It appears more and more people
are rejecting organized religion, preferring to pick and choose which parts of
religion best suits their desires. Instead
of determining which is the most rational and logical, it appears easier for
most people to "mix and match" whatever appeals to their emotional
state of mind. This in effect adds to the religious confusion and divisiveness
that some of those very people detest.
Point of clarification: by
effectively stating that "my personal views" are such and such... two
very vital problems arise. The first is the fact that if one is free to
"mix and match" religious beliefs every other person also has that freedom.
As has been rightly observed by those same people, many things have been done
in the name of religion that appears inhumane. But that is according to whose
standards of belief? Mine? Yours? Others?
A belief that all mankind has the
right to "mix and match" personal religious beliefs produces the very
thing that is detested by those screaming the loudest about religious
divisiveness. Now if some charismatic religious leader comes on the scene
"preaching" a specific doctrine how can he be refuted, or even
verified? If we are all free to mix and match then his "preaching" is
just a valid as mine, yours, and others beliefs. But suppose that this leader's
belief is cultic, (such as Jim Jones, David Koresh, etc.), and his results are
inhumane. Does the belief that all are free to mix and match religious beliefs,
therefore validating each and every personal belief, forbid any type of
refutations from others? Should others with differing beliefs stand by silently
as these charismatic leaders "fleece the sheep" in more ways than
one? This type of cultural setting is unable to confront those particular
religious beliefs that are detrimental to the culture as a whole.
The second vital problem is
deception. There is not a perfect person
with perfect knowledge and understanding in the world today. Therefore we are left with our limited
abilities to understand our humanity, which includes the religious aspect of
that humanity. Given our limited abilities and the unlimited amount of
"theories" of life, how can one keep from being deceived both
inwardly and outwardly? What can become, or is, the final arbiter of truth? The
"Chex Mix" approach does not, nor can it, offer any ideas on truth.
We are left running to and fro to
the most compelling and persuasive speakers on the scene regardless of their
validity. We become a culture "ever learning and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth." "[S]educers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived" as this Chex Mix culture
"progresses" in its enlightenment.
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