Missing the point about religion.

There are, to be sure, many out there who are averse towards organized religion.  They often say that religion has done much more harm than good to the human race, making bigots out of the followers of doctrine and robots when dealing with issues of morals and social justice. 

In an article that he wrote for his syndicated weekly work back in the late 90s, Fr Ronald Rolheiser attempted to address this topic about what religion is all about, and started by relating a Jewish parable, where a Rabbi asked his disciples a rather strange question.  He asked “How much light is enough light in the world?”

True to form, there were two different answers from his disciples.  The first said that there is sufficient light when one can tell the difference between an oak tree and a sycamore tree.  The second said that there is enough light when one can tell a sheep from a goat.  Both of them failed to get the approving nod from their master.   Finally, to their relief, the master answered his own question and said, “There is enough light in the world when one looks at the face of another and sees in that face, a brother or a sister”.

This wonderful parable is really a roundabout way to explain the predicament that faces all religions in the world, yes, even Christianity.  It seems that the human heart (and mind) has a certain predilection towards separation – where one sees the need to separate what one sees and categorizes what lies before him.  When one is bent solely on being doctrinally and dogmatically correct when one thinks of religion or practices one’s religion, that would be akin to the answer the first disciple gave – where the light is sufficient when one doesn’t mix up the trees.  To those for whom being right is the most important thing in the world, this kind of light, though insufficient, is enough for them.

Then there are those who are bent on being morally right in life, and where religious practices and beliefs keep them steady on the right path of sanctity and holiness.  These are perhaps seen in the kind of disciples who say that there is enough light when one is able to discern between a sheep from a goat.  Again, the importance may be a ‘difference’, but a subtler one.  They are not altogether wrong, as one who is able to see how the moral teachings of any religion though hard should be followed, leans on such teachings for feelings of security and confidence. 

What is starkly missing from the heart of both of these disciples would be clear when one begins to look at things from the point of mercy, compassion and charity.  They are somewhat obviously missing from the two first answers.  Perhaps this is where Christianity needs to always remember to take its point of departure, as Christ did say that he was the light of the world, something that we are reminded clearly and visually at each Easter vigil celebration of Light.

That Christ was full of compassion and charity is an undisputed statement.  When we call ourselves disciples of Christ or Christians, what has to be at the heart of our faith is to imitate as much of this as possible in the living out of our religion.  While correct doctrine guides the understanding of correct moral and socially just issues, religion cannot just stop there.  If it does, it easily makes one very (falsely) self satisfied and think that one’s spiritual quest is over.  It is not. 

At the heart of religion has to be the ability to see in every human being the connection that one has with the other.  When this is missing, it becomes far too easy to add to the millions who have been blamed for sullying religion to give cause to the statement that it has “done much more harm than good to the human race”.  Perhaps this begs the question – “why is it so much of a challenge to live in this way”?  I do not want to be overly simplistic in offering a simple answer, but I do sincerely believe that the answer lies in the fact that we are too protective of our very selves.

It becomes difficult to see in another a brother or sister when we put ourselves in a judgmental position where we often think that our views, our ways of doing things, and our opinions are of a higher quality than the other.  It becomes a challenge to act with mercy and charity when the other person I am dealing with is seen more as competition rather than companion.  It also becomes far more difficult to become generous with my assets and belongings when I view the other and his needs as something that is going to make my own possessions diminished in any way. 

When catechesis does not address this important issue of charity, compassion and mercy in a clear and unadorned way, religion will always have a tendency to remain at the first two levels.  But woe to the catechists or priest who dares to make this clear from day one of religious instruction of any kind.  He or she will be bound to face the fact that some listeners will just walk away.  Real religion casts light on the self, and some shadows will be far too dark for some to see, accept and make less obvious when the light of Christ falls on them.