Religion - spirituality
Friday, August 14, 2015 the Tampa Tribune carried an article by Kristen Mitchell entitled “Bay area’s rank in study draws the ire of conservative radio host.” The article opens by stating “A recent study says the Tampa-St. Petersburg region has one of the lowest rates of religious affiliation in the country…..Radio talk show host Glenn Beck told his listeners Tuesday that St. Petersburg should be avoided because of the area’s ranking in the poll. The figure here was 25 percent of the population compared to 22 percent nationwide. Portland topped the rankings with 42 percent of its population unaffiliated…”
This prompted me to think about a discussion I have been having with a colleague/client about church and spirituality. This young woman was taught that it in order to be a good Christian it is necessary to attend church – not just any church but the Orthodox church of which she is a member. Yet, when she and her daughter attend she does not get a feeling of being welcomed home. She does not feel like a part of. She likes the current priest who has made himself available and who is a very sweet, young man who sympathizes with her feelings. Perhaps he will be able to make some changes which will result in a larger, more welcoming sense of community, but I suspect that this will be an uphill battle. I am familiar with this church and the very good people who consider this “their” church. In other words, there is not likely to be a broad sense of community - a passionate embrace - created there any time soon. It was interesting that when I met with the priest and my client, I found him to be a very kind, gentle man. I did not, however, feel a sense of joy or passion from this man. He seemed to be a very serious person. He was very different than my gym buddy who is the Inman at the local Muslim Mosque. He greets me with a warm hug and a huge smile. The relationship is limited but joyful. I feel God’s presence with this man.
Recently the young woman colleague/client started a new job where she has been warmly welcomed by some of her colleagues. When she is with them she feels welcomed and lovingly embraced in their circle of love. They have also been exercising together. This feels very loving to her much more so than when she is attending the Orthodox Church service.
This prompted a discussion of “church” and the difference between spiritual and religious.
I found the following about the origin of the word church in the Christian religion. This explanation is basically repeated in several sources.
“Our word “Church” is one of those words that has impacted the world and has subverted the whole purpose for which it was intended. Because the translators used the word “church,” meaning a building, instead of a more accurate word reflecting a functioning body, it has affected our whole approach to the meaning of the body of Christ. We have been given a word from the translators that has nothing to do with the original Greek word ekklesia. There is not a single Greek word to back up the word church. So why is it there? (Therealchurch.com The Origin of the Word "church" (updated)
By Andy Zoppelt)”
Basically, in the Christian religion the term church has come to be used as a place of worship rather a group of people coming together to worship.
I also did some checking on the word mosque and found a general consensus. We start with the verb meaning to prostrate one and then move to a noun meaning the place where one gathers to prostrate oneself before Allah.
“There has been in recent times much confusion regarding the origin of the English word mosque.
The word mosque is a translation of the Arabic word masjid (مَسجِد). The word masjid in Arabic comes from the verb sajada (سَجَدَ) which means ‘to prostrate,’ and a masjid is the place in which people prostrate. It can loosely be translated more generally as ‘a place of worship.’ (muslimspeak.wordpress.com)”
Likewise, if one looks up the word temple one finds it generally used to be a place of worship.
This journey then takes us to the meaning of worship. In the Christian church, I have often referred to the words attributed to Jesus in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” One might then question what it means to “gather together in my name.”
In John 4:16 one reads, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
Thus, my understanding is that when two or three are gathered together in love or with the intention of treating each other with love (agape) that is what it means to worship. Church then becomes a place to gather in love or with love.
I am sitting writing this at Panera’s where I have been coming to work rather than spending so much time at home working alone. As is true of many breakfast or coffee establishments, there are the regulars who visit, share family stories, welcome family visitors, ask about each other’s health, and offer to pray for each other. There are also others like me who nod good morning, but who have yet to establish a “place” in this gathering. This, I know, is also a process. I am also well aware that it is also obvious that I, along with others, am working on my laptop. Adults generally respect that we are at our office. On the other hand, a child will occasionally stop by to say hello and ask what I am doing.
My experience is that the people at Panera’s, the folks at the gym where I go every morning, or the gathering of friends are often something which feeds my soul. When I feel surrounded by loving spirits, I feel spiritually fed. I feel the presence of what I choose to call God/higher power, Allah, Elohim. Sadly, I have not yet found a physical religious service which gives me the same feeling of being fed. What I often hear when I am at a religious institution is a list of rules for how I should “feel, address, name, obey” their concept of higher power. What I “hear” is this tiny concept of god, which is consistent with the god of the disciples who asked: Who is that woman to whom you are talking Jesus? Do you not know that she is an unrepentant prostitute? Why aren’t you chastising her and making her confess her sins before you are nice to her? (Obviously I am paraphrasing from such passages as Luke 7)
I have no idea if I will remain living in the greater Tampa area as I have for the last year. I do know that as long as I feel a spiritual connection with others I am not going to be concerned about whether or not my spiritual time is in a certain place, if the “right” language is used, or whether I am following the rituals proscribed by someone else. I will “church” with others who are gathered together in a spirit of love.
Friday, August 14, 2015 the Tampa Tribune carried an article by Kristen Mitchell entitled “Bay area’s rank in study draws the ire of conservative radio host.” The article opens by stating “A recent study says the Tampa-St. Petersburg region has one of the lowest rates of religious affiliation in the country…..Radio talk show host Glenn Beck told his listeners Tuesday that St. Petersburg should be avoided because of the area’s ranking in the poll. The figure here was 25 percent of the population compared to 22 percent nationwide. Portland topped the rankings with 42 percent of its population unaffiliated…”
This prompted me to think about a discussion I have been having with a colleague/client about church and spirituality. This young woman was taught that it in order to be a good Christian it is necessary to attend church – not just any church but the Orthodox church of which she is a member. Yet, when she and her daughter attend she does not get a feeling of being welcomed home. She does not feel like a part of. She likes the current priest who has made himself available and who is a very sweet, young man who sympathizes with her feelings. Perhaps he will be able to make some changes which will result in a larger, more welcoming sense of community, but I suspect that this will be an uphill battle. I am familiar with this church and the very good people who consider this “their” church. In other words, there is not likely to be a broad sense of community - a passionate embrace - created there any time soon. It was interesting that when I met with the priest and my client, I found him to be a very kind, gentle man. I did not, however, feel a sense of joy or passion from this man. He seemed to be a very serious person. He was very different than my gym buddy who is the Inman at the local Muslim Mosque. He greets me with a warm hug and a huge smile. The relationship is limited but joyful. I feel God’s presence with this man.
Recently the young woman colleague/client started a new job where she has been warmly welcomed by some of her colleagues. When she is with them she feels welcomed and lovingly embraced in their circle of love. They have also been exercising together. This feels very loving to her much more so than when she is attending the Orthodox Church service.
This prompted a discussion of “church” and the difference between spiritual and religious.
I found the following about the origin of the word church in the Christian religion. This explanation is basically repeated in several sources.
“Our word “Church” is one of those words that has impacted the world and has subverted the whole purpose for which it was intended. Because the translators used the word “church,” meaning a building, instead of a more accurate word reflecting a functioning body, it has affected our whole approach to the meaning of the body of Christ. We have been given a word from the translators that has nothing to do with the original Greek word ekklesia. There is not a single Greek word to back up the word church. So why is it there? (Therealchurch.com The Origin of the Word "church" (updated)
By Andy Zoppelt)”
Basically, in the Christian religion the term church has come to be used as a place of worship rather a group of people coming together to worship.
I also did some checking on the word mosque and found a general consensus. We start with the verb meaning to prostrate one and then move to a noun meaning the place where one gathers to prostrate oneself before Allah.
“There has been in recent times much confusion regarding the origin of the English word mosque.
The word mosque is a translation of the Arabic word masjid (مَسجِد). The word masjid in Arabic comes from the verb sajada (سَجَدَ) which means ‘to prostrate,’ and a masjid is the place in which people prostrate. It can loosely be translated more generally as ‘a place of worship.’ (muslimspeak.wordpress.com)”
Likewise, if one looks up the word temple one finds it generally used to be a place of worship.
This journey then takes us to the meaning of worship. In the Christian church, I have often referred to the words attributed to Jesus in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” One might then question what it means to “gather together in my name.”
In John 4:16 one reads, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
Thus, my understanding is that when two or three are gathered together in love or with the intention of treating each other with love (agape) that is what it means to worship. Church then becomes a place to gather in love or with love.
I am sitting writing this at Panera’s where I have been coming to work rather than spending so much time at home working alone. As is true of many breakfast or coffee establishments, there are the regulars who visit, share family stories, welcome family visitors, ask about each other’s health, and offer to pray for each other. There are also others like me who nod good morning, but who have yet to establish a “place” in this gathering. This, I know, is also a process. I am also well aware that it is also obvious that I, along with others, am working on my laptop. Adults generally respect that we are at our office. On the other hand, a child will occasionally stop by to say hello and ask what I am doing.
My experience is that the people at Panera’s, the folks at the gym where I go every morning, or the gathering of friends are often something which feeds my soul. When I feel surrounded by loving spirits, I feel spiritually fed. I feel the presence of what I choose to call God/higher power, Allah, Elohim. Sadly, I have not yet found a physical religious service which gives me the same feeling of being fed. What I often hear when I am at a religious institution is a list of rules for how I should “feel, address, name, obey” their concept of higher power. What I “hear” is this tiny concept of god, which is consistent with the god of the disciples who asked: Who is that woman to whom you are talking Jesus? Do you not know that she is an unrepentant prostitute? Why aren’t you chastising her and making her confess her sins before you are nice to her? (Obviously I am paraphrasing from such passages as Luke 7)
I have no idea if I will remain living in the greater Tampa area as I have for the last year. I do know that as long as I feel a spiritual connection with others I am not going to be concerned about whether or not my spiritual time is in a certain place, if the “right” language is used, or whether I am following the rituals proscribed by someone else. I will “church” with others who are gathered together in a spirit of love.
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