MY GOD!

Religion, what is it?

I favour the last of these definitions, the ' pursuit of interest followed with great devotion.'

I'm not religious if 'religion' is defined as belief in and worship of a supernatural being but I have tried to live my life within guidelines that maybe are not spiritual but certainly are ethical. I like to think, even though I've failed many times, that I've been fair and caring in my interactions with family, friends, associates, employees, service providers, authorities and society in general. If there were such things as sins and blessings then I hope that my 'blessings' have outweighed the 'sins'.

This came to me this evening, as it sometimes does when enjoying a nice glass of wine (Te Terra Martinborough Pinot Noir) and I recalled a comment that Robert wrote following my comment on his latest blog post and my follow-up comment.

Here's the thread:

My dad was brought up in a mixed faith household - his father was a Methodist and his mother a Catholic. When he sought to marry my mother, who was a Catholic, the silly Catholic Church, as a condition of them marrying in one of their silly churches demanded that my father sign up to Catholicism exclusively. I guess that dad said "whatever' and just went along with it to get the job done. Apart from his own wedding, family weddings, baptisms and funerals I don't think dad attended any other Catholic Church ceremonies - certainly never Sunday Mass.

Dad, with mum, brought us up as Catholics though and, when we were very young and mum was dragging us off to Sunday Mass, when we remonstrated that dad wasn't coming with us mum would just tell us that he was a heathen and was going to hell. That was the norm and accepted. I guess that this was influential on me when at age 12 in Standard Six I stopped going to Mass and thought the whole thing was a waste of time.

Dad was a tradesman and worked long hours but he was still involved in community works helping out institutions like the RSA, Wellington Council and the Catholic Church with its many commitments like The Home of Compassion, local churches and schools and the Wellington Catholic Diocese.  Maybe he saw this as his 'worship', who knows? I never (unfortunately) discussed this with him. I do know though that he was liked and respected by those he helped particularly the nuns at The Home of Compassion. I also know or, am sure, that he was never looking to 'get into heaven' through his good works. That wouldn't have been on his radar. He just did the right thing and, I'm sure, my own ethical standards come as much or more from his guidance than from all the instruction I had from nuns, brothers and priests.

Is there a god or gods? I don't believe there is but, if there is one or many, I hope that they are more like my old man was and not the despots that Robert believes in.

This song from Jethro Tull comes to mind. Here are the lyrics and, Youtube allowing, the video clip to follow:

"When I was young and they packed me off to school and taught me how not to play the game, I didn't mind if they groomed me for success, or if they said that I was just a fool So I left there in the morning with their God tucked underneath my arm their half-assed smiles and the book of rules So I asked this God a question and by way of firm reply, He said I'm not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays So to my old headmaster (and to anyone who cares): before I'm through I'd like to say my prayers I don't believe you: you had the whole damn thing all wrong He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays Well you can excomunicate me on my way to Sunday school and have all the bishops harmonise these lines how do you dare tell me that I'm my Father's son when that was just an accident of Birth I'd rather look around me compose a better song `cos that's the honest measure of my worth In your pomp and all your glory you're a poorer man than me, as you lick the boots of death born out of fear. When I was young and they packed me off to school and taught me how not to play the game, I didn't mind if they groomed me for success, or if they said that I was just a fool So I left there in the morning with their God tucked underneath my arm their half-assed smiles and the book of rules Well you can excomunicate me on my way to Sunday school and have all the bishops harmonize these lines When I was young and they packed me off to school and taught me how not to play the game, I didn't mind if they groomed me for success, or if they said that I was just a fool So to my old headmaster (and to anyone who cares): before I'm through I'd like to say my prayers Well you can excomunicate me on my way to Sunday school and have all the bishops harmonize these lines I don't believe you: you had the whole damn thing all wrong He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays."