side effects

At the outset of this class, we were given a set of slides as an introduction to the approach the course would take in studying religion.  It was made clear that we'd be studying various religions of the world in side-by-side comparison, and not in an attempt to declare one greater than another.  The thing that has stayed with me thus far through the coursework is the point that religion is a human creation, born of a psychological need, to make sense of human suffering and search for the meaning of life, and to give hope for an afterlife.

I'm fortunate to be in a relationship with someone of the same faith.  "J" and I were both raised in Catholic families; we have both observed Lent and celebrated Easter for our entire lives.  However, we have several friends who espouse other creeds, and a few who do not practice any type of religion.  

It's the latter that got me thinking for this blog post.  In our observance of Lent, both J and I steer clear of meat and poultry on Fridays, opting instead for fish or meat-free meals.  We had the pleasure of joining friends for lunch this Friday, and in deciding where to meet, J told our friends that we'd prefer a restaurant that wasn't "meat-centric" -- let's save the barbecue joints for another day!

At that point, one of the group launched into his typical response whenever the subject of religion is broached:  rolling eyes, audible snorts of disdain, and a short diatribe on how "it's all such a bunch of bull."

J and I ignored it; sadly, it's not the first time we've heard it, so when he chooses to air these opinions, we tune it out and change the subject.  However, this was the first encounter I'd had with this character since enrolling in this course and beginning daily meditation, and all I could think of was that definition.  My own philosophy has long been that faith is the divine, and that religion is the human interpretation -- and as such, there are flaws inherent in the creation.  To me, it's a simple case of function over form:  humanity needs something to fill that void.

The meditations I've been doing have been focused primarily on things for which I'm grateful.  An unexpected side benefit is that I find myself less likely to overreact to things, and less likely to react in knee-jerk fashion.  Rather than feeding into this person's negativity, I felt comforted in the knowledge that I have the ability to be tolerant and appreciative of things I don't necessarily understand.