God (Again)

[poliphilo]

Most people make religions last a lifetime. I wear them out in a decade. I was a Christian for ten years, then I was a Witch for ten years. Right now I'm nothing in particular.

I think (but I'm not predicting what will happen tomorrow) that I've worn out religion altogether. And I mean every religion, all possible religions. I no longer see the point of getting together with other people to commune with A Mutual Friend who isn't actually there. I'm not saying there isn't a value in this for others, or that I didn't derive benefit from it in the past, but right now, at this particular point in my earthly pilgrimage- no.

For much of my life I was crazy for it. I left Christianity because I was desperate for something sharper and bubblier. But when I eased myself out of Wicca it was because the whole enterprise had gone flat. If I'm still interested in religion (and I am or I wouldn't be writing this) it's as an outsider- almost as an anthropologist.

But I still believe in God. Though "believe" isn't really the right word. It implies that God is there and we're here and there's a gulf between us across which messages may or may not be sent. That's not how I see it. Ask me how I do see it and I find myself lapsing into the kind of mystical twittering that has come to seem stale to me. So I'm not going to try. Any God I can verbalise, even if it's in the woolliest terms- "ineffable, inexpressible, unknowable"- becomes a presumption that stands in the way of the true God taking me by surprise.

I know what She isn't and that's enough.

Comments

[sunfell.livejournal.com]

Yup- we're singing in the same key. After 20+ years of studying metaphysics, "HardGard" Wicca, and other esoteric things, I define myself as an AntagoGnostic Philosopher-Geek. No particular pantheon, no particular belief system. When I read about various faiths, I instantly see the leg traps contained within them. More properly many should be called soul or money/time traps, but they're not designed to enlighten, no matter how lovely the advertising copy might be.

I found something in Tikkun that has piqued my interest: the "Network of Spiritual Progressives". It's meant for subtle (and not so subtle) spiritual activists who are pushing back against the hard right religious takeover of the US Government. While this isn't a problem in the UK, I expect that some cross-contamination (bad pun, sorry!) might drift across the Pond and infect people there, so it might be something to examine.

I've gotten to the point where I realize that God is a ruse that the Holy Spirit uses to get its job done. "Hey, look! An angel!" it shouts, and everyone looks up and says, "Ooooh!", and the Holy Spirit sneaks in and hits people with a Holy Clue Stick... if they're lucky. I also refer to it as the Current to take that religious crust off it, but it's the same thing- the real motivating force in the universe. Tune in to it, learn to read and ride it, and you won't need a 'religion' any more. I think I understand why the Bible, in one of its very few lucid moments, lists denial of the Holy Spirit as the unforgiveable sin: To deny it also denies you a chance to learn and grow with its assistance.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit is wonderfully liberating- but of course churchy types have managed to turn it into something oppressive and exclusive- to wit, the charismatic movement.

Most religion is about keeping a priestly caste in beer and skittles.

"The Current"- that a good way of looking at it.

BTW I enjoyed your rant about the guy who was trying to get his fellow pagans all stirred up.

[sunfell.livejournal.com]

"Beer and skittles..." *snortle!*

Whenever I hear the word "Charismatic", I think of a roomful of dewy-eyed people waving their arms in the air like a field of wheatgrass to the beat of some insipid Christian tune.

Bleargh. No thanks!

Glad you liked my rant. I've been feeling a little 'rantish' of late- it's probably the weather or something.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I did a year or two in the charismatic movement. I was getting disillusioned with mainstream Christianity and was grasping at straws.

I hasten to add this was a long time ago.

Dylan had just come out as a Born Again Christian. I was in an evangelical Christian bookshop and the Dylan was piled high- but it was all Slow Train Coming.

When I realised that Dylan didn't exist for these people except for that one (not very wonderful) record the scales fell from my eyes.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

I've gotten to the point where I realize that God is a ruse that the Holy Spirit uses to get its job done. "Hey, look! An angel!" it shouts, and everyone looks up and says, "Ooooh!", and the Holy Spirit sneaks in and hits people with a Holy Clue Stick... if they're lucky.

Bravo! Now if we can just get enough people to realize hit we might reach critical mass...