point, and doing it with my own meager funds so as to not fall prey to the IRS or accusations from my favorite hate group, the LPO (League of the Perpetually Offended).  Once opened I would humbly take non-monetary donations of time, guest speakers, reference books, statuary and art, flowers, and other gifts to further the entire point of the sanctuary as a meditation center for learning, quiet contemplation and creative interfaith discussion.  Monetary donations would be accepted for the "free" coffee, tea, bottled water and cookies, however.  It is my hope that this "self-sufficiency" would set the Sanctuary apart from what I have come to see as the misguided idea of Church.  But, then, that's just me.      

"To enable religions to be instruments for peace we need to enable, first, religious communities to progress from religion to spirituality."

-- Swami Agnivesh, statesman, activist, religious scholar

The dream, I believe, has merit.  It is one thing for "think tanks" to bring scholars, politicians, theologians, and the like, together for discussion.  I think it is quite another to be able to bring a cross section of the common man together for the same purpose.  I have been blessed to have discussions with such people, searching in their own way, or having given up their search for lack of any indication of enlightenment.  I am always humbled when these folks state that they have found something in what we discuss, and yet I remain troubled by the thought of so many feeling lost for no reason other than they are looking, or have been directed to look, in the wrong direction and perhaps for the wrong reason, and therefore not seeing that which is clearly in front of them.

I look around at churches in my own area, along the Gulf Coast, and I see outside walls that should have been pressure washed several years before, rusting bolts staining white paint, gutters in need of cleaning, weeds in flower beds dying from lack of care, and such.  All this makes me wonder where the volunteerism of the parishioner has gone wrong, or if this is Matthew's example of hypocrites worshipping at the synagogue?

For those people searching for answers in their ministry it might come down to "interfaith" or "inter-religion." I think we need to take one step further than a "non-denominational" congregation and start considering the "no" denominational congregation.  People will continue to fall away from the church as they search for faith and their path back to God.  Some fall away from disillusionment, and risk losing what is left of their faith altogether.  Maybe ministers need to be less concerned with church and more concerned with being safety nets to catch these folks lest they lose their real faith and simply give up.  Ministers need to stop preaching and start being shepherds; stop talking and start communicating; stop worrying about the financial bottom line of their church, get a job, and start leading by example.  If you want to preach religion, then teach.  But, if you want to minister spirituality, get out among the lost and step to it.  Just saying.

Our existence is not, and never has been, about what our God, religion, or faith, can do for us.  It has always been about what we can bring to the table for our fellow man and, especially, the lesser among us.  To begin this enlightenment we must first understand that what we believe is not nearly as important as why we believe.  Once you can wrap your mind around the why of your personal faith, you will understand what you need to do with that personal faith, and your faith must be personal.  Your faith is your path and should not be something spoon fed to you by clergy who thinks of their faith as the path for all.  Your personal faith has little to do with a religion unless you define it so, and thus it matters little if you are religious, spiritual, agnostic, or atheist for that matter.

Even the atheist has faith as a belief in some peaceful, moral, high ground required by the laws of civilized society.  Of course they say they have this morality of their own accord and without the help of any belief in God, but how did they come by this hereditary programming of morality, this knowledge of right from wrong?  Our DNA carries this information.  The DNA of every living thing transmits the information required for that living thing to be.  What developed it and programmed it, and why? 

"In this past century, a global interfaith movement has been growing, helping to raise consciousness about the need for tolerance and understanding between different cultures and religions. This movement has helped highlight the common goals that most religions share, such as the Golden Rule, which is at the heart of nearly all religious traditions. At the same time, many throughout the world are discovering that 'spirituality' -- a deep connection to a greater purpose for humanity -- is an important driving force in their lives, even if they aren't religious."

-- Robert Alan Silverstein, filmmaker, author, philanthropist

Of all the world religions, perhaps Buddhism has best grasped the concept of enlightenment.  There is the notion that Jesus spent the missing years in a Tibetan monastery where he surpassed the masters and is remembered by them as Saint Issa.  This might explain his "miracles" and his ability to endure the terrible pain inflicted upon him during the Passion.  One might conclude the masters opened his mind to what would become his destiny by opening his mind to the universe, to ultimate power which is God.  Of course, of all this there is little proof.  We have to take it on faith.

I have studied Buddhism, Mahayana, Zen, and Taoism.  I thin ministers of faith would do themselves and their flock a service by immersing their own faith in Taoist philosophy.  Of everything I have encountered in my own search for answers, Taoist philosophy has served me well in my own search for "God."

In the sixth century BCE, Chinese sage Laozi wrote down the fundamental text for Taoism, the earliest writings of which date two hundred years earlier.  Chapter one of his Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way and of Virtue) states, "The Tao that can be spoken of is not the real Tao.  The name that can be named is not the true name."  Theologian and Chinese religious scholar, Martin Palmer, says this:  "Tao is often called 'The Way' in translation...  For Taoists, the Tao is the eternal ultimate, beyond even Unity and Oneness... As such, it is also beyond language... Thus we should turn from these attempts to express the inexpressible, to its more visible aspects, the Unity and interrelatedness of all life and the Way by which Tao moves and creates the material and spiritual worlds."

When one considers the explanation of the Tao one finds similarity to our own views of God.  As much as religion tries to explain God, they fail.  When we try to name God, we have arguments about the "true" name since, oh my goodness, heaven forbid we try to see God and Allah as one and the same, even though both religions have their roots in Abraham.  Human stupidity travels, more times than not, beyond the pale.  But, God simply is, and for most of us this simple truth simply isn't enough.  So, we continually try to "express the inexpressible" when we should be paying more attention to pointing out the "more visible aspects, the Unity and interrelatedness of all life and the Way by which Tao (insert God) moves and creates the material and spiritual worlds."  My recommendation is for everyone to read about the Tao, many good references are available online, and then consider the teachings of Christ.  Saint Issa?  I wonder...

Open your minds, open your hearts, open your mouths and let us begin to tolerate, understand, and accept that we are all different... and the same.

"We who have been born Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, or any other faith can be very comfortable in each others temples, mosques, and churches, praying or meditating together to create a spiritual mass of consciousness which can overcome our greed, hatred, and illusions."

-- Dr. Ari Ariyaratne, scholar, awarded "Gandhi International Peace Prize"

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.