Most of the people who do popinjay are religious, beautifully religious as far as I’ve seen. I consider myself very religious as well, but I’m not Christian. But unlike the other pagans I know I can’t even put a name, or a face to my idea of God. My husband is Asatru, a follower of the Norse gods. I’ve know Jews and Muslims and Christians, Celtic pagans and Greek pagans, Satanists, and some very wise agnostics who don’t believe, but also say they aren’t egotistical to say absolutely that no god exists. I have faith, but I have no god. Again I loosely quote from Terry Pratchett (and again about Granny Weatherwax) “Believing in gods (for Granny) would be like believing in the milkman.” Gods must have perceptions outside the realm of human nature, yet most gods are made in our image, so we can relate to them.
I picked this picture (which I took earlier this year) for many reasons. Faith can be a beautiful thing, full of magic, life and beauty. But all too often people’s faith comes from a dark place, not a fertile, pure green place. Faith comes out of fear, or loneliness. Out of needing to belong, or elitism or the human desire to be special. A lot of darkness happens when faith comes from this dark place. People are hurt, scarred for life. The words of religions (which are not the same things as faith) are twisted to suit personal, political or even genocidal agendas. Faith is used to bring pain, foster hatred, and leave people quaking in fear.
But faith that comes from a good place, from a balanced, thoughtful, healthful place fosters growth, community, individualism, discussion, help and love.
So many people come to faith from a dark places and through their lives and the life of the people around them darkness grows. But some people come to faith through the other side of things and through their faith the world (even if only the world of the people around them) is made a better place.
I’ve been asked more than a few times how I feel about religion. It’s the same as faith in this case–I feel that both are deeply personal and there is no right and wrong. Faith should be a tool that allows you to lead a happy, fruitful life, and allow you to make a positive change in the world around you.
Sometimes the words religion and faith are used interchangeably. I kind of understand why and don’t like it–doesn’t mean it will stop. LOL
Religion and faith are definitely not the same. Religion was the reason I rebelled against faith most of my life. Faith (in my eyes) was created by God and religion was created by man.
I also believe it is deeply personal and I don’t feel like it is my job to “save” anyone. What God asks me to do is love my neighbor as I love myself and to love Him with all of my heart, mind, body, and soul.
I love that you can be so non-judgmental in your views and friendships. Tons of people (on both sides) cannot.
So many people simply cannot relate to you, or worse, consider you sub human if you don’t follow their ways. I should honestly point out that people in the pagan faiths do it as well. I don’t understand that. I want people to be different than me because it makes conversations more fun.
I also agree that the way to show your faith is not to preach and proselytize, but to lead through example. Of course that’s harder, isn’t it?
What Michelle (P) said? Yeah, all of that! I too struggled with the aspect of faith v. religion for a long time. In fact, even now, I still have my own issues with organized religion, that sometimes cause me to waver in my faith. But there is a very distinct difference, and regardless of my doubts and questions on religion, my faith, now, at this point in my life, is everything to me.
But as you both said, it is a very personal and individual thing. While I may pray for those I know to find faith (or God, or whatever it is that they need to find), I don’t feel it’s my place, ever, to tell them what it is that they should be looking for. How could I?
This was a great post, very thought provoking, and also, very open and honest, and accepting…thank you, it told me a little something about you that made me know you are someone I want to know better.
Do you ever think it’s wrong to be turned off religion just because some people are jerks about it?
And thanks Karina