Religion As Godsend
There are some who posit that faith has its genesis within our brains as a fundamental cerebral function. Not in just any part of the brain, but that portion associated with the primitive element of the functioning brain. So, is that where the soul resides? Is the soul the mind of an individual hard-wired to cling to belief?There are researchers who claim that the portion of the brain used for lower cognitive functions also hosts the personal crucible of faith. The very complex thinking, reasoning tool we so depend upon to make us what we are, and to bring us closer to what we aspire to be, clings to the unreason of faith. We are, therefore we believe. Most of us, in any event.
And for those who cling to faith and who believe, who suspend rationality and value mystery and believe in miracles - for by the very act of believing one must believe in miracles - faith, religion, is a huge comfort. It gives hope to the afflicted. It offers serenity to the believer. One achieves an inner state of tranquility, ease of mind through contemplation. Most certainly this reaches its apogee in Buddhism, for to deeply contemplate is to remove oneself from ego, Eros and self.
To believe in a gentle, kindly and humankind-concerned divinity is not necessarily to believe in the god of the Old Testament, that old thunderer promising an apocalyptic cessation in response to humankind's recalcitrant business-as-usual. But this is the god that most people now pray to, turn their trusting eyes toward the heavens, doughtily attempting salvation by the deeds God has called upon them to prosecute in His name, eschewing the darker elements in mankind's collective soul.
And in the process many find peace. Particularly when fearful events overtake normalcy and the future has been dimmed to prospects other than imminent death. The last rites solemnly intoned over a sufferer lends an aura of hope in the hereafter. That same hope elevates the despair of the loved ones left behind toward a belief in eventual reconciliation. We are, as humans, frail creatures, children in need of gentle cossetting, of promises that everything will be put to rights, all problems will be resolved and we will wake from dreadful nightmare to the light of redemption.
So, for those whose need of belief and faith is so great, religion can only be thought of as a beneficently rewarding approach to life on the long journey to death. Who could possibly wish to deprive believers of their invaluable raft on the sometimes buoyant, more frequently storm-tossed sea of life? For them it is not sufficient to believe that the purpose of life is to live as best one can, to enjoy the privilege, and in the process become an individual as close to approaching goodness as one can manage, through inner resources and a sense of responsibility to oneself and one's community.
But we all, believers and non-believers alike, have much to thank religion for. The simple fact is that faith very often does bring out the very best in people; at least as often as it fails the test for others who merely use it as a security blanket with no responsibilities inherent in one's presence upon this earth. Authentically great minds have developed philosophies of ethical demeanor and great moral dimensions with which to guide us through the precepts written for posterity in the name of religion. Philosophically wise and social-behaviourally intellects conspired to control humankind's baser instincts through religious instruction.
But more - artistic expression in celebration of agape, of ecclesiastical longings, of joy in life and belief of God's kind intentions for His fractious flock have resulted in creative geniuses gifting this world with architecture, music, literature and art that owe their creation to their own creators' need to give witness to the greater glory of God. For that purpose, great minds turned to creating dwelling places for their gods. The Temple of Karnak in Egypt, felt to be the largest such dwelling place ever constructed has struck wonder in the hearts of mankind over the aeons gone by.
There were earlier, neolithic structures whose purpose was the same. The Temple of Hera later, at Olympia, the Parthenon; exemplars of classical Greek antiquity in obeisance to the needs of the gods. Angkor Wat in Hindu India; Buddhist stupas; Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, the Byzantine Hagia Sophia, the great mosques of the world of Islam, like the Dome of the Rock. The Notre Dame and Chartres Cathedrals, the Basilica of Saint Peter, and Saint Paul's Cathedral.
All splendid monuments of humankind's appreciation of their gods' influence over the affairs of men. Their culture-reflecting designs of illuminating grace and beauty enrapture the spirit. All of them monumental efforts of creation to reflect the monumentality of the concept of God Himself. In the building of these temples to the Holy Spirit immense physical resources were employed and treasuries were emptied of their wealth to accomplish their completion, over vast periods of time, with one generation initiating the early effort and another completing it.
In Medieval scriptoriums sacred texts were reproduced in fabulous illuminated works of art on vellum, artistic gifts crafted in the name of God. Beautifully sombre iconography, brilliant stained glass depictions of biblical scenes, statues of Christ and the Madonna figures, fine art produced throughout the ages of friezes, statues, dating from 4000 B.C.E. to the recent past fill our museums and fill us with wonder at the beauty created in the name of faith, of religion, of belief in a constant presence looking over humankind.
We derive peace and happiness, whether or not we share faith, in listening to the sublime music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras devoted to the elevation of God in our sensibilities. From early and Gregorian chants to the liturgical dramas, ecclesiastical and liturgical music, hymns, prayers. The incomparable musical oeuvre of Johann Sebastian Bach, of Handel's Messiah, of Antonio Vivaldi and a virtual horde of supremely gifted composers who carefully crafted and brought to us the Music of the Spheres.
If for these reasons alone, no one can deny that religion has its place in this world, and through religion we have collectively received incomparable gifts.
Labels: Religion, That's Life
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, December 26, 2007
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