Spider Web Religion: Caught in It?

Spiders spin a certain material in order to catch their prey.  It's as if they know how to trap their intended victims.  Well, it appears that when it comes to religion, most of us are either caught, trapped, or both. Religion has an impact on all of our lives, whether that impact be negative or positive.  Why are we attracted to certain religious beliefs and systems?  There are a variety of reasons for that.  Why are we repelled and "turned off" by certain religious beliefs and systems?  There are a variety of reasons for that as well.

It is not the purpose of this blog to advocate for or against any particular faith group or system.  Nor is it to validate the reasons why we are attracted to or "turned off" altogether by religion.  The purpose of this essay is to encourage the reader to think analytically and critically about her/his affiliation with religion, or the lack thereof, and also why he/she is attracted or repelled.

Let me begin by saying that people are trapped in it one way or the other.  Even when we disassociate from "organized religion," we still deal with the "fallout" of that decision.

Some people are affiliated with the faith community and its Scriptures, because it has been inculcated in their minds since early on in life, that if they are "not in the religion," or if they "don't believe the text," that God is going to have them "roasting and toasting in hell forever and ever."  Their relationship with the faith group, and subsequently with God, therefore, is based on fear and terror of the hell-fire.

Other people are affiliated with a particular faith group because it provides certain financial and material benefits for them either now, or promised in the future.  It is the religion of "prosperity."  They are told that if they join a particular faith group, that God will prosper them with good finances and a host of other material and consumeristic goods.  It's the notion of "what's in it for me?" They enter into a commercial relationship with God.

Some people have a religious affiliation because they believe that if they leave the group, that they are being unfaithful to the traditions of the parents and of the cultural group.  Even if they don't believe the majority of things they hear or parrot every week in their gatherings, they remain in the group for fear of being ostracized by the family as well as the group itself.

Other people affiliate with a faith community because they are convinced that this particular community has a monopoly on God's truth, and that it subsequently constitutes "the right religion."  People who are in that community are convinced that outside of their ideology there is no "truth," because they have "the correct understanding of God's Word."  Any other group that believes different from them is categorized as "heretical," "deviant," "schismatic," or as the group that thinks itself to have the "right understanding" would call them "cold."

And then, we can add to reasons on the positive side as to why people affiliate, there are some who believe that "one religion is as good as another."  Some will say "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere."  They believe that one religion will be just as much of a "life insurance" if you will, in the next life.

People who "drop out" of the faith group do so for a variety of reasons.  Some are sick and tired of all the political "bullshit" that goes on in the faith group, especially among those leaders or "wannabe" leaders who wish to weld all the power.  Others leave the faith because they believe it is controlling and enslaving.  Others want "nothing to do with religion," because they simply  no longer (if they ever did) adhere to the dogma of the group.  They believe that the ideology of the group is "out of touch" with reality or "irrelevant" to the times that we are living in.  Others reject religion outright because of all the atrocities that have been committed in the name of God.  And then, there are others who want nothing to do with religion because they believe that religion is just an opiate which distracts people from the present sufferings of life while promising them a much better life in the "sweet by and by."

Well, the list could go on, and on, and on.  We can mention the reasons why people affiliate with or disassociate themselves from religious communities.  As mentioned in the beginning, the purpose of this blog was not to advocate for one position or the other, but rather to get you (the reader) to think honestly and ask yourself  "Why am I associated with this group,?" or perhaps ask yourself "Why am I not associated with this or any other group?"  This has been an exercise in honesty, i.e. stimulating you to think seriously about your relationship with God and affiliation or non-affiliation with a faith group.  Have fun!

Dr. Juan A. Carmona