I learned a new word today (actually yesterday)…ecumenism. It’s got a couple of definitions but the one that I was concerned about was the promoting of cooperation among religions. Religion has long been a touchy subject and one that I never quite understood. I used to wish I had my Grandmother’s faith and other times I found it aggravating. I guess I’m one of those just be people. Meaning, I wanna just be. I didn’t want to feel like simple things, which seemed common sense to me, were going to send me spiraling to hell and, most importantly, I didn’t want to feel that I was somehow better because of what religion I subscribed to.
I know there is more to religion than that but that was one of the main things that always bothered me. You hear different people address it time and time again. How many wars have developed out of competing religious views? Since the beginning of time it seems that problems regarding religion (among other things) have been one of the major plagues among mankind. Of course there is nothing wrong in believing in something or being religious but why does that mean you have to shut so many other things out, be close-minded, or fight about it? Ecumenism. Although I was unaware of the word, I’ve always been aware of the principle. I hate to quote Rodney King but he said it in the most simple way…”Can’t we all just get along” Can’t we share ideas, compare notes, and have respectful debate. No, I suppose not. That would be too much to ask.
It just seems such a hard line to walk. Well, I’m probably not the best person to even comment on it because I don’t subscribe to any particular religion. I just pick and choose things from all of them that make logical or moral sense to me. The stuff that seems way to far fetched…I simply disregard. It seems to have worked out so far. Paul Mooney said The Bible “gets in man’s ass.” (A lovely way to put it if I do say so myself and somewhat true.) There are people who chose not to be Christian or Catholic etc. because they simply don’t want to follow such strict rules that would eliminate many of the bad habits they currently partake in. But that’s not so much my deal. If people would get this ecumenism idea embedded in their brains and put it into action the whole faith thing would seem a lot more appealing.
But, I don’t know. I suppose it doesn’t really matter. I don’t see myself becoming religious in any event. I was raised in it but somehow it passed me by. But that logical, philosophical side of me still thinks…ecumenism, man how it would change the world.
I know there is more to religion than that but that was one of the main things that always bothered me. You hear different people address it time and time again. How many wars have developed out of competing religious views? Since the beginning of time it seems that problems regarding religion (among other things) have been one of the major plagues among mankind. Of course there is nothing wrong in believing in something or being religious but why does that mean you have to shut so many other things out, be close-minded, or fight about it? Ecumenism. Although I was unaware of the word, I’ve always been aware of the principle. I hate to quote Rodney King but he said it in the most simple way…”Can’t we all just get along” Can’t we share ideas, compare notes, and have respectful debate. No, I suppose not. That would be too much to ask.
It just seems such a hard line to walk. Well, I’m probably not the best person to even comment on it because I don’t subscribe to any particular religion. I just pick and choose things from all of them that make logical or moral sense to me. The stuff that seems way to far fetched…I simply disregard. It seems to have worked out so far. Paul Mooney said The Bible “gets in man’s ass.” (A lovely way to put it if I do say so myself and somewhat true.) There are people who chose not to be Christian or Catholic etc. because they simply don’t want to follow such strict rules that would eliminate many of the bad habits they currently partake in. But that’s not so much my deal. If people would get this ecumenism idea embedded in their brains and put it into action the whole faith thing would seem a lot more appealing.
But, I don’t know. I suppose it doesn’t really matter. I don’t see myself becoming religious in any event. I was raised in it but somehow it passed me by. But that logical, philosophical side of me still thinks…ecumenism, man how it would change the world.
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