Religion

 

Religion was not created by God, but by humans.  Humans created the codes, rules and regulations of how to supposedly worship.  Humans created denominations and churces, not God.  And this is what many fail to realize or accept.  Christianity should not then, be defined by one, supposedly 'true' religion or denomination, but by what unifies one's faith as Christians, if someone is to call themselves a Christian.  And this is where many young people seem to be going.

In my interaction with high school students, and college students particularly, many seem attracted to volunteerism and community service.  And many seem to be utilizing volunteerism and community service as a way to define not only themselves and their belief system, but their identity as Christians, as well.  Sure, there are those who identify themselves as a particular denomination, but the divide of which denomination is more 'true' or better than the other just doesn't seem so important to them.  Why?

History is filled with wars, violence, and injustices all in the name of religion: Christian and non-Christian.  Often, religion is seen as something that is a must (i.e. go to church, Sunday school, etc.) by parents, and involuntary, which lacks a spiritual and personal understanding and experience.  Using Christianity as an example, in being able to understand and process what the faith means, void of any particular denomination, many nominal (i.e. in name only) young Christians come to grow in their spirituality.  Still other young people come to not only grow in their spirituality, but their religion as well, while still maintaining their tolerance.

I often ask and wonder myself, does God really care if someone chooses one religion over another, or any religion, as long as they believe in God?  And even if God does care, isn't that between God and the person?  Of course there is nothing wrong with believing if your religion is the one true faith, or is more 'real' than others.  But why do people have to continue forcing their beliefs on others?  And can't religion be practiced without infringing upon the rights and beliefs of others?  Perhaps it's a generational shift, but many young people seem to be asking similar questions, and coming to similar conclusions.  Perhaps young people aren't leaving religion as much as I've thought, but are coming to understand it differently in more spiritual ways.  Often times, especially if they already identify with a particular faith, that just makes their faith and religious beliefs stronger.