A Religious Dilemma? – Dialectic Two Step

Estimated reading time: 8 minute(s)

A Religious Dilemma?

Questions: What should I do if I like little bit of each religion?

Your dilemma gives you a hint of the nature of our relationship with religion. There are many factors in choosing a religion; foremost your parents’ choice. Many of us take the path of least resistance and adopt the faith of our ancestors. Few of us make a conscious choice.

It sounds like you’re in the latter group and open to breaking with the status quo.

Choosing a religion is a chicken and egg kind of thing. How can you choose something without knowing what it has to offer? Imagine that an alien comes to earth with absolutely no concept of religion. Having discovered there is such a thing, feeling an emptiness arise, they set upon the task of choosing one. Where to begin?

Imagine they’ve asked your help in choosing. I’d begin by asking a few questions.

Do you believe in a God or Gods?
Or do you believe in the sacredness of nature?
What is it you want from a religion?
What is it really that is driving you on this search for a religion?

Having no concept of religion, the idea of Gods is foreign to them. Should they begin by accepting the existence of supreme beings as a premise? Make an arbitrary choice of faith, and begin to practice? They could accept or reject it based on success or failure in achieving some sort of revelation?

Or should they adopt a skeptical approach and evaluate each religion’s doctrine? Again, picking one and working their way down the list? Reject those that result in falsehoods or absurdities, finally eliminating all but the true religions and choosing one?

The truth is, if we’re searching for a religion, there is often a sense of urgency. Sometimes it comes near the end of life, when there is a desire to reckon with the maker. Sometimes it comes when we are in a bad place and we’re looking for refuge. Under these circumstances we may reconnect with our ancestral faith, or look to something that appeals to our immediate concerns.

There is very little guidance for those choosing a faith. No rubric to navigate the marketing machine that is religion. My best advice is Caveat Emptor.

As belief systems, there are very few religions that speak the truth. But as communities, most have much to offer. This is our relationship with religion. They offer stories and families into which we have a place. I think that  community is most important.

Piecing together your own religion may provide you with a satisfying story, but it won’t bring you closer to others. This is the balance you need to walk with your dilemma. I’ve landed on Buddhism with a side of Unitarian Universalism. The Unitarian Universalist church offers a free and responsible search for truth and meaning (their 4th principle) and community. It’s a good place to start.

Dialectic Two-Step  is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio

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