It is wise to 'know thyself' for your well being

Religion Views, by Art Carney

Human beings are masters at survival, but as is the case with most good things in life, we tend to carry it to extremes. After our distant ancestors had learned the basic means of providing food, clothing, shelter and security, the focus shifted from mere survival to surviving very well, and we Americans have been so good at it that we now face the unhealthy prospect of dying from obesity. But not to worry, for many of us have already discovered the physical, as well as social benefits of walking, jogging running or working out at the gym, and no doubt, we will find even more painless, and possibly enjoyable ways to stay fit and healthy.

The point of this observation is to point out that we know how to survive, but we do not necessarily know how to live life. The "rules" we live by are quickly outdated by changing conditions and circumstances, not to mention the changes in our own outlook on life as we gain new knowledge and experience. "Change" is the law of growth, and growth is the a law of life. Nothing in life -- or in the universe for that matter -- ever stays the same.

In our quest to live well -- as well as in our quest to live "rightly" -- many of us seek the guidance of religion, but there is a serious misunderstanding about the role of religion in our lives because we generally fail to differentiate between the cultural and the personal aspects of it.

Most of us do not see religion for what it really is -- a necessary cultural institution -- but instead, we think of it only as being a personal matter. The value of religion is found in its cultural role of providing a common morality to its membership, a morality that allows social interaction to take place through shared values and expectations. Organized religion is geared toward the good of the group, and it encourages the development of healthy communities and is somewhat of a "conscience" to society.

Most of our laws are based on religious principles, and promoting those principles is the primary function of religion. Religious principles form the basis for our collective idea of what is "good," and anyone who abides by those principles is thought of as being a good person regardless of whether or not they have a religious affiliation. In a sense, we all practice the cultural aspects of religion simply be being a decent citizen.

The confusion at the personal level of religion results from the assumption that our particular sect or denomination is all we need to guide us in our efforts to live a good life, but the fact is, it is not our life but the "life" of our culture that is being "guided."

Organized religion caters to the larger group by requiring individuals to repress a certain amount of their natural inclinations, which results in the absence of personal meaning or purpose in the lives of many people who are left with an emptiness that is similar to the void they tried to fill in the first place.

Human culture cannot survive without a common morality, and human beings cannot survive without an individual identity. If we fail to acknowledge or express our own personal self, then we are much like sheep in a flock or bees in a hive. In order to experience the full potential of being human, we must realize that our individuality holds the key to a purposeful life. Culture essentially makes human life easier, but our human individuality is what makes it worth living.

It is wise to "know thyself" in order to better provide for your own well being, and we owe it to ourselves to do so, just as surely as we owe support to the community we live in.

Most of us have never considered revising our chosen religion to make it conform to our own personal identity, but it is important that we integrate our spiritual principles with our own unique values, talents and experience. If we are to live a full life, we need a personal religion that includes "rules to live by" that cater to our personal disposition and spiritual beliefs while being compatible with our cultural standards. Organized religion has the job of suggesting the direction of the goal, but it is up to the individual to choose the path.

While it is good to seek advice and guidance involving the vicissitudes of life, figuring things out for ourselves may be personally more beneficial to us, but in any case, we must always accept the responsibility for our own actions and the state of our own affairs.

Art Carney is a Wasilla resident and a frequent contributor to the Religion page.