Faith and religion are tricky to deal with in conversations or when writing blog articles. Matters related to faith and religion are deeply personal and sensitive to people. Opinions about religion and its importance cannot (read should not) be expressed in broad strokes but rather with nuance. It is a part of your identity. The number of ways people can describe themselves is ever-increasing, wherein subtle differences exist between each label available at your disposal.
THE ROLE OF Faith and RELIGION
I struggled to define my relationship with religion for a long time. The definition remains remarkably fluid and keeps changing over time as I grow. I used to identify as an atheist and non-believer without questioning anything. It used to feel “cool” as a kid when I didn’t know what I was saying. Only two years ago, I started reading about religion and philosophy to understand their meaning.
I am not a religious person, but I still have faith. I don’t go to places of worship and don’t pray much. I learned growing up that it was okay to ask questions. Every member of my family has a way of practicing their religion. It is not a matter of devotion, but we all have faith.
I respect everyone’s religious beliefs and views. I don’t practice with any institutionalized religions around the world. I have personal reasons for now following them. I think many of the holy texts make much sense. I pick up parts from all philosophies that I find palatable and that work for me.
I believe that having faith is necessary. Everyone needs to put their faith in someone or something at some point in life. Faith serves a vital purpose in your life because it helps you overcome self-doubt when you inevitably go through a difficult time. When everything in your life seems to be in flux, having a core belief in which you have unwavering faith can be your anchor.
You can have a strong belief that can be your anchor. Religion often acts as that anchor. You can have faith in a person or a group of people. You can have faith in a higher power, a concept or even yourself. Knowing that a higher power is looking out for you can be comforting. Every religion talks about having faith and surrendering to God in some form. I interpret that when you let go of control, you believe things will work out how they should. Of course, all of this comes after you have taken the actions and done your part.
FINDING FAITH CAN BE DIFFICULT, BUT THERE’S HOPE!
Finding these anchors is becoming increasingly difficult as the world becomes more secular than before. There are many differing opinions and interpretations. People look to many different avenues when looking for something to believe.
An example of the increasing number of labels can be demonstrated by how people identify their dietary preferences. At one time, there were two options: vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Now, numerous permutations and combinations in describing the same enable you to be more specific. There is Ovo- for eggs and Lacto- for milk. You can tell someone who has animal products but not meat. There is a difference between a vegan and a plant-based diet. I am still trying to figure out what’s a flexitarian. It was mind-boggling initially when I learned about these categories.
The point of the above rant is that people think deeply about how they identify themselves regarding their dietary preferences. Naturally, they will have their definition of religion. You have deeply religious people, agnostics, atheists and everything else. Labels exist here too, but it’s a thousand times more complex.
It would help if you were mindful about choosing what to believe. You can begin by evaluating your existing beliefs. Make decisions wisely because there are no perfect choices regarding different views. There is always a tradeoff. Things that work in one system might be considered wrong in the other. The purpose of religion and faith is to serve you and not the other way around.
You will need to have faith at some point in your life. It could help you decide what feels important to you. Nothing seems essential when your core beliefs are shaken. It’s the definition of depression. The way to overcome that is to rediscover your beliefs and find a new rock that will support you going forward.