I just finished watching "Religulous," a documentary made by comedian Bill Maher this past year that questions a handful of the "popular" religions around the world. He led a fascinating pilgrimage around the world-- interviewing Jesus imitators, rabbi's, Muslims, marijuana-smoking clergy-- in search of some answers. His skepticism of all things religion only grew as he went along, and to his credit, he clearly did his research and went into each interview and house of worship with some thought-provoking arguments.
I am a proud Catholic, and I do not share Bill Maher's overall viewpoint that "religion" is, in itself, a bad compass for the world. I do agree with Mr. Maher, however, that our religious compasses-- whatever they may be-- should always, always be vigorously examined. It is certainly no small nor uncontroversial endeavor on his part to make a documentary taking aim at faiths that are the main concern of many people's lives. According to some sources I checked, there are some 4,200+ faith-based groups in the world, comprising of about 90% of people on the planet. I respect Mr. Maher's effort (albeit biased and characteristically sarcastic effort) to dive in, explore, and make his atheist-perspective pilgrimage a public one.
My own hope for the world is that all religions ultimately focus on "love for our neighbor," which some of us call the Golden Rule. Father Joe Mostardi, a Catholic priest who directed the Augustinian Volunteer program I participated in from 2005-06, once said to me that he believes all Earthly sins can also be boiled down to one foundational sin, "selfishness." And, if nothing else, my own faith is a great value system in terms of how to live one's life-- one filled with love, compassion, and selflessness.
In Religulous, I was reminded again that Mr. Maher is an expert interviewer as he crafted his questions in such a way that made lifelong religious pilgrims look like fools. But one key point that he missed amidst his own thick cloud of doubt, I believe, was the essence of religious life that keeps people coming back again and again. And that is love for each other... the sense of community... the exploration for understanding and truth... the wonder of our natural surroundings and the everyday miracles of life... the desire to know that our lives really do matter.
Mr. Maher questions how much better we would be without religion running our politics and our world. I want to ask him back, how boring would our world be without our differing perspectives of a God or Gods, a savior, a particular "Bible," a set of values, a longing for community, a longing for deeper meaning. Surely, we cling to our own religions and defend them almost blindly. We believe the distinct traditions handed down to us are, in fact, true and that our distinct way is, in fact, the right way. And our distinct religions can and do sometimes get a black eye. Many Catholic priests-- among a majority of great ones-- have missed the mark and have molested young children over the years. Many Muslims-- again, among a majority of great ones-- have missed the mark and taken jihad to such a radical degree that they desire to kill everyone in the Americas. There are, of course, many more of these types of stories associated with any and all religious groups.
But are these inconsistencies not the hallmark of mankind? We often need to be corrected; that is simply the way we are. Yet it is not true that the majority of people will always naturally gravitate towards some faith or belief system the same way we would yearn for water in the desert? Why fight this natural instinct? Why not embrace it?
Why not embrace each other, and strive to understand and appreciate each other? So long as the common law is a mutual respect for our neighbor, why not embrace our diverse assortments of religions? After all, we are human. We have our shortcomings, we don't have the answers, and we are all so, so different from one another. Instead of cringing at other faiths, or faith in general, why have some respect and dig for the deeper stories underneath?
Perhaps it be a story rooted in intense experiences in quiet solitude while camping among mountains and grassy knolls and stars filling the sky overhead? Perhaps a story of the utter joy and profound connection wrapped into a kiss? Perhaps a story that captures the feeling that overwhelms you as you hold the hand of a loved one dying in her hospital bed? Perhaps a story considering the daily and undying restlessness for realizing a greater purpose?
Mr. Maher attacks religion, but he's attacking the wrong object. He's really attacking hope... hope in something greater than ourselves. That's what religion really is. The 90-some-percent of people on this planet that associate with a religion are essentially trying to associate with a sort of hope that gives them gravitas. I say, thank God for evidence of such restlessness... thank God for such a sign of commitment and community... thank God for even giving us all life after all.
