Why I feel closer than ever to Jesus as a practicing Pagan and former Christian.
Spirituality, religion, faith — all incredibly relevant and powerful to the human experience. Mostly, I believe, because humans are fragile and beautifully imaginative. We want to know why, how, and where we came from…the reason for our existence. We are a naturally curious and innovative species and generally uncomfortable with the unknown. So, we create stories. Stories that provide us with the answers we seek and the push to live without that nagging fear of the unknown…tugging at our hearts and souls.
At its best, faith inspires and lifts us to be better — to love and give more. At its worst, it is weaponized to control, dominate, and conquer.
Growing up in the church ultimately showed me that much of what folks consider “good Christianity” is performative. Gathered together in a vaulted sanctuary, light pouring through stained glass windows — we sing praises, arms raised. We listen to the message of another human, trying to make sense of the world. We feel better by doing this…somehow emboldened that we are doing life right — that when we inevitably die, we will achieve spiritual immortality. Meanwhile, children go hungry, the homeless are reviled, the poor suffer, the immigrant is attacked, trans folks are vilified, bombs are dropped, the Earth is destroyed -- all while we sing Glory to God, drop $20 in a plate, and sip coffee in a wooden pew.
And we are pushed to share the good news — desperate for the world to know that Jesus loves you!! He died for you! He was sacrificed so that the world would know the truth.
The truth? The truth is that Jesus was arrested, tortured, and crucified because he was a threat to the establishment — to religious leaders and the government who feared his message would turn the people against them and their lust for power. Jesus opened minds that were shuttered, shattered the status quo, boldly broke religious rules, and challenged religious authorities that were more concerned with control & law than justice and care for the oppressed.
Justice and care for the oppressed. Radical, much?
*rest is in comments because I am too wordy 🤣*
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