Truth or Convenience?
Questioning Motives for Spiritual
Advancement
I envy Christians. I really do.
At the same time, I would love to hit
some over the head with my Book of Shadows the way they try to hit me
over the head with their Bible. They have it very easy when it comes
to coming to terms with the Divine and how it interacts with
themselves and the world at large. They have a big old book that
tells them exactly what to believe, how to act and who to pray to
when in question. It is largely up for interpretation by the
individual, which makes for a decent, flexible system that can fit
most that wish to subscribe to Jesus and his like. Lots of people
like that.
They like it because it's easy.
Oh how I wish when I had a question
about something metaphysical or magickal in nature that I could just
open a textbook or consult a readily available “professional” on
the matter and have an easy answer. With only One True God, its a
simple thing to turn to Him and pray for answers, then sit back and
wait for a sign or reply. I go to twelve-step meetings and bring up
a question, to which my fellows' replies are simply, “Just pray.”
Maybe I'm overthinking things, but that
almost seems like giving up on it. “So what are you going to do
about that manipulative friend of yours?” Shrug.
“I dunno, I'ma let God handle it.”
This limiting mindset makes accepting
answers – be them right or wrong – a task that involves very
little effort. When your God is always right and cannot be wrong,
even when He doesn't give you the money shot right up front, you know
He has the answer and might be withholding it for a greater purpose.
Things are not so easy with us Pagans.
Most of us subscribe to beliefs and
thoughts that are not so straightforward. Most of our gods are a
part of a larger pantheon, and those within that pantheon might
disagree with each other. Some of us petition entities that have
very different and sometimes opposing opinions about everything from
the universe to the particular situation in question. The
responsibility of not only interpreting the answer, but asking the
right question to which entity in particular falls to us. Not only
asking the right question, but questioning the very motive for asking
the first place is paramount to our growth and faith in the Divine.
This is a huge responsibility!
I have a lot of Judeo-Christian
friends, and I love them and their faith dearly. Sometimes it makes
me want to bash my head into a wall however, when I hear the reasons
for their faith. “I was brought up this way” and “It's the
simplest answer” are more common rational motives. It's as if no
one really wants to branch out and explore the nature of what they
believe in, simply because someone told them that “this is the only
answer you need.” And with only one answer, there seems to be a
complacency achieved that rivals apathy.
This problem is not purely Christian,
though it runs rampant through the religion in the hearts of the
casual worshiper (and even in the not-so-casual worshiper). A
Buddhist friend of mine gave me some thoughts on transcending human
nature, and I disagreed. So we had a good natured debate about it.
When I asked him why he thought this way, his reply was that Buddha
had come to that conclusion. “So what conclusion did YOU come to?”
I asked. He told me that Buddha had already laid the groundwork so
that others could follow without such a struggle. I suppose the same
could be said about Jesus, but that really didn't answer my question.
What conclusion did YOU come to?
I have read and seen for myself many
times that the Truth cannot be put into words, or taught, or shown.
It has to be experienced personally. The way to experience that
Truth can be shared, modified and achieved in different ways, but the
actual Truth (of which I claim no mastery over) cannot simply be
given to someone, be it through a parable or a meditation. One can
only see it for oneself, and anyone claiming to have the Truth to
share, give or sell is a fool at best. I suppose the next best thing
to offer would be guidance,
but even that's sketchy due to personal bias. Someone may have made
the trail, but there's still the whole forest out there to
experience, and walking that trail only gives you the perspective of
the one who's walked it before you. Beneficial, yes, but by no means
the Truth.
It is
my suspicion that people in general don't like the thought of being
on their own, especially in something as vast and unknown as the
Universe. We like the idea of some sort of safety net; a God that is
parenting us and will fish us out if we get in too deep so long as we
ask for its help. Someone who is forever there, will always listen,
never forgets who you are and knows the master plan. Now that
is something that is easy and comfortable to believe in.
What if this is not
the case? I find it entirely plausible that the Divine is simply
curious, doesn't know the future (possibilities perhaps, but not
every outcome), forgets to acknowledge aspects of itself (much like
ourselves) and can be outright indifferent, or even mean. I'm not
saying that this is Truth, or even my version of Truth, but thinking
about the Divine in that way can be a tough pill to swallow. Who
would want to believe that, right?
Regardless
of whether we want to believe it or not, it could be the case. In
our quest for Truth, we may stumble upon an answer like this. It's
not pleasant, so not many people want to take the risk of finding out
that there might not
be a safety net. I don't know about you, but if I want the Truth, I
want to accept it for whatever it may be, not just if it makes me
feel better about myself or humanity at large. I will not study the
Divine for convenience, or because it makes me comfortable, or for a
warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I'll watch the Golden Girls if I want
that. I want to know.
I see
people believing something because it doesn't require a lot of
introspection, investment or effort. It makes me very sad for them.
All I can do is encourage my brothers and sisters to learn from the
actions of others, but act on their own accord. If we don't, all
we're doing is reinforcing old trails, and not all of them lead to
good places.
