Three Decades Ago, America Lost Its Religion

Three Decades Ago, America Lost Its Religion. Why? By Derek Thompson.

Very interesting article.

"America’s nonreligious lurch has mostly been the result of three historical events: the association of the Republican Party with the Christian right, the end of the Cold War, and 9/11."

" it’s possible that young liberals and loosely affiliated Christians first registered their aversion to the Christian right in the early 1990s, after a decade of observing its powerful role in conservative politics."

"As the U.S.S.R. dissolved, so did atheism’s association with America’s nemesis. After that, “nones” could be forthright about their religious indifference, without worrying that it made them sound like Soviet apologists."

"over time, al-Qaeda became a useful referent for atheists who wanted to argue that all religions were inherently destructive."

Hearsay and tradition

This is possibly a succinct explanation of what I have found by following Buddhist teachings. The teachings of Christianity seem more and more distant and confusing even though I am well studied in them and teach others.

Do not be satisfied with hearsay or with tradition or with legendary lure or with what has come down in the scriptures or with conjecture or with logical inference or with weighing evidence or with liking for a view after pondering it over with someone else's ability or with the thought "The monk is our teacher." When you know in yourself: "These things are wholesome, blameless, commended by the wise, and being adopted and put into effect they lead to welfare and happiness," then you should practice and abide in them.... The Buddha Kalama Sutta

I have always felt that I was still searching for teaching in Christianity that "I would know in myself." I found many glimmers but it seems now they were all pointing at Buddhist teachings. I think I can stay a church member as I continue to practice and learn. I am finding a realistic context for me in this particular place at this particular time.

As I read and re-read Christian literature and think about what it means to be Christian, I feel I am doing a lot of the same things in the Buddhist practice. I don't see a need to affirm or dispute the presence of God. It seems to me that the thankfulness and gratefulness that are directed towards God by Christians are just as easily for me be there without imagining the supreme being. In some ways I feel very comfortable letting God go. I think Matthew Fox and other authors have also gotten at that but I would have to re-read them to confirm. Jesus was humble and emptied himself. Therefore in some ways Christianity is compatible with atheism. I am not much of a theologian nor have I written much in my journal about that. I just know that I have never been so comfortable with my faith as I am now. I just now see that I did a better job of writing it in this journal entry.

Hate your family?

One of the more interesting passages in the New testament is Luke chapter 14 where Jesus talks about hating your father and mother. I was told then the Aramaic the idea is turn away from to detach it's an action it's not an emotion like the current meaning so the person still loves their family but it's a matter of who you will choose.

It does bring up the term of discipleship that can be demanding that and that we surrender and with a restructuring of our identity and our priorities. Christian discipleship is considered a lifelong commitment and one that may separate us from our family. Some say the cost of discipleship is not taken seriously if we aren't torn by a commitment because in that chapter in Luke it talks about giving up all your possessions. This also ended up glorifying martyrdom in early Christianity and that side became the dominant narrative in Christianity. in other words, there were people who didn't think you needed to show your faith by dying. You could do things and live on rather than showing your faith where the punishment is death.

For most of my Christian journey I have been interested in discipleship and the disciplines that go along with it. I actually tried compiled to compile a definitive list from several sources I had. I may have been using it in adult Sunday School. what I have found though is that the discipline doesn't last very long for me. I think family and work of course have made it a challenge but the disciplines didn't seem to to help me in my faith walk. They just kind of became a burden and a sign of my failure.

In Buddhism I have found the phrase just Begin again. That is one of the main teachings about meditation. Our minds are going to wander so we just Begin again. We don't need to keep track of the minutes and see if we're getting better. That is where faith comes in in Buddhism, one just continues on the path.