30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 6

Day 6: My Views On Religion

This is going to be a tough one. My views on religion. I wish i can gloss this over but it is what it is and being the kind of person i am, direct and very personal, i will talk about my views on religion objectively and without any form of sentiments.

There are many religions being practiced all over the world as we all know. I am a Christian, was born into it, practicing it and living it.

Am i fanatic? Nope. Will never be. Do i shove the fact that i am a Christian down people’s throat. No.

My experiences in life has made me question a lot of things about religion. Experiences ranging from near success, failed relationships, people’s attitudes towards one another even whilst practicing same religion, some perceived notions of holier than thou Christians to mention but a few.

On a larger scale, other things that have made me question a lot of things about religion is the hate war raging between same religions, different religions, the ever constant fight of my religion being more superior than yours and all that brouhaha.

Then the talks that we all serve same God.  Yet we hate, haunt and kill each other?

This brings me to the question…

What Is Religion?

According to Wikipedia, “there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes religion. It may be defined as a cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, world views, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics or organizations that claim to relate humanity to supernatural, transcendental or spiritual elements”

Religion could also be described as a set of beliefs, feelings, dogmas and practices that define the relation between human and sacred or divinity.

It is identified by a community of persons. Wikipedia says there is an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide but about 84% of the world’s population is affiliated with one of the five largest religions namely Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or forms of folk religion.

My Personal Views On Religion

Wow, i didn’t know that there were this many religions when i set out to write this.

Well, for a long time now, i have not been frequent in going to Church as compared to two, three, four years ago. This is so because i have needed to clear my head and reorient myself about a lot of things in the “kingdom”.

We were told in the Holy book that we should judge not, so we will not be judged by Christ but there will always come a time when you will question a lot of things.

I love or rather i believe that there is a supreme being, some forces which align to make our life what it is. Good or bad.

I do not believe in the theory of evolution as put forward by scientists but then again, you ask yourself, did the supreme being truly create Adam and then Eve from his (Adam) rib as written in the Bible?

Then at times i feel the Bible is actually a book of stories, folklore written by different people and “sold” to the world as gospel truth (don’t judge me), and in same breath, i ask myself how can it be a book of folklore if the tomb of Jesus Christ actually exists? How do one reconcile that?

I will summarize my views in the following way

Religion Can Be Divisive

You are apparently wondering why i would say this. Hear me out. Christianity is made up of the Orthodox and Pentecostal as well as other smaller denominations.

I know for a fact that Catholics and Anglicans tend to see themselves as the true Christians while the Pentecostal says that Catholics and Anglicans do not practice true Christianity! Then we say we all serve same God?

I seriously cannot wrap my head around this one.

In the eastern part of Nigeria for instance, it is not uncommon, no scrap that. It is VERY common for parents to refuse their “Adult” children from marrying from an Anglican family if they are Catholics and vice versa. Yet we serve same God? Right.

Religion Can Be Destructive

When you add fanaticism to religion, the result is destruction as witnessed in several parts of the world today. Fanaticism comes in different ways. Violent tendencies and unrealistic ideas, misinterpreted beliefs for personal advancement to mention but a few.

We have Christian fanatics who would go to any length to shove their thoughts and beliefs down your throat and often times than not, this has led to violence, rancor and even disbelief in Christianity.

I mean you can’t convince someone God is peaceful when you act all violent, can you now?

Religion Can Also Be Beautiful

Yes, religion can be a very powerful tool that will beautify your life in every imaginable way. The good book did say God makes all things beautiful in His time and that His thoughts for us are thoughts for good and not of evil.

Now remember, religion is a set of beliefs..

What you believe in, with absolute confidence, works for you 100% of the time. That is where faith comes in the grand scheme of things as regards Christianity.

The Bible is choke full of biblical teachings that you can live your life by and be fulfilled.

Religion Can Also Unite

Yes, i did mention earlier that religion can be divisive but the truth is that it can also be uniting. A community of people worshiping together with a set of beliefs, feelings, dogmas and practices will surely be united because they are pursuing a common goal and interest.

This is a unifying power, making it powerful and that is why you see that virtually all the aforementioned most practiced religions in the world are powerful.

A set of people believing in a common thing will always be united by that common denominator.

Religion Gives Meaningful Purpose

When you live by a set of beliefs, feelings, dogmas and practices, it does give your life meaningful purpose. To give your life meaningful purpose, these beliefs has to be positive though and we all know the Bible is made up of inspiring testimonies  and prophesies that are bound to give you purpose.

The Bible is a great book to live by even by non practicing Christians. It is full of morals and standards that you can live on a daily basis.

Finally,

My thoughts on religion would be that, albeit the fact that it can be divisive and destructive, i believe that religion can be be very uniting.

At the end of the day, despite my doubts and faithlessness at times, i believe there is an all powerful and supreme being, God. I believe in His power.

I believe a true practice of religion (all aforementioned ones and the numerous others), when truly practiced can bring peace to the whole world.

At the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter which we are practicing as long as its tenements are good and is used for the good of all.

It shouldn’t matter if i am a Christian, you are a Muslim, an Hindustan, Buddhist etc. What matters is that we do good, love one another and strive to make the world a better place for each and everyone of us.

That is a wrap on day 6. My views on religion. What are your own views on religion? Share your thoughts about this and your own views in the comment section. Would love to hear from you!

If you missed day 5 of the blog challenge where i talked about five places i would love to visit, read it HERE.

Stay tuned for day 7 and the entire 30 day blog challenge! Xoxo

Jennifer Pompaski