Remodeling a kitchen is usually not a do-it-yourself project. Fixing broken appliances and installing plumbing are things some people do. Many of us don’t attempt these repairs for apparent reasons.
Tradespeople are fortunate. They deal with known visible quantities. If a plank of wood doesn’t fit, wishing the problem away will not make it the correct size. It will have to be recut or replaced. We respect tradespeople for how they take care of the problems we can’t deal with. We would respect religion and religious people if the same were true for their contribution to society. This respect used to be given. What changed?
The change in our attitudes towards religion has been gradual, starting around the Industrial Revolution and culminating in a collapse in respect for faith in the last 50 years. Religion used to open doors for us. A common belief shared by millions of people contributed to social cohesion. Now, technology brings us together without the unnecessary baggage of accepting a particular creed or following certain religious rituals. So, as a result of technology and a greater focus on making this life the only thing of importance, many formerly religious people have become atheists.
Atheism is a belief system that asserts that God does not exist. Atheists are only concerned with this life. As a result, religion is of little or no importance to atheists, so they don’t concern themselves with whether this or that religion is correct or accurate in its doctrines or teachings.
This influence of atheism and its tolerance of all religious teachings, even doctrines that conflict has had a curious effect on religion. You would think that faith would flourish and grow in importance in people’s lives now that there is little disputing over doctrines and arguments about which belief is correct or accurate. But this is not the case. What seems to be happening is this: People, when choosing what they believe, usually pick what is most advantageous to them. Life is busy and getting more demanding year by year. Why pick a belief system that makes a lot of demands when there could be something more accessible to believe in? If any belief system will do, pick the easy one. If what you believe doesn’t matter, religion doesn’t matter.
Atheism is a more attractive option than religion because you control what you believe or don’t believe about life. To combat atheism and recapture the position religion once occupied in society, a typical religious leader will water down their beliefs and allow what is taught to pander to the lowest common denominator. Then popularity and political correctness get more attention than a religion’s teachings, and we are asked to only believe in what is convenient or easy to accept, with the result being that the average person is no more interested in religion than they are in what color they prefer to use to decorate their homes. It’s a vicious circle. The more you try to make religion easier to accept, the less people care about it. People who have been heavily influenced by atheism give little thought to what they believe in, so discussing religion or getting into an argument about religion can seem ridiculous.
When people don’t care, there might be some disagreement, but to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings, a religious discussion usually concludes with vague language that papers over any points of contention. This doesn’t happen when necessary; nonreligious things are discussed. Take the building of a multimillion-dollar suspension bridge as an example. Would a disagreement amongst the engineers on properly building a bridge be considered unimportant or a mere matter of opinion? However, owing to the influence of atheism and the widespread belief that all religious beliefs are equally valid, this sort of thinking endlessly permeates the discussion of religion. So, how can faith be adequately discussed?
You must believe two things:
- religion is a matter of vital importance, like building a bridge
- people can be wrong about their beliefs
Suffice it to say, you have a choice. You can believe that everyone is right about whatever they believe in. Or you can be like a tradesperson in your approach to religion. That plank does not fit? Don’t ignore the problem or explain it away. The truth exists. It is independent of our feelings or people’s preferences. Begin to look for it.
As a Roman Catholic, I am searching for the truth. I acknowledge that I need the help that the Roman Catholic Church provides. I’d like you to please join me in this search. I look forward to your comments and questions.