Rabbi Rami Shapiro's blog

My question: What part of any religion is sane? I grew up in a Free Will Baptist home and church, and as early as the third grade I knew it was silly. I was severely scored and damned by my fanatical parents for giving my honest review of their faith. At what point is religious thinking not silly?

First let me say to all the third graders out there, now is not the time to critique your parent's religion. Wait until they stop claiming you as a tax exemption, then say what you want.

Second, I think the answer to both of your questions is the same: Organized religion is sane and not silly when read as myth and poetry rather than science and law. Religion speaks nonsense when taken literally, but reveals some of the deepest truths of humankind when understood mythically, poetically, and even allegorically—that is when it is read with an active and creative imagination.

The problem with religion today is that it has lost its imaginative capacity, its poetic soul, and has bought into the scientific paradigm insisting that it, too, is science. Creationism and Intelligent Design are hallmarks of a failed religion, one that sees science as the real arbiter of Truth and whines, “But wait, don’t forget me! I’m science too! Hey, I’m even a better science that those real science guys!”

Organized religion is at a crossroads. It will either devolve into bad science, archaic social norms, and anachronistic traditionalism enforced by fear-based community standards that will suppress free thinking and creative innovation, or it will regain its soul, rediscover the power of its myths and legends, and learn how to tell them in a manner that provides insight into the human condition, and comfort, compassion, and justice for the human community.

While I know there are liberal religions resisting the bad science paradigm, I don't see any real creativity coming from any quarter. At present my money is on “bad science.”

How can I clear my heart and soul of jealous feelings that I have to specific people? People I feel who have wronged me or been able to circumvent the policies, regulations, rules, whatever for their own personal benefit? 

One woman is my former pastor. Some see her as healing and helpful and some others see her as I do -- sanctimonious, insincere, and lacking the ability to keep confidences. She chooses her favorites -- those who give quite a bit to the church -- and they are given carte blanche. 

I am so angry and find that I am obsessed with this jealousy. I've tried to pray for them and for

these awful feelings to leave, but I keep pulling them back in. Thank you for reading this and for any advice you may share. I feel so angry and I don't want to feel this way, but I must want to on some level, because I keep holding on to these feelings.

I understand your dilemma because I share it. You feel the way you do because things just aren't that way you want them to be. So your problem is less what others do, and more your inability to control the world and make it fit your expectations. Not only is this true about the people around you, but it is true regarding yourself as well. 

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    Dear Rami,
    Thank you so much for the excellent, on target, article about The Secret. You nailed it. I bet you got a lot of negative feedback.
    Joy

    Thanks, Joy. I'm glad you liked the essay. I got more negative feedback on that piece than on anything else I have ever written. I felt bad about being the catalyst for such anger and hatred, especially when the people expressing those feelings believe they are only attracting those very same feelings into their own lives. The irony provided me no comfort.

    The sad lesson of the attack of the Secreteers is this: while religions promise us peace, when believers are confronted with disbelief most will respond with fear, anger, and, when they can, violence. This doesn't bode well for the evolution of our species or the future well-being of our planet.