So I just finished the biography of Daniel Suelo (The Man Who Quit Money by Mark Sundeen), and Ive got to say, its helped redirect my perception of religion. When I first stepped into the world of those who dont identify with a particular religion, as I was studying it from an outside perspective, I highly admired the approach of Religious Functionalism (pioneered by the likes of Emile Durkheim - essentially the find the treasure in the rubble approach.) The issue was, however, that my attitude generally hasnt reflected my philosophy. For those who find themselves in the same position, who either grew up agnostic or walked away from the fundamentalist teachings of their youth, more than likely know what this feels like. How easy it is to point out the speck of dust in anothers eye and ignore the plank in your own. How easy it is to become antagonistic towards religion, to declare its faults more easily than its value. What good will shouting matches and fist shaking do? How is not pointing out hatred itself a form of hate? Suelo sums up his philosophy with the recognition that belief, faith, myth and mystery have power to change, even if no one religion has a monopoly on the truth. The most effective social movements are those with a spiritual center. We must refrain from antagonism against that which we do not ourselves believe in, which appears much more destructive than constructive - because at the core lies a paradox, and nobody will hear what you have to say if you dont first speak their language. Thats Truth.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 01:00:06 +0000
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