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From: amra@ihuxj.UUCP (Steven L. Aldrich)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.philosophy,net.flame
Subject: Does God Really Care for "Religion".....(Semi-Flame)
Message-ID: <395@ihuxj.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-Feb-84 00:10:16 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxj.395
Posted: Mon Feb 13 00:10:16 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Feb-84 03:41:44 EST
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     The following article/column is by Sydney J. Harris. I read it
    in the Chicago Sun-Times about 2 years ago and believe it is still
    relevant today. It sums up my views fairly well at least. So without
    further rambling on my part here it is. Hope you enjoy it, let me
    know your opinions/views/gripes/etc by mail or posting to net.religion
    and/or net/philosophy. Thanks in advance for your reply!!

                   "Does God Really Care for 'Religion' as
                            Humans Now Define It?    Sydney J. Harris

       What we loosely call "religion" in our society turns some people
      on and some people off. What I find especially interesting is that
      just as many good people are turned off as are turned on. It does not
      separate the sheep from the goats by any means.

       Some of the best people I have known-including my father-have been
      atheistic, in the conventional sense of the word. And some of the
      worst-we have all seen them in the front pews-are the most pious, the
      most devout, the most orthodox.

       One of the first things you should learn in life-or should learn, if
      you mature-is that you cannot divide people by what they believe, or
      think they believe, or profess to believe.

       Goodness and mercy in people-the kind the Old Testament prophets
      preached and Jesus revived-seem to have little to do with religion in
      its organized form, as a cult, or a creed, or a canon.

       It is basically a matter of character more than creed, or your feelings
      and acts toward others more than any articulated philosophy of life or
      death.

       In fact, this is what I think Jesus was trying to get across-and failed,
      even with most of his disciples.

       When he said, "I am the way," he wanted people to imitate his actions
      and behavior, and not to worship him. In my reading of the New Testament
      ,he had no notion of setting up a new religion, and least of all a new
      church.

       As a believer, I am not convinced that God is particularly interested
      in what we call "religion," or that it even exists as a concept for him.
      What is demanded of us is that we be kind and just to one another, even
      if there is no redeemer, no hell, and no afterlife.

       All these seem like advertising and promotion to me; unworthy of a 
      cosmic diety, too small and petty for the creator of an infinite and
      unfathomable universe. Prompted by human fears more than divine faith.

       What the Old Testament prophets asked,-as distinct from the priesthood-
      is that we render justice and mercy to each other. What Jesus asked-as
      distinct from his later followers-is that we go even further, walking
      the extra mile, returning good for evil.

       This is hard, the hardest thing in the world to do. It is so hard that
      religion tries to make it easier by letting us obey creeds and mumble
      prayers and support churches, and thus feel "religious" without truly
      being so. Look at the world today, and try to deny it.

                           Sydney J Harris
                        Chicago Sun-Times  (Views Section)

     Send all mail to IHNP4!IHUXJ!AMRA or reply to net.religion and/or
     net.philosophy. Always glad to hear opposing views, but am not
     obligated to agree with them. I don't expect everyone to agree with
     my views either, so we're even. Please keep all comments/critisisms
     relevant and to the point. Any tpographical errors, mis-spellings,etc.
     are my own.