I am beginning to regret saying that Religion would be one of my Blog’s monthly subjects for comment. In one sense, it is continually topical, but otherwise there is a consensus that warns of dire consequences.
But, are you religious? Most people are religious. You see, that statement is controversial within itself, and most people will avoid the subject.
I remember, when teaching post-graduates in China, deliberately asking this question in order to force discussion ... a rare occurrence in that country (until recently).
What does the question mean?
Do you believe that there is a God? Who is God — a very old man with a long grey beard sitting on the clouds? Or what is God — a Force, as revealed in the Star Wars story?
Were Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha, real people — and immortal beings?
Although some students accepted that Jesus, Mohammed, and the Buddha were real people, few students admitted to believing in a God.
Therefore, I described this anecdotal question: Can you remember when you left the comforts of home for the first time, to commence university studies? You were required to live in a dormitory together with strangers who appeared to display different moral codes (at least, you thought so at the time). Can you remember, after a few days, crying into your tear-stained pillow, and saying, “Mommy, Mommy, please come quickly and take me away from this horrible place.” Remember?
But you knew that ‘Mommy’ could not hear you — so, who were you talking to? Anybody who (or anything that) would listen? Therefore, at that moment, were you not being somewhat religious? And is it probable that, even now, or sometimes, we have the need of a relationship with a “Force” that can resolve our problems? Could this be referred to as being religious?
