Book Review of "Why Religion" by Elaine Pagels

Through Personal Testament, 'Why Religion?' Explores Belief In The 21st Century, TOM GJELTEN, November 7, 2018, NPR News
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Pagels's interpretation of what it may mean to be a Christian, however, is clearly unconventional. She acknowledges that the gospel writer whose thoughts she found most helpful sees suffering "as Buddhists do." She barely mentions Jesus Christ and does not discuss the need for personal salvation, as evangelicals routinely do. When she began to conclude that the Christian tradition contained "much that may be of value, and much that may not," a self-described "Bible-believing" Christian scolded her. "Picking and choosing is self-indulgent," he said. "We call it cafeteria Christianity, since people who do that simply refuse to accept the whole tradition as it stands."
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This passage stuck out to me because I also find the Buddhist view of suffering compelling. I am pleased that she as a scholar apparently found this in ancient texts such as the Gnostic gospels. I am most attracted to modern Christian writers that have a similar explanation instead of the common view that God has a purpose in our suffering. While we may find meaning in terrible circumstances, I have no interest in a god who manipulates the lives of humans in that way.

The pick and choose attitude is somewhat funny also. The Council of Nicea in the Third Century picked for us. Lots of richness was lost as we can see from the suppression of the Gnostic Gospels. If we didn't pick and choose, there would only be the Catholic Church. Most fundamentalist don't realize what a recent creation their form of Christianity is, dating back just a hundred or so years.

Terry Gross on fresh air also recently interviewed Elaine pagels so I would like to listen to that interview.

Life is not to be rejected

Dipa Ma said, “There is nothing ultimately to cling to in this world. However, life is not to be rejected. It is here. And as long as it is here and we are here, we can make the best use of it.”

Jack Kornfield Wants You to Love Yourself

The renowned meditation teacher talks to Tim Ferriss about finding freedom and joy in the present

https://www.outsideonline.com/2342031/jack-kornfield-wants-you-love-yourself

If you think, If only I could be in the great Zen temple of Kyoto or an ashram in India, or down in the Amazon with taking ayahuasca—well, your kid can be like ayahuasca on steroids. What makes it work is that you have that intention to say, Let this be a place where I awaken the possibility of presence, and pleasure, and pain, and joy, and sorrow, and gain, and loss.

Very often, people can’t do this for themselves. So, the way this practice begins is to picture someone you really care about and feel the well-wishing you would want for them. You do this for a time and maybe you also let yourself also tune into the measure of sorrows they have, and it tenderizes your heart because you don’t want them to suffer. You feel a kind of rising in compassion and care. You do that with one or two people that you care about for a time. And then you can imagine these two loved ones looking back at you with the same kindness, and saying, You too. May you be safe and protected. May you be filled with tender compassion for yourself.

Compassion

I keep thinking about the Buddhist Viewpoint as I listen to the sermons in church. In the 6 chapter of the Gospel of Mark Jesus retreats for meditation and to be with God. He and his disciples need a break. I don't think that there are limits on compassion as stated in the sermon but that one needs to engender loving kindness in your own mind. Compassion also needs action.

I don’t want to be a Buddhist.

Thomas Moore explores the living—rather than doctrinal—tradition of his birth. At its heart he finds Zen in this article from Tricycle

"I believe that to the extent I can practice essential Zen virtues, I can be a good Catholic. The truth is, I don’t want to be a Catholic. I certainly don’t want to be a Buddhist. I don’t want to be anything. But I have this situation that I was born a Catholic, and I think I should not deny or resist what I was given at birth."

God has a plan for your life

The common Christian belief about God having a plan for one's life seems to come up frequently. Along with proclaiming that "Jesus did not die for my sins," I think I have to add that "God does not have a plan for my life." This is where I think Buddhist philosophy has a much clearer answers to life's questions beginning with the understanding that suffering exists. The question of God's existence is not an important question.

NPR recently interviewed Kate Bowler, the author of "Everything happens for a reason and other lies I've loved." Titled "what not to say to the terminally ill" it explores how to react to the suffering of others. She also has an NPR podcast "Everything happens."

The Way, not a Belief

February 3, 2018

I am becoming more and more comfortable with my developing view of religion and spirituality. I'm convinced that the spiritual journey is a way of life and not a set of beliefs. I think we need to find comfort and support in a community. For me that is currently a congregation of the United Methodist Church. Of course, I have a set of beliefs but they are not right or wrong in the sense of going to heaven. I think a Buddhist would say it is more about right attitude.

I enjoy when I am able to attend a retreat as I did recently with Buddhists. I find I am very comfortable with American Buddhism for the most part. I especially feel comfortable with the simplicity of Zen Buddhism. Especially since it doesn't even have to be Buddhism it can just be Zen. I don't know when I'll get the time to really get into it but when I hear and read Zen Buddhism, I keep nodding yes.

I recently heard Reza Aslan, a scholar of religion, talk about how monotheism leads to and encourages tribalism because everything else must be anti-God if they don't believe in your God. There is just one way to God. If one can decouple faith from religion, one finds that many of the symbols and metaphors are the same. Religion is the language to express faith. German and French speakers do not have to hate each other.

I have been concerned about syncretism or being in two camps since I have been writing this blog. I like the idea that you strike water by digging a 6-foot deep well, you don't dig six 1 foot deep wells. So for me I have my current community in the Methodist Church but I do not feel scattered. I feel like I am digging one deep well.