Two Ways to Approach Religion
I'm reading this book by a guy named Tony van Renterghem called "When Santa Was a Shaman: The Ancient Origins of Santa Claus and the Christmas Tree". It's absolutely PACKED with things I never knew and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the origins of Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, etc. - all things Christmas, really.
Anyways.
He has this one section where he's discussing religion and how for thousands of years humanity's approach to religion has (typically) taken 1 of 2 forms.
ONE: worshiper.
TWO: celebrant.
The WORSHIPER, he says, is one whose faith "was based on fear and awe of a Force of infinite power and authority, a jealous god who had to be flattered, worshiped, appeased, and bargained with in the same manner that one had to deal with the hold chief of a clan."
I used to relate to God like this. Maybe you did too?
I would have denied this at the time, but looking back on it God was like my personal vending machine where I had to put in the right amount of change and hit the right combination of buttons to get the things I wanted (or hoped for).
A little confession here.
A touch of repentance there.
Some Bible reading.
Lots of church-going.
Prayer, prayer, and more prayer.
Tithing (it should increase every year).
Good theology.
Volunteering.
Missions trips.
Singing with my hands raised.
… I had to do certain things and perform in certain ways in order to flatter God, get his attention, and make him happy enough with me that he might grant (at least some of) my prayers with a resounding "YES!".
Sure, on the outside it looked like love and adoration. And on the inside it might have even felt like that at times. BUT. Looking back on it all these years later, I'm not afraid to admit that A LOT of what I did in regards to church, giving, volunteering, Bible reading, prayer, etc, etc, etc. was done because I thought it would move me from God's "good graces" to God's "better graces" and give me a greater shot at having a blessed life … whatever that means.
The CELEBRANT, Tony says, is the person who "personally tried to understand the meaning of life by loving and living it to the hilt, who watched the infinity of the star-studded skies, rejoiced about the daily return of the sun, celebrated the excitement of the hunt, the ecstasy of sex, and the miracle of birth, all the while feeling he himself was part of the Life Force, which would joyfully reclaim him at the end of his days."
In other words, the celebrant sees goodness in all of creation and sees himself/herself/themselves so much a part of the energy behind that creation that even when he dies he trusts that the energy will joyfully reclaim him so that his life will continue in some new or different form for all of eternity.
There is no fear.
There is no one to appease.
There is no vending machine.
… There's just joy, celebration, and living into each and every moment this life has to offer.
And so all of this has me wondering what sort of approach I take to religion these days.
Hm.
As much as I want to 100% lean into the "celebrant", I'm also learning that dichotomies aren't always that helpful.
Right?
I come from a black and white world …
This OR that.
That OR this.
Good OR bad.
Light OR darkness.
… It can never be both/and, but must always be either/or - you have to choose a side, pick a side, fight for that side, and declare the OTHER side your forever and ever enemy.
Nowadays, though, I'm finding that there's room for multiple views at the table. Right? Rather than embrace either/or mentalities, I'm pushing back against them to embrace a more both/and mentality - a mentality that welcomes multiple voices to the table even if they seem to be opposites on the surface.
Like "worshiper" / "celebrant". Perhaps instead of identifying with ONLY one of them, maybe I can identify with BOTHof them EVEN IF I lean more heavily to one side?
I think I'm much more of a celebrant these days, someone who leans into seeing myself as so connected to the Divine behind creation that I (myself) am infused with that very same Divinity. And so I don't need to fear the Divine or God or whatever any more than I would fear myself.
At the same time, though … I don't know.
But.
I have an appreciation for Scripture reading (even if it's expanded into Gnostic Scriptures, Buddhist Scriptures, etc).
I have an appreciation for prayer (even if it's expanded into meditation with rosaries, prayer beads, tarot cards, etc).
I have an appreciation for giving.
I have an appreciation for volunteer work.
… I have an appreciation for a lot of the aspects I once cherished as a "worshiper" even if those aspects now have entirely different meanings for me.
And so although I see myself as someone who leans more towards the "celebrant" side of the spectrum, there is still plenty of room for "worshiper" at the table.
How about you?
Using the spectrum of "worshiper" and "celebrant", how has your faith evolved over the years? Would you consider yourself one or the other? Neither? Both?
Good things to ponder.
Much love,
Glenn
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