When I was involved in organized religion, as a conservative evangelical Christian in the United States, we always were absolutely sure that our doctrines and beliefs about other people were absolutely right and that God was on our side.
If you are an evangelical Christian, I understand your natural reaction to this is, “of course we are.” But that is only because you have been conditioned and groomed to think that way. When you take a couple of days and reflect on all of your beliefs, if you are honest, there is a fair amount of doubt.
Christians usually respond to this doubt, by pushing it down and not thinking about it intellectually or logically, even though the logos (Word) means logic or reasoning. There’s very little logic or reasoning in evangelical Christianity, it is mostly just repeating what one was told.
This might not be bad, that we all think differently, if we were willing to discuss and share ideas about what God might be and what it wants from us. But instead of pursuing that like any other topic, we otherize people and try to change their behavior to fit our idea of how they should live their lives.
Most Christians believe their tribe should have the freedom to dictate behavior to other groups. Imagine the audacity of a settler in the United States, taking away native American land and murdering countless numbers of indigenous people, all the while claiming they were right and God was on their side.
It hasn’t changed much for some people. They continue to believe their narrow view of the world and their limited understanding and their cult-like leaders.
I know that there are some groups that are very open and progressive and moving forward, but generally it is so widespread that I am inclined to move on from Christianity and not even argue with them anymore.
There seems to be a more open, honest approach to spirituality that takes into account many worldviews and perspectives. I have in fact experienced it as I began to evolve and heal and transform.
I personally believe I can learn something from every group, but I refuse to attach myself to any of them.
I’m moving forward and discovering bountiful ways to thrive and relate to the world I live in. I don’t excuse anything away with spiritual bypassing, rather I find ways to be more fully human.
In Christianity, we were taught to love our neighbor, and most of it is about as simple as just actually doing that instead of talking about it and doing the opposite.
I personally believe that no one needs to be in organized religion, making their pastor’s dreams come true, when we can be living out our own journey of discovering, uncovering the logic and reason of the universe. Your choice!
Be where you are,
Be who you,
Karl Forehand
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In