No really, everyone..

I was a Catholic. I was an Atheist. There were elements on both sides of that coin that worked and those that didn't. I realized in my 20's that there were too many holes, hypocrisies and inconsistencies with Catholicism, and for many, if not all ancient religions for that matter.  Atheism had its drawbacks too. The feeling of isolation and lack of community is just kind of lonely...sure watching Bill Maher or reading Richard Dawkins is cool and can be enlightening, but its only so comforting. 

I realized years ago the absolute NEED for this sort of faith to exist. As an ex-infantryman and retired servicemember, every year I got giggled at when I asked if there was an atheist Chaplain. But for me it was never a laughing matter at all...for a person who may face death to seek spiritual comfort or guidance from someone who doesn't even share the basic building blocks of my world view, was and continues to be for those thousands of soldiers, a truly horrible and despicable divestment. 

Let's face it, regardless of how you personally feel about it, religion has been exceptional at a couple of things over the last few millennia. First, it provides that sense of community and belonging. This is integral to us as a herd species. We are programmed genetically to listen and believe those stories, usually of warning, told to us by the elders of our tribes. Shamans, priests, and other religious leaders appear throughout time, all over the world, regardless of continent, time, or deities. This is proof that community, rather than the individual messages, are synonymous with the human condition. Also, pre scientific method, this was the integral way of explaining the mysterious and previously unexplainable.  

The other, undeniably, is proliferation. Religion speaks to us, on a level that we cannot understand or comprehend. If we could we wouldn't need religion...we'd just have the truth. And of course, there are many, many great works and deeds done in the name of religion...but I believe, WE believe that this elation is misplaced. We here at the Church Spiritus believe that it is people who do these acts, wholly and exclusively, guided by those tenants of our shared condition that we believe are worthy of worship, praise and proliferation.

Isn't it weird to practice religion if you don't believe in "a God"? My answer is no. There are many religions that worship many gods, and those that worship only one. Some...looking at you Catholics...believe in three in one! I believe it is time to stop the filler, drop the negative stuff, and worship those elements of what we can see, do, feel and know to be the best of who we are. 

I want us to take those things from those antiquated systems that work, and combine it with something real, something tangible, that we would want collectively to see taught to our children and grandchildren. It is time we realize that we are not JUST humans, we are the most advanced species that we know of in the universe. WE should cherish that, recognize the best of who and what we are, while learning to avoid the worst of what we can be, celebrate that and spread it to all the ends of the earth.