A Father’s Desire
Walking in the Arab Sector of the Old City of Jerusalem during the first Intifada, I spotted a silver vase in a Palestinian shop. The friendly owner quickly invited me in for a better view. I made my purchase then the storekeeper offered me a beverage and invited me to stay and talk. Minutes turned into over an hour. I heard that concerned parent express a good father’s desire as well as any. His heartfelt thought went something like this, “The Israelis and Palestinians are all alike. We bleed the same red blood. None of us really trust our leaders. All we want is for our children to grow up safe, be able to eat and play and learn and have a good future.”
An Uncertain Future
Unfortunately that future is often in doubt. Albert Einstein shortly before his death expressed it best,
”As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable. That is not an attempt to say when it will come, but only that it is sure to come. That was true before the atomic bomb was made. What has changed is the destructiveness of war,”
Almost daily we read about senseless violence in that part of the world that is the cradle of the three large and powerful monotheistic religions. This begs the question, can religion help in some way fulfill that father’s and every good father’s and mother’s wish? Religion has helped significantly at times but has also at times either been at the center of the problem or simply ineffective. But then has anything else helped? As Einstein remarked only the increased destructiveness of humans on humans has changed.
A Different Look at Religion
Religion is the name for how humans relate to God. Religion can help if it involves a healthy relationship with God. I feel challenged to take another look at how our relating to God in a healthier way might help God’s children treat one another better. Being an extension of a loving God should make a difference in our world.
The focus of religion is often on who’s theological opinion is right. The challenge in this blog is to focus on healthy verses unhealthy. A serious effort will be made to identify what is unhealthy about religion and religious experiences. Correcting the way we relate to God can then create more God like people who demonstrate care for all God’s children.
©makingreligionhealthy.com
Picture with this blog is the Damascus Gate, Old City Jerusalem. It has witnessed much conflict often in the name of God.
This is an excellent beginning to much discovery and discussion regarding a healthy religion. Truth does matter…and I pray that we have our hearts and minds open to learning and exploring together the ways of God. Thank you Carl, for sharing your thoughts, insights, and stories of your journeys. I love the pictures!