One is very often asked at present whether we could not have religion stripped from society, or, as people who ask it say, ‘freed’ from religious bondage. But, have we asked ourselves, ‘is religion important?’
Coming from religious upbringing in Indonesia, I am fully aware of the social effect of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. In Indonesian/Malay language, religion is ‘agama’. Etymologically, the word ‘agama’ comes from two Sanskrit word , ‘u’ which means ‘no/not’ and ‘ gama’ which means ‘chaos’ so it means ‘no chaos’ or ‘to prevent chaos’ (in the society). This means that religion is created to maintain social integrity. Of course, religion does not only cover horizontal relationships, relationships between humans, but also maintain the vertical relationship, the relationship with the supernatural (read: God/deity).
I am in agreement with Richard Dawkins’, Sam Harris’, and Christopher Hitchen’s arguments that religion is evil. Yes, it is evil when politics are involved. No doubt. I have the same objection to all organized religions but so does every government in this world. Governments exist to bring goodness to their people. But so does science. Science exists to bring goodness to all the creatures in this world. It is the wickedness of our human minds that bring the ‘evil’ to this world. One of my best friends, Alstair Bharata, said that It is not ‘God’ who made religions, it is us who make religions.
Is religion important? My personal position is YES. Yes. Just like science. Nuclear physics can be used to develop renewable energy as well as atomic bomb. Just like a knife, we can use the knife for preparing a nice (or sometimes bad) meal or to commit murder or even suicide. Religion is for sure can create extremism as in suicide bombings, but also Red Cross organization or The Salvation Army.
I strongly disagree to eliminate completely religions and put ‘secularism’ in place like what Richard Dawkins, the atheist missionary, suggests. If he thinks that religion is a bad infection (God Delusion, 2006), he should also be aware that CS Lewis was much earlier campaigning that religion is a good infection (Mere Christianity, 1952). Dawkins in a debate with Francis Collins also argued that “Good and evil–I don’t believe that there is hanging out there, anywhere, something called good and something called evil. I think that there are good things that happen and bad things that happen” (Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1555132-8,00.html#ixzz0dua30Sdf) which I think show that extremism to certain ideology, not only religion, can blind ones’ senses. I do believe a check-balance is a proper way to keep both religious institutions and secularism ‘on track’.
One of the great difficulties in accepting that religion is good is the fact that many religious people are bad people. I do see this difficulties contains a great ignorance to the fact that non-religious people and atheists do commit such badness. This reminded me of a fantastic quote by C.S. Lewis. He was being asked questions by the Electrical and Musical Industries Christian Fellowship in 1944. One of the questions was: Are there any unmistakable outward signs in a person surrendered to God? Would he be cantankerous? Would he smoke?
The answer he gave:
Take the sour old maid, who is a Christian, but cantakerous. On the other hand, take some pleasant and popular fellow, but who has never been to church. Who knows how much more cantankerous the old maid might be if she were not a Christian, and how much more likeable the nice fellow might be if he were a Christian? You can’t judge Christianity simply by comparing the product in those two people; you would need to know what kind of raw material Christ was working on in both cases.
As Lewis mentioned, we cannot judge religion simply by comparing the product, we do not know what the person would be without religion. Religion is important in making us realize that there are limitations to what the freedom we have in this world and there are things more meaningful than this life like the relationship with the supernatural and preventing anyone saying the really foolish thing that there is no good or evil!
This article is written as a follow-up to my discussion with a fellow Dundonian in Discovery Quay benchpark.
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5 responses so far ↓
Colin Jamieson // Jan 29, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Wowo this is really interesting! I particularly enjoyed the CS Lewis argument about the sour old maid.
The word ‘religion’ has become anathema to evangelicals these days. Etymologically, it comes from the root word in Latin ‘religio’ which means ‘to bind up’. So we take it to mean legalism and empty tradition (MUST USE AN ORGAN!), which is why we are so keen to renounce our ‘religiosity’, and emphasise our faith. The Bible, however, tells us in James 1:26-27 what pure religion is: keeping ourselves undefiled and caring for widows and orphans in their need. Perhaps then we are in some way bound to the poor because of our faith in Christ.
PS There’s nothing wrong with organs, but it is wrong to believe that ‘If it was good enough for Apostle Paul, it’s good enough for me!’ Indeed, when the organ was first introduced to churches in circa 17th Century they themselves were denounced by many as ‘the music of the devil’! Now many hardliners will claim that about anything but the organ! What a strange bunch we are!
Hosea Saputro Handoyo // Jan 29, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Dear Colin,
Thanks for your comment. It is interesting to study the ‘evolution’ of religion in general. I might miss your argument but what is the main connection between religion and ‘organ’? Religion is not only about the way people praise and worship but also the whole complexity of theology, tradition, politics, dogmas, and doctrines. In response to your music tradition in church, I guess it is interesting that Lewis has addressed the issue long time ago: http://www.worshipandchurchmusic.com/cslewis.html
In my point of view, the way people give praise and worship to God depends on their culture and time – as we can actually see from Old Testament how the Israelites praised God in Egypt and in King David’s time. I once introduced contemporary Christian music like the ones from Hillsong to an atheist Scot and the instant response he gave was ‘it is too sinister!’ – which is rather interesting as most people leave the church (aside from faith crisis) because it is b.o.r.i.n.g. but then when the church has something exciting they will suddenly dismiss it as being too ’sinister’! But again, I believe the main issue is the relationship with God – not the relationship with church/place of worship or the way people give praise and worship to their God.
Oremus pro invicem.
jay // Jan 31, 2010 at 10:03 pm
It remind me of: is politics necessary? Though what some people think it is not relevant to the post modernism issue, but I strongly agree that as law, religion also serve as benchmark for many things in life. Sometimes you see it’s ridiculous, but sometimes you can help to say it’s important people know and practice some religion of whatever they believe.
Christian as Christian is not better than others, or Buddhist is not better than others because we all have fall short of God’s glory. But acknowledge our poor condition and recognise that we do need help and accept that help of what I call grace, later put it in practice, is what I call true religion-love the Lord your God..and love your neighbour…
Daniel // Feb 18, 2010 at 1:21 pm
In my opinion religion is still important right now. I see religion as the best invention of human culture. Without religion, a culture will be crude and wild. I believe God allows religions to exist because they protect mankind from falling even deeper. Almost all religions will demand people to do good.
However, the more you try to do good, the worse you will do. Even Apostle Paul confirms this experience in Romans 7. According to Paul it’s because there are three laws operating in us.
1. The law of good (in our mind)
2. The law of sin and death (in our flesh)
3. The law of the Spirit of Life (in our spirit)
Law is something that’s constantly operating. Just like the law of gravity that always hold things down. You can only defeat law by another law.
Paul describe that law of good as the weakest because he wants to do good, but in the end, it’s evil that he does because law of sin and death is stronger than law of good.
But there is another law that is stronger, which is the law of the Spirit of Life. If we are in the Spirit, we automatically defeats the law of sin and death. Even death cannot hold Jesus down. He conquered the death!
Have you read a book called “Christ versus Religion”. It’s really a good book about this matter.
Hosea Saputro Handoyo // Feb 19, 2010 at 1:52 am
Dear Daniel,
I agree with your comment. Religion is used to remind all people how limited we are. It also reminds us te fact that we are helpless – mere goodness cannot give peace and salvation.
Will try to read the book once I have the time. So far I ave 7 books in line to read besides my research papers ;)
Oremus pro invicem
Ho
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