One Higher Power

One of the most alluring, elusive, and ultimately frustrating aspects of religion is the notion human beings are able to “effect” an intent upon the order of the universe by sheer will and determination. Many people believe, if they pray and are steadfast in their conviction, the Almighty will work His magic toward the ends intended by the prayor. In contrast, some believe, while they may pray and petition the great Cosmos for a desired outcome within a certain set of circumstances, if what happens falls outside of what might be considered as a logical “answer” to the request, there “must be” some unknown design behind the ultimate happening which, must assuredly explain the course of events. Then there are some who look at the whole process as crap, or just don’t give a crap at all.

While I am personally somewhere between crap, design, and desire, I think this kind of thought process puts “average” people in a dangerous position of association, completely out of touch with the purpose of religion in the first place. Let me explain:

Unless a person lives in a culture absolutely free of religious influences, from the time a person is born until the time they die, there is a sort of ingrained stigmata left to the individual to sort out — one that sets the “modern” human apart from the animal. The “modern” stigmata of religion in general is, in large part, an unsaid obligation of individuals to adopt the wounds of their own particular group, based on any number of transgressions communally understood to have been inflicted, is currently being inflicted, or might at some point be inflicted, on the group. Regardless of the particulars, the obligatory wounds felt by any group, whether environmentally or genetically, result in a series of associations within the individuals within said group, based summarily in the group consensus.

To be put bluntly, racism is the offspring of individuals within groups who feel biased against racially; socialism is the offspring of individuals within groups who feel biased against socially; capitalism is the offspring of individuals within groups who feel biased against capitally; etc, etc, etc.

What does that have to do with “association?”

Primarily, people who believe in and embrace the aspirations of ideas regarding a higher power tend to be trusting, well-intentioned, “average” human beings: content to mull about their own particular circumstances, in the understanding that life’s events are, hopefully and by some “greater” design, not just some big, Cosmic joke. Because of this belief that All is not just some big Joke, people have a tendency to try to understand things mathematically.

If I do “X,” it should result in “Y,” which will ultimately cause “Z” to occur.

For example: “If I piss on the front lawn, it might offend my neighbors, and I might very well be arrested!” While this example is logical, this is the very kind of association that becomes dangerous in terms of spirituality or religion. There are some who are convinced: “If I detonate a bomb on my person in a place crowded with people I disagree with, I will kill a number of them, and it might please my God.” Similarly, some people believe: “If I pray real hard, my God will hear my petition, and grant my request.”

People become deluded in this equation of intent-cause-effect, when it comes to religion and spirituality.

I have myself become deluded in many ways, often wondering, “If I’m doing what I believe is right, and what I do does not conflict with what I believe, why do I not see what I believe to be a successful result?” When it’s all boiled down, this is the ultimate quandary of us all. In seeking an explanation for this particular quandary of intent-cause-effect, we are often shocked and disappointed as to the lack of an answer. Such lack of an acceptable answer leads us down paths of seeking alternate justice, from whatever source we feel we can stir up: politics, family, and especially religion.

We “modern” human beings are slowly killing ourselves with the belief that our beliefs (or lack thereof) are going to save us. Maybe it’s all “hogwash,” but I addressed that last time.