Not About Religion

 Okay, I dont really want to write about religion this morning, but there has been so much news about religion it seems I just cant ignore it.  But I am not evangelizing or propagating a belief.  My wife and I both were very religious within the context of a conventional faith and religious beliefs.  But instead of saying that I have none, I say I am done with conventional religion.

I learned long ago that a more Buddhistic approach to religion was going to be my path in life, but this is not acceptable to most or I believe it's not acceptable to most, although I'm not really a Buddhist.  With so many people today who identify with no religion, it semms to me that more religions would go out of their way to be more accommodating.

But they don't.  The Southern Baptist Convention voted to remove one of the largest congregations from their fellowship, because it has ordained women on staff and the church wouldnt remove them.  The United Mettodists are struggling to stay together because of so many social issues in the context of ministry.  The large mainstream denominations are losing numbers having shown no growth in the past few years.  

It just seems to me that religions go out of their way to isolate people rather than being inclusive.  I won't get into politics here, but I am of the belief all churches should lose their tax exempt status because it seems every church or fellowship is political in one way or another, but this is my opinion.  Churches are labeling people as either none or done for their own reasons for evangelism.  But as people now can read the Bible on their own and can read various interpretations of all Scriptures and texts, most don't need someone in spiritual authority telling them what to believe.

There is comfort in numbers and not all religions fall into neat categories.  But I see faith as a personal matter and prefer to keep my beliefs pretty much to myself.  But having been a Baptist minister I find this hard to do, because once a public figure always a public figure.  

My thinking is that I am one who is done with organized religion.  I might be associated with Arheists in most any organized religion, but it's just that I care about human life only and NOT about beliefs, politics, or other social issues.

I told my wife I might start a religion based on smoking a pipe, calling it the First Church of the Holy Smoke, where religion and politics are NOT discussed, and where the only requirement for membership is that one smokes a pipe.  I wonder if it could get tax exempt status and not pay taxes on tobacco, or whatever I decide to put in a pipe.  It seems a lot of preachers these days are smoking something, and it's not tobacco. This morning it is my Nording Number 3 pipe with some Early Morning Pipe tobacco by Peterson.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave