On Religion

I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging with God. I was into habit. I grew up going to church, so I got used to hearing about God. He was like Uncle Harry or Aunt Sally except we didn't have pictures.

This is part of Donald Miller's experience as related in Blue Like Jazz. Religion is certainly an interesting thing. Miller is acknowledged as being of the "emergent" brand. Another religious writer, highly respected among Protestant ranks even though Catholic was G. K. Chesterton. It was Chesterton who wrote, "So far as a man may be proud of a religion rooted in humility, I am very proud of my religion; I am especially proud of those parts that are most commonly called superstition. I am proud of being fettered by antiquated dogmas and enslaved by dead creeds (as my journalistic friends repeat with so much pertinacity), for I know very well that it is the heretical creeds that are dead, and that it is only reasonable dogma that lives long enough to be called antiquated."

Now, I certainly hope I am not the only who is reminiscing the joyous ignorance of Tevye as he sings and dances to Tradition from Fiddler on the Roof. You see, religion is often associated with superstition. Christ came to bring Truth. Religion is often associated with tradition as well. Christ came to abrogate tradition and deliver us into a new Freedom.