Aarp

Or maybe the title should be AARP? The organization would probably prefer the all upper case letters...Already I digress.

A couple of days ago the AARP magazine came with it's usual doom and gloom content. I am sure that the editors don't think of their magazine as a doom and gloom publication, but that is how it always appears to me. I read it anyway, even though after, I am pretty much depressed.

One of the titles on the cover, was 'Does Religion Still Matter'. Which is what I intended to be the subject of this blog. It turns out that article is merely a poll taken of various age groups and how 'Religion' falls in those age groups 'things that matter'. Most of us Seniors ranked 'Religion' very important and highly important. No surprise there. We are getting to the age where our friends and neighbors are dying, so naturally we are beginning to think about 'What's next?' Sometimes 'Religion' seems to have the answers.

Lori says that defining 'Religion' would take a whole blog and I would agree with her. I believe as well, that whatever definition I would have would not satisfy everyone, and maybe not anyone. In fact, I think that 'Religion and 'Faith' are often confused, and the word religion is often used when the word faith is meant. Lori also says that 'Farming' is a 'Religion'. I have to agree with her on that also. It might even be a 'Faith'. Another digression I fear.

My first thought after reading the headline was that of course 'Religion' is important! Why would anyone ever think otherwise? Why would anyone even ask the question? Of course, I was confusing 'Faith' and 'Religion'. In fact, I don't go to church, do not want to go to church, am not going to ever be a regular church attendee. I don't know what churches have evolved into exactly, but they seem to be the embodiment of 'Religion'. The formal trappings, so to speak, the political body of Faith? I feel this is correct. It often appears that the Christian Churches do not even follow the teachings of Christ, but rather of Paul. Still another digression! Get with it Bill!

I believe 'Faith' is important and still matters. I am not so sure that 'Religion' ever did matter. I like the old gospel songs, most of them. I like to sing them so people can hear the message. I had faith that every time I planted seed corn that corn would grow. I saw miracles every day, even when others did not. Every child ever born is a miracle as are those still not born. I have faith. I do not have religion. Religion is when faith is packaged in a neat one-size-fits-all container. When that happens, changes occur that may not be for the best. Because one size does not fit all we have 'denominations'. We go from one to the other trying to find one that does fit. The denominations seem to feel that no one can enter heaven that is not of their denomination. As if any of us have a clear idea of what God is thinking! The whole 'political' aspect of Religion just makes me cringe! Just in Christianity there are way too many categories to try to label. Religion would, I think, cover other beliefs as well, the Buddhists, the Muslims and the whole raft of other beliefs there are in this world.

Does religion still matter? I think faith matters, religion does not matter at all.