Help
Sign In
actions
July 2009 
What were you taught about religion?
Posted on Feb 4th, 2008
by 
rudyan
rudyan
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for February 04, 2008:
That it's something you put on, like you would don your finest 'glad rags' when you're expecting company or getting ready to go to church.
That the tongue says one thing, and the actions say something entirely different. Guess which is closer to the truth?
That is not what they were trying to teach me, but it is what I learned.
That the tongue says one thing, and the actions say something entirely different. Guess which is closer to the truth?
That is not what they were trying to teach me, but it is what I learned.
Access: Public
Very true. I see religion as a means to control people. With all the contradictions, I find it very confusing and frustrating … and maybe that's the point. If your confused enough, you'll give up and just go along with it. People these days don't seem to take their religion of choice literally. They pick the parts they like and ignore the rest. As long as it works for them, I guess that's fine. Personally, I don't like anyone or anything dictating what my beliefs are. We already have too many laws and socials standards to comply with so why would I voluntarily choose to add more of the same to my life.
Hey Ruth,
Lovely read. Brilliantly you evade the question, and yet you answer it better by sharing what you did learn in spite of what 'they were trying to teach' you.
Hi Cheryl, I hear you. Honoring your free spirit.
Nell ;-)
Cheryl, definitely a way to control people, and who can blame them, it has worked for thousands of years.
I find it very confusing and frustrating … and maybe that's the point. If your confused enough, you'll give up and just go along with it.
Yes, confusion, and fear, of course. That works very well.
I'm with you, I don't care what (if any) religion others subscribe to, as long as they don't try to shove it down my throat. I have my 'beliefs,' if you want to call it that, but I wouldn't dream of suggesting anyone else follow my path.
Thank you for commenting.
Nell, I was writing my thoughts on Cheryl's comment, and by the time I posted them yours had got in there. So now I have the pleasure of writing another response. Thanks for commenting.
Brilliantly you evade the question, and yet you answer it better by sharing what you did learn in spite of what 'they were trying to teach' you.
You know (or maybe you don't), I have this habit (and I love it!) of turning questions on their ear. Sometimes it seems that's the only way I can answer them in any sort of authentic way.
rudyan, I was ranting to my dad once: “I got off organized religion when I saw [I named some aunt or someone] sitting for hours in the pooja [prayer] room, and then coming out and yelling at servants.”
“Think how she would be if she didn't have those hours in the prayer room,” my father reminded me gently.
and I irreverently added [but only in my mind]–At least the family and servants get those hours of peace and quiet!”
Hey, Meenakshi, that's a great story, thanks for sharing it here.
Your father had a point, I guess; he sounds lovely, non-judgmental (or less so), giving people the benefit of the doubt. And I can see your point exactly, although I left organized religion for a different reason…