THOUGHTS ON RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

When I wrote ODDITIES OF RELIGION, I humorously addressed some experiences within religious traditions that I saw as irrational. Now, I must clarify that in this I am not being completely antagonistic towards religion or spirituality. I have met many ethical and compassionate people who are religious. My point is that having religion does not imply that one will be ethical, it is not a guarantee and that there exists within religious traditions many absurd and arbitrary rules and conditions. I believe we need to be more critical in our thinking and so even those who are religious I would urge to explore more carefully why they believe what they do. I think we all need to examine our beliefs and why we hold to them. One can stand in awe of nature, the stars, the wonderful things within life itself, and not necessarily be religious as well. In the past, maybe we needed more of mythology to comfort us, to give us explanations, to decrease our angst, but as we become more aware of our world and there become more rational explanations, then we have less need for these mythologies. However, I do worry for some what we choose to replace our former religions with. For example, I have argued that psychiatry has become a replacement religion. It provides a creed, offers its 'sacraments', and tries to reduce angst for some. However, I would argue that psychiatry is often lacking in rational science and objectivity and can be at times just as irrational as other religions. I have stated that ethics must always proceed technology, so as we begin to use objective science and we develop new insights, it must always be combined with ethics, and what is for the betterment of humanity.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.