Firstly, i'm not religious, therefore I was astonished to read my thoughts in print. Don't get me wrong, religion is all good but give me a chance to explain.
Culture. subtle, insidious. it's affected every part of our being slowly. Its crept up on us much like arthritis in old age.In some cases it's affected our attitude to religion, too. What we want nowadays is something akin to fast-food. we want religion served up on a platter. we pay a small price such as reading a book on religion (Religion for dummies) and suddenly decide we want instant spirituality.
To quote (from the book, and from a person) "that martyrdome stuff. I want to be happy [i]now[/i], not when i'm dead, and if the Catholic Church can't guarantee it, i'll find something that can." Jenny Butler.
Religion is both over and underrated. It's been around forever yet for most its shunted into the background. I believe sometimes it poses as a safety net. Something we can lay blame on if things go wrong (Oh, God, NOT Again....)
Perhaps understanding Religion is something we acquire over the years. As children, we have the belief instilled by our parents. However, children will believe anything. During our teenage years, we (teenagers) are prone to acts of rebelliousness, caught between child and adulthood. As writ, 'It was as automatic as breathing." Whatever our parents held dear was considered 'wrong' whether it be their religion or their choice of carpet.
And then come the twenties. Forever immortalised as we acquire freedom (of sorts) and consider ourselves omniscient and omnipotent. God barely dents our busy schedules, chock full of life. The twenties are where we try out everything we missed out on in our teens.
Following on, our thirties. Things change. People change. The majority acquire a pattern of sorts, accepting stability through marriage, work, death. The realisation of being an adult hits us full force. We're vulnerable, but we're forced to drop out of the nest bult over the previous years. A different kind of life, perhaps, but still one we adapt to. Religion suddenly rears up perhaps due to a partner, at a friends wedding, a loved ones' funeral. Priorities change yet the search continues. What have we missed out on? Comparisons are made. Why is he/she, someone i know so well, someone who I think is so much like me in way of lifestyle, so much more happier? Could it be because of (Insert Appropriate Subject)? These years are times of improvement, where everything we do must enhance our being in some way, and many do look for something spiritual once they realise nothing material will fill their 'black hole'.
The forties roll along, a time of identifying with those around us. No longer do we bear grudges. We start spotting similarities between ourselves, our parents, reworking, twiddling ideas and acquiring dormant ones revived by our parents. We consider the time people have loved, the things that remain as cement, holding us together. the frailty of life is much more obvious, the fact that some things last and many things won't. A turning point. Religion might seem like cement. After all, it has been around for years, therefore it acquires a parmanent position in our schedule. Or, the attempt is made to stick it into a schedule revolving around children, work and other things besides.
Culture has changed a lot over the years, and so have we. Perhaps i've waffled on a bit here, off-topic, but the point I wanted to say is perhaps sometimes it's too late to do things we've missed out on. We all have our personal regrets.
Is there space for religion in the coming years? Does it depend on our lifestyle, and who chooses for us?
In this modern era, I've nothing left to say. Time's a-ticking.
posted by: Saad (reply)
post date: 05.29.04 (7:13 am)
MNa, v got the same blog looks!!
kool huh.
posted by: VodkaB (reply)
post date: 05.29.04 (11:15 pm)
yup :) totally cool. similar ;) thanks for the blob idea ;)
