Do you look up at the night sky in wonder? Do you check your daily horoscope? Which means more to you, astronomy or astrology?
Share why if you wish.
Category: Spirituality
Are Religion And Morality Linked?
It is conventional wisdom that religion and morality are inextricably linked together. But is that really true?
Many people define themselves, at least partially, by their faith. This makes sense. What you believe is often learned from family members. Your place in the community might very well be based on attending religious services.
Naturally, people of faith tend to think that what they believe is superior to other faiths or beliefs. After all, if they thought something else was superior, they would believe that instead.
That sense of superiority sometimes takes the form of moral superiority. Your religious text teaches the proper way to behave and to act if you want to be rewarded when you die. The rites that you follow and the sacrifices you make lead you to a better life.
And yet, we all know religious people who are not, in fact, morally superior. They might do horrible things, in service of themselves or justified through their religion. Being religious, by itself, is not enough to be a good person.
However, there are moral lessons to be learned from any religious text. Religious leaders do have wisdom to impart. Religion can teach us how to treat our neighbors, our family, and our community.
Is it true that religion and morality are linked? If so, then, how can it be that each faith and each sect thinks that it is the one, true path? They can’t all be right, can they? And what about people who do not follow any particular belief system?
Related questions: What does spirituality mean to you? Are science and religion compatible? What beliefs do you have that might be wrong? What do you believe?
What Brings You Spiritual Fulfillment?
There is something in the human condition that calls out for spiritual fulfillment. How do you get yours?
Throughout recorded human history, the human species has sought out spiritual fulfillment. There have always been philosophical questions that have been asked: why is our world the way it is? What happens after we die? How can I find meaning in my life? Why is there something rather than nothing?
To try to answer some of these questions, some people turned to a supernatural explanation. There might be one or more gods, that are responsible for everything.
One god might drive a flaming chariot across the sky each day that appeared to us as the sun. Another ruled over the oceans, and his temper caused the frequent storms that would toss ships hither and yon.
Or there might be just one god, like the one in the Jewish, Christian, or Islamic traditions (they all derive from the same origins). That one created the heavens and the earth, the story goes, and everything we know.
Alternately, there might be a strictly scientific approach. As we learn more about how the world works, we delve deeper and deeper into the rules for matter and how it interacts. Elements, atoms, the quantum world, and so on. This approach might answer some of the big questions, but left others untouched.
Still others choose to look inward, including meditation, or internal energy that can be harnessed or manipulated. Some cultures use mind-altering drugs as the vehicles for spiritual exploration.
How do you connect with something larger than yourself? It might mean going to a house of worship, reading a sacred text, or spending some time each day in quiet meditation. What brings you spiritual fulfillment?
Related questions: What does spirituality mean to you? Do you have a personal philosophy? Where do you find meaning in your life?
Do You Pray?
For some, prayer is almost a second language. For others, to pray might be inconceivable. Where do you stand? Do you pray?
It might seem at first that prayer is reserved for the religious. For those who believe in a deity, it is only natural to offer up a thought, or wish, to that higher power.
However, anyone can pray. Even if you are not a member of an organized religion, you might still believe in something larger than yourself. Even an atheist might see the value in putting out good vibes to the universe in some sort of structured way.
Of course, different people view prayer differently. For some, the way that many approach prayer — asking for material wealth or good fortune for you or a loved one — seems downright silly. Even if there is someone listening, why would they care if your favorite sports team beats it’s cross-town rival? Why should your plea for a better job, newer car, or winning the lottery matter?
So a secondary question might be: How do you pray? Is it asking for favor for yourself and misfortune for those you don’t like? Is it an attempt at a conversation with someone that isn’t there? How about an attempt to understand the world and your place in it? Would you consider that praying?
What does prayer mean to you? Do you practice it, and if so, how?
Related questions: Are science and religion compatible? What does spirituality mean to you? What do you believe?
Do You Have A Mantra?
Sometimes it is useful to have a personal motto that you can repeat when necessary. Do you have a mantra?
Share why if you wish.