Rhetoric Race and Religion
We don’t have to look very deeply to recognize the divisiveness generated by religions throughout the world. Apart from those with an interfaith perspective — truth exists in many forms — people often insist that their beliefs and practices are the only ones sanctioned by God. But do their religious convictions open their hearts and deepen their wisdom or disconnect them from life, love and each other?
Growing up Catholic, I appreciate the sense of the sacred that was imparted — there’s something more than our limited sense of self — some larger life that we participate in. Unfortunately, this expansive message was accompanied by multiple layers of baggage, such as ready-made answers to complex questions, a phobia about self-inquiry and an aversion to our human body and feelings.
After 40 years of psychological and spiritual inquiry, I’ve come to see healthy spirituality as one that opens us to greater intimacy and connection. A genuine spiritual path is not about living in our heads and clinging to beliefs weaved by our security-seeking minds. Sure, our beliefs and values can guide us and remind us of how we want to live, such as being kind to people and respectful toward living things. But the juiciness of spiritual life lies in how it connects us to ourselves, others and life itself. It’s about being bodily-alive in the world.
Many of us, especially if we’ve endured wounds or trauma from relationships, seek religion to shield us from the anxieties of human relating. Living an authentic life invites us to embrace life’s uncertainties and engage wisely with the fierce passion and cumbersome feelings that relationships evoke.
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