No 1252 of Living Life Series 1
There has been the blurring of roles in society over the centuries. The family is no longer the focus of life for the individual. It is increasingly evident that the individual is.
Family values take a back seat and respect for elders is no longer what it was in the days of centuries past. The holding power of the family is no longer there.
Marriage takes on a different meaning. It has become a contract of convenience to be broken by the individual if and when he or she wants.
The extended family no longer holds sway and no longer provides the glue for couples to stay together till death do they part. Some even in the crazy world of long past even join their departed spouse through suicide.
All these spell role reversal of sorts - the reversing of roles. This happens too to the institution of religion.
Religion is no longer for those who want to stay away from worldly trappings with all the noise, hustle and bustle of society - for the quiet and peace of spirituality.
Religion has increasingly become the magnet or attraction for those who clamour for more of the worldly trappings. It is easier to get more of these in religion. It is definitely more attractive to do so in religion than outside of religion.
Thus those who wants more peace and quiet nowadays have to stay away from institutional religion - from the temples and houses of God and saints. Isn't this ironical and absurd?
The worldliness in religious institution can cause much disquiet to those who want a more peaceful life free from human politics and nuances. What they primarily go for is fellowship with God and saints.
Role reversal has permeated into religion. Thus as the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says, "The near may be far and the far near"
Obviously the worldly wise religious institution is no longer the ideal spiritual haven. Many are there and physically near to God and saints but are far in spirit from God and saints.
They do indeed openly dressed to the nines to be attractive and presentable supposedly upfront out of respect for God but indirectly for the people who go there - to be admired by fellow human beings.
This can even elicit adulterous thoughts in otherwise loving husbands and wives in of all places a house of God and saints. How inappropriate can this be? But who are we to judge in a house of God. That is the point we need to contend with as well.
What God wants is that we be dressed in pureness and humility of spirit. This is not just in a house of God but any where and anytime.
Has role reversal affected religion in some way? But without worldly attraction and the ways of the world, can religion draw in the crowd? Any answer will beg further questions.
The additional point that the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know is that insects come to the flower for nectar. Blame not the flower.
If God and saints can accommodate the erring ways of men, what about us? Certainly, it is the less religious and those trapped in worldly pursuits who should be in the houses of God.
They stand a better chance to be saved than if they are outside the houses of God. Let them come like insects to the flower for nectar. Isn't that more compassionate?
So much for the issue of role reversal in religion. Religion has become the better place for worldly pursuit than outside religion. This is not necessarily bad and can have its plus points.
Religion as institution will lack lustre and drive without becoming the choice for worldly pursuits, ironical this may seem to be. Some may not agree on this...
But it is not unthinkable to say a few may think there is a comical twist to religion. This is because men are man and not God and saints.
Men often do things they deem fit, never mind what others think or what God and saints think. This is real and of course no laughable matter.
No two will think alike in any religion. So what do we expect.
Family values take a back seat and respect for elders is no longer what it was in the days of centuries past. The holding power of the family is no longer there.
Marriage takes on a different meaning. It has become a contract of convenience to be broken by the individual if and when he or she wants.
The extended family no longer holds sway and no longer provides the glue for couples to stay together till death do they part. Some even in the crazy world of long past even join their departed spouse through suicide.
All these spell role reversal of sorts - the reversing of roles. This happens too to the institution of religion.
Religion is no longer for those who want to stay away from worldly trappings with all the noise, hustle and bustle of society - for the quiet and peace of spirituality.
Religion has increasingly become the magnet or attraction for those who clamour for more of the worldly trappings. It is easier to get more of these in religion. It is definitely more attractive to do so in religion than outside of religion.
Thus those who wants more peace and quiet nowadays have to stay away from institutional religion - from the temples and houses of God and saints. Isn't this ironical and absurd?
The worldliness in religious institution can cause much disquiet to those who want a more peaceful life free from human politics and nuances. What they primarily go for is fellowship with God and saints.
Role reversal has permeated into religion. Thus as the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says, "The near may be far and the far near"
Obviously the worldly wise religious institution is no longer the ideal spiritual haven. Many are there and physically near to God and saints but are far in spirit from God and saints.
They do indeed openly dressed to the nines to be attractive and presentable supposedly upfront out of respect for God but indirectly for the people who go there - to be admired by fellow human beings.
This can even elicit adulterous thoughts in otherwise loving husbands and wives in of all places a house of God and saints. How inappropriate can this be? But who are we to judge in a house of God. That is the point we need to contend with as well.
What God wants is that we be dressed in pureness and humility of spirit. This is not just in a house of God but any where and anytime.
Has role reversal affected religion in some way? But without worldly attraction and the ways of the world, can religion draw in the crowd? Any answer will beg further questions.
The additional point that the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know is that insects come to the flower for nectar. Blame not the flower.
If God and saints can accommodate the erring ways of men, what about us? Certainly, it is the less religious and those trapped in worldly pursuits who should be in the houses of God.
They stand a better chance to be saved than if they are outside the houses of God. Let them come like insects to the flower for nectar. Isn't that more compassionate?
So much for the issue of role reversal in religion. Religion has become the better place for worldly pursuit than outside religion. This is not necessarily bad and can have its plus points.
Religion as institution will lack lustre and drive without becoming the choice for worldly pursuits, ironical this may seem to be. Some may not agree on this...
But it is not unthinkable to say a few may think there is a comical twist to religion. This is because men are man and not God and saints.
Men often do things they deem fit, never mind what others think or what God and saints think. This is real and of course no laughable matter.
No two will think alike in any religion. So what do we expect.
