Cruising Your Religion
Ya don’t need the Big Guy Upstairs to live a life with spiritual cred
By: Anna Sachse
So imagine my surprise when my husband said that we should send our non-existent kids to church. His theory was that the only way to educate them about religion, for good or bad, is to immerse them in it—he and I are clearly not experts, so we should expose them to the priests, ministers, rabbis and imams who are. It was an intellectual argument.
I reacted to this suggestion similarly to the way I would assume a Baptist would respond to the suggestion to send their kid to school at V.I.P. Nightclub in Riverside—confused, freaked out and angry. I think my kids will do just fine learning about religion in school. And if they ask me if they may attend a religious institution with a friend, I will support them. But no part of me wants to send my babes into the jaws of narrow-minded judgment on purpose.
Don’t get me wrong—I don’t think religion is all bad. I do like the sense of community it fosters, and I think the meditative, spiritual aspect of prayer is a healthy, even vital, component of a happy, productive life. But I don’t think you need to worship a usually-male, often-bearded, frequently-angry-or-vengeful, shockingly-narcissistic Godhead to be spiritual. There are 31 definitions of “spirit” on www.dictionary.com, but the very first one nails it for me: “The principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.”
Here are five God-free ways to live a life that is spiritual:
1. Be conscious, mindful, self-aware. This means taking the time to breathe and think about your feelings, emotions, place in the world, goals, etc. Recognize your current limitations and grow. Ask questions, educate yourself and always strive to be a better you. Understand that learning about ourselves is a lifelong journey and take pleasure in it. Relax. Transcend the small shit.
2. Recognize the interconnectedness of all people. You may think other folks have it all figured out, but they’re actually just like you— occasionally hopeful, scared, lonely, frustrated, joyful, and so on. Forgive a little more often. Build a strong community and volunteer your time. Fight for equality and social justice. Love.
3. Recognize the interconnectedness of all things. Celebrate nature and the animal kingdom. Recognize that we all need each other to survive. Never let laziness or greed allow you to neglect or take advantage of the earth and all its creatures.
4. Behave ethically and morally. It’s simple—do what makes you happy as long as it doesn’t harm anyone, yourself included. Use your brain. And let others live the same way.
5. Live a meaningful life. You only get one shot at this life, so fill it to overflowing with adventure, doing things you enjoy and spending time with the people you love. All the better if you improve the lives of others, whether it’s through healing, entertaining or just being a seriously awesome friend.
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