No matter what your opinions are about religion, ‘tis the season when religion is all around.
I have mixed feelings about religion. I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household and have observed many benefits of religion, including life-organizing traditions, strong family and social connections, important moral codes, explanations for troubling questions, and sustenance and comfort during darkest days. I’ve also observed, throughout my life, how many people have been hurt and divided by religion.
Whatever our religions are, I think we can agree that people have very strong feelings about religion. My son, who grew up with a lapsed Orthodox Jewish mother and a lapsed Roman Catholic father, once upset a librarian in the children’s room of our local library by asking her what her religion was. This was around the time when Aaron was formulating that God might be a giant goose and we had noticed children’s books about religion in the library that day, so I think he was just honestly curious about her experience. He and I were both taken aback by her obvious discomfort and annoyance, so I quietly explained to him that religion could be a sensitive subject for some people.
Yesterday, my son, my ex-husband Leon, my husband Michael, and I were discussing another sensitive subject — politics — trying to make sense of Trump’s appeal to millions of people, wondering if religion played a part in that, also.
Do you see religion in today’s images?
If you had to answer any questions about religion, would you choose to answer the ones included in this blog post?
When I search YouTube for “religion,” this comes up:
So does this:
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Colbert — despite their differences about religion — share a great gratitude for existence and so do I. Thanks to all who helped me create this post about religion, including YOU!
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
At first I thought the cat with the Carl Jung action figure was chocolate, and for a brief moment I wondered if there is a chocolate cat Jungian stream of group therapy. I think it could be very healing, although even better would be the chocolate cat Koplow approach.
That cat is a sculpture created by my ex-husband and your comments are always very healing, my friend.
That is very cool!
You should add George Carlin’s routine about religion.
Ask and ye shall receive:
The Gervais-Colbert clip is fun. Thank you for posting.
My pleasure.
Harley looks like he’s praying.
Thanks for sharing, Maria.
I love Ricky Gervais’ explanations and the signing off of Irish comedian Dave Allen who used to say “Goodnight, and may your god go with you.” (That covered any eventuality)
May your god go with you, Peter, and I love your comments on any eventuality.
while i am a recovering catholic and am not really aligned with any organized religion, i do consider myself to be a spiritual person. the closest i can come is with the buddhists. all about kindness and compassion and that i can agree with.
i agree that you are all about kindness and compassion, my friend.
I believe all religions and Eastern philosophies have an underlying truth which is to do love the Ultimate Being , and to love our neighbor. Of course there are a lot of “misinformed” people who tend to be fanatical and judgemental This sad factor exists in every faith.
I don’t know if Trump, to answer your question, is ” religion -free”. I think he doesn’t prioritize God, But, when he becomes aware of his own mortality, he may experience Metanoia, as did St. Augustine.
I always see Beauty in your pictures, Ann.
I didn’t mean to write to much but since Comparative Theology is one of my majors, I love to write about it.
I respect your beliefs and greatly appreciate you sharing.
I meant to write too much above. 😉
You wrote just the right amount and no worries about typos!
My grandfather would say, “Religion is just a way to make people be good.” I think it’s more complicated that and dislike the idea that people need to be “made” good. Guidance and assistance are one thing; manipulation is another, and can easily be misused.
On the other hand in some of your pictures I see the wisdom of Edie Brickell who said, “Religion is the smile on a dog.”
I love your wisdom, my good friend.
Religion is how you live your life, not what you say to believe in…all religions and moral philosophies say 80% of the same basic stuff, but only about 20% of the people actually act on principle consistently in their daily life, in my experience, regardless of what they identify as now or once were or never were. (Rudi)
I greatly appreciate you sharing your experience!