In previous posts, I’ve mentioned that I don’t belong to any religion.
(Friedrich Zettl)
I always read Mr. Zettl’s blog, Zettl Fine Arts, with great interest and profit, no less his latest entry. It takes no more than his first few words to set me thinking. I, too, can affirm that I don’t belong to any religion. I know that “belonging” to a religion is just a phrase, and I use it like many. It occurs to me, however, in an idealistic way, that religion might fare better were it conceived as belonging to the believer, and not vice versa. An institution presuming to own its members looms like an ecclesiastical deep state codifying and enforcing a steep corpus of regulations governing the ideation and actions of the faithful. Subscribe, profess, conform, or else. Is that a winning narrative?
I grew up with this doxology: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen, amen. The jingle is stuck in my head’s deep lore like a Brylcreem ad. Make of it what you will. An early brahmin of the Church, I’m not sure who, said this: “Truth is sought by philosophy, found by theology, and possessed by religion.” Cogito, ergo I think not, sir.
Someone says, “You’re religious underneath the brave denials because you jabber about it like this.” No, I’m not. And yes, I know. Spirituality teases me like poetry does. I’m a practitioner of neither in a formal way, but I consume them, and both are vitally irritating. My stake in poetry is increasingly assertive ever since I’ve presumed, as a reader, to own the author’s poem, not be owned by it, thus making of it what I will, or can. Religion and poems are not riddles that have a single meaning specified by their creators. They’re questions seeking better questions.
(c) 2024 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved
EthicalDative 
Thank you so much! I am very happy that we see so many fundamental aspects in common and some of your quotes and comments touch me very much, like: “They’re questions seeking better questions”.
I think we make progress, even in the spiritual realm, when we learn to ask questions and become better at our questions over time. And in getting closer to possible answers.
And, just like in “real life”, when we are old and advanced, we ask ourselves the same questions as we did in our childhood. 🙂
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Wise words, Mr. Zettl. Thank you as always.
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I’m a fan of both of you, my friends, and I don’t belong to any religion either. Although, as you probably know, I do belong to God.
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You articulate a distinction with a decided difference, Mitch. You’ve sparked memory of a dear old children’s hymn dating from my preschool days: Jesus loves me, this I know, ‘cause the Bible tells me so. Little one’s to him belong, they are weak but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so. Yours is a compelling, lucid voice for such faith. Thank you for shining your light. Your fan, JIm.
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Yes I agree with your thoughts Jim – especially this one: “that religion might fare better were it conceived as belonging to the believer, and not vice versa”. If this were the case we might have fewer wars and much happier people!
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Thank you, Sue. I think we’re on the same page in wishing for less dogma, more kindness!
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