Do you think there comes a point when one “graduates” from the need to participate in these rituals? Like when someone is able to maintain a healthy mind and regulate their own emotions. I see religious structures as the same as raising a child. The child needs structure, acceptance, forgiveness… etc. Maybe it comes down to the needs of “young souls” vs “older souls”?
I’m seeing 2 trends. The one you speak of where people are going to structured religion for all the reasons you listed. And the other is people leaving religion, and decentralizing their spiritual participation to small groups. Those people, often having experienced the dogma, hypocrisy, staleness, and gross behavior of the church hierarchy…. retreat to a small group for fellowship, a more intimate setting where they may feel more supported, known, and heard. I see a blending of traditions, spirituality accepted from multiple points of view, and a thirst to get to the root of our experiential existence.
With all that said… there is certainly a high one gets within an awe inspired setting, everyone participating in unison on the same frequency to something greater than themselves.
I mean, you and I have kind of gotten there, and yet we both recognize that very few people can. The studies show that mental health collapses with atheism, so clearly not everyone is ready. However, back to the soul journey idea, I think that as a soul matures, they need less of the external structure as they build their own internal management frameworks that do similar things.
Yet, we all need everything on that list, no matter how 'mature' we are. I think it's just a matter of whether we rely on internal or external structures to achieve it.
I’ve started attending an Eastern Orthodox church for the same reasons. There’s just something there that centers me that a regular church just can’t touch.
Do you think there comes a point when one “graduates” from the need to participate in these rituals? Like when someone is able to maintain a healthy mind and regulate their own emotions. I see religious structures as the same as raising a child. The child needs structure, acceptance, forgiveness… etc. Maybe it comes down to the needs of “young souls” vs “older souls”?
I’m seeing 2 trends. The one you speak of where people are going to structured religion for all the reasons you listed. And the other is people leaving religion, and decentralizing their spiritual participation to small groups. Those people, often having experienced the dogma, hypocrisy, staleness, and gross behavior of the church hierarchy…. retreat to a small group for fellowship, a more intimate setting where they may feel more supported, known, and heard. I see a blending of traditions, spirituality accepted from multiple points of view, and a thirst to get to the root of our experiential existence.
With all that said… there is certainly a high one gets within an awe inspired setting, everyone participating in unison on the same frequency to something greater than themselves.
I mean, you and I have kind of gotten there, and yet we both recognize that very few people can. The studies show that mental health collapses with atheism, so clearly not everyone is ready. However, back to the soul journey idea, I think that as a soul matures, they need less of the external structure as they build their own internal management frameworks that do similar things.
Yet, we all need everything on that list, no matter how 'mature' we are. I think it's just a matter of whether we rely on internal or external structures to achieve it.
I’ve started attending an Eastern Orthodox church for the same reasons. There’s just something there that centers me that a regular church just can’t touch.
That’s awesome. I want to find a larger cathederal than what we have here but, then again, some of the old Spanish Churches might do just fine.
Now you have me interested in attending a Catholic Mass to see this in action. I'd really never thought of it like this before.
Let me know what you think when you do!