I was thinking about this today. If you consider yourself a particular religion, what makes you a ‘good’ Jew, Catholic, Christian, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Quaker, Jain, Wiccan, Taoist, Earth based practitioner? If you are not of any faith tradition, what values keep you in alignment with your highest and most loving way of being?
I considered my own spiritual path as a child who was raised in the Jewish religion. There are several branches of the religion- Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Jewish Renewal. Our practice was Conservative (not politically). We didn’t keep Kosher except for when my paternal grandmother lived with us. We went to synagogue as a family on Friday nights and for the High Holy Days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, lit candles on Shabbat, and Chanukkah, recited the Shema at night, fasted on Yom Kippur. I went to Hebrew School until I was 16 and became a Bat Mitzvah at 13. Did that make me a ‘good Jew’? Although those were rituals that were traditions of the religion, it was the meaning behind them that enhanced my life. What was modeled for me was service, Tzedakah (charity with the purpose of uplifting), Chesed (Loving kindness) and Tikkun Olam (repair of the world). My parents modeled those with action, not just talk. Their religion was not performative, or for show. It came from their souls.
I say that love is my religion and God is too big to fit into any one box. My home is an interfaith paradise. A mezuzah on my door post, a Celtic cross, Buddhas, my parent’s Shabbos candles and menorah, Om symbols, a dancing Shiva, Kwan Yin, Tibetan prayer flags, Native American drums, angels, Mala beads and the kata I wore when I interviewed His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2008.
I was ordained as an interfaith minister through The New Seminary in NY, in 1999 which was founded by a rabbi, priest, minister and imam, which sounds like an opening line to a joke, and although I don’t have a congregation, I like to think that I practice the teachings of the various traditions I studied. I consciously consider how I interact with the people who cross my path, how I am inspired by each person I meet. I feel connected to the Divine as I don’t see God as an entity, but rather, an energy that permeates everything. Doing my social justice work feels deeply spiritual.
On Facebook, I asked friends what their thoughts were on the topic. Here are some of their responses.
“For the past week or two I’ve been in dialogue with an old friend Tim Stier, with whom I’ve worked since Y2K in advocating for survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and vowed religious. Tim is a “priest in exile,” and still remains steadfastly adherent to Catholic/Christian scripture and (albeit very liberal) principles. For example, he embraces equality for women and for LGBTQ+ persons, including their ordination into ministry and united in matrimony. I, OTOH, have put Judeo-Christianity behind me, and regard myself as a pan-deist. I most recently saw my god(dess) in the fireflies which have arisen in great numbers, more than I’ve seen anywhere in decades, in our backyard. Tim and I have more in common about what is “good and right” than we have differences in theology, though both of us have volumes of “book learning” on the latter. My “Trinity” is thus: “Just Be Good.” ·
“Great question. I will have to think about it more. I am not of a particular religion. I try to be the best person and try to keep learning and growing daily. I try to be mindful, pray , meditate. Be loving kindness and show compassion to others daily. I am also a survivor, as the person discussed above. And the people who perpetrated it were religious and I grew up in a family of hypocrisy. So, I don’t care much for religion. But I feel spirituality is important.”
“I was raised in a liberal American Baptist church, and while I no longer consider myself a Christian, I believe the teachings of Jesus are profound. The other stuff in the Bible I have zero interest in beyond history. I do not believe the Bible was written by God, or that Jesus of Nazareth was a child of God any more than the rest of us are. I also question the existence of God. I believe in kindness to others, including creatures on earth that aren’t humans. (No, I’m not vegan, I just think we are meant to take care of everyone and everything to the best of our ability.) I also have a strong social justice compass. I hope people think I’m just a good person. I don’t need any religious label to back it up.”
“I don’t believe going to church on Sundays and donating food to a pantry on Thanksgiving makes a person a good Christian. I think it’s how they walk in the world on a daily basis. I’m not familiar enough with other religions to make any sort of judgement about what makes one a good whatever. Usually following rules are involved and that never sat well with me.”
“I don’t have a religion anymore. I do have religious practices at times. Even cuddles with my cats can feel like a huge heart gushing to enjoy. A hummingbird at the feeder. A conversation with my daughter going a different direction than I thought….”
“I meditate every day to connect with the highest Divine. I call in my highest self daily, and several archangels to ask for their assistance in my life. I help others to awaken and help them to manage their nervous systems.”
“My parents did not practice religion in the way I thought was important. They were just loving the best they could. Turns out they were right.”
“I find it ironic how unimportant the details are now. Just be love, joy, peace, and illumination. That’s enough.”
“First, you don’t say you’re good, you say you orient yourself and act. It’s for others to evaluate you or not. I know so many that never talk and only act to be kind and serve in faith and in no faith.”
“The teaching of Swami Sivananda resonates.
Eat a little, drink a little
Talk a little, sleep a little
Mix a little, move a little
Serve a little, rest a little
Work a little, relax a little
Study a little, worship a little
Do Asana a little, Pranayama a little
Reflect a little, meditate a little
Do Japa a little, do Kirtan a little
Write Mantra a little, have Satsang a little
Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize
Be good, Do good; Be kind, Be compassionate.
Enquire ‘Who am I ?’, Know the Self and be Free.”
“I think a lot about this too. To me religion is an expression of cultural tribalism which can be, and often is, divisive. The universal principles all religions have at their core — like “do unto others…” — is potentially where spiritual practice transcends the tribalism of religious mandate.”
“I am a devout UU with both Jewish and Calvinist Colonial Settler heritage. Love at the Center without judgement.”
“As a Catholic, I believe the extent to which we: see, serve, love Christ in all persons is the most essential “measurement” of our faith. I believe this especially pertains to how we treat the suffering and marginalized in our midst.”
“As a yogi, I would underscore: seeking unity and the integration of one’s full human experience into one’s spiritual path/practice.”
“Spread the love you have for yourself. Live simply so others can simply live. Judge not of others what you find shameful of yourself. If you want what you have then you have what you want.”
“A good Jew leads a life based on loving oneself as one’s neighbor. When asked to summarize the entire Torah while standing on one foot, Hillel replied: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn.” This teaching focuses on universal human empathy. It suggests that true goodness starts with self-reflection and treating others with the basic dignity that you wish for yourself. This is different from being an observant or religious Jew. Judaism focuses less on rigid belief and more on action and community. Therefore, one can be a highly ethical, community-minded “good Jew” without being strictly religious.”
“The golden rule has always served well.”
“I don’t follow any religion. I like the idea that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. I liked what Dr. Wayne W. Dyer had to say about it.”
“I knew when I was a kid that my life’s purpose was “to learn all the lessons of love” – that belief directs my moral compass and my spiritual acts accordingly.”
“ Wow! Thanks for asking! I’ve never thought until now to try to put words to it, but as my first attempt, I’d say that I have developed the innate goals of just doing good for goodness sake, being grateful all the goodness we receive, and sharing as much good mojo that I can.”
“The best religion is kindness and love.”
I sense that God is in everything and every one in the Universe.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
