Clergy: The conversation I wish I could have
THE OTHER GUY: I’m spiritual but not religious.
ME: What do you mean?
THE OTHER GUY: Well, I think that there is something more, but I am not interested in organized religion.
ME: Why? What’s wrong with organized religion?
THE OTHER GUY: Do I have to spell it out for you? Oppression. Persecution. The Inquisition. Need I say more?
ME: Those are all good points, and I can’t argue with you. Every human institution, religious or otherwise, is imperfect and has a spotty history. Organized governments are responsible for some pretty serious atrocities. You still vote though, don’t you?
THE OTHER GUY: Sure, but if I wasn’t involved in civic life I couldn’t complain about the government. I have a responsibility.
ME: You say you’re spiritual ...
THE OTHER GUY: Yeah ...
ME: Don’t you have a responsibility to your own spirit to seek its purpose and its ultimate concern?
THE OTHER GUY: OK, yeah, but what does organized religion have to offer me? They’re all judgmental and hypocritical.
ME: Some are. Religion is just a disciplined and determined way to seek a higher spiritual truth. Each one lays out its beliefs and worldview and constructs an ethical model for the individual and society. In other words, they are just people like you who feel a kind of spiritual hunger and seek together to satisfy that need. For instance, as a Christian I believe that Jesus is the most perfect revelation of God’s perfect will. So, I seek to follow in the way he leads me, the way of love, compassion, healing, justice, peace and community.
THE OTHER GUY: I don’t think that’s for me. I feel close to God when I’m out in the woods listening to the birds sing. I don’t need to go to church.
ME: I feel close to God in nature too. It can inspire a feeling of connectedness and being a part of something bigger than myself. That’s a good start. To stop there is to miss the beauty of being connected in a human community that holds me accountable and provides support when I need it. In church I can confront my own sinfulness and be assured of God’s love and forgiveness. When was the last time a bird told you your sins were forgiven?
THE OTHER GUY: Very funny.
ME: I’m serious. Religions survive because they speak to the deep needs of our spirit. If you are spiritual, I encourage you to seek spiritual growth and comfort where many others have found it.
THE OTHER GUY: I think I’m just a loner.
ME: There’s nothing wrong with that. Jesus himself withdrew to be alone and pray often. None of us can exist alone though. We need one another. Didn’t the pandemic prove that? So many suffered from the social isolation. We need to be together in ways that feed our spirit. We need to be challenged to go deeper. We need to be in authentic relationships with others. Otherwise, we risk spiritual loneliness, or worse creating God in our own image.
THE OTHER GUY: Are you saying I should come to your church?
ME: Of course you’re invited to come to my church. But that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying that as a spiritual being, you are created to be in communion with other spiritual beings and most of all with the divine Spirit. Don’t discount religion as something that is unnecessary or not true. Especially not without giving it a real chance. That’s just spiritual laziness. God loves you. That is the foundation of my religious belief. I just want you to understand that religion can be all about that: love.
THE OTHER GUY: Love is a good thing.
ME: That we can agree on!
The Rev. Jeffrey A. Packard is the rector at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in State College.