This only began to be changed in a major way when the bible became freely available in the languages that ordinary people spoke. Ahh, the Protestant Reformation! \o/
If you want a real religion with a real God, the very fact that you CAN worship in a religion with no reality through symbols, and that the bible SAYS that the symbols are unacceptable to Christianity, shows that the use of those symbols is the biggest barrier you could ever have to a real religion, that is, one where you personally meet with a real God. But that's the point--at this point, I don't want one with the idea of a transcendental signifier at all. Symbols aren't real, no, but neither is language--they're things the brain is wired for and finds satisfying. Once you start thinking in language, you start thinking in symbols.
If you want to worship in a religion without a reality, then there is nothing to stop you doing so, but it is only sensible to recognise that that is what you are doing, and that any real religion must fall outside of that. From my point of view, there isn't any such thing as a "real" religion anyway--I dig that people believe theirs is, and that's cool, but I wouldn't feel comfortable taking part in one that thinks it is. Maybe later when I'm more centered about spirituality, or maybe not, but not now. Even taking symbols seriously would be a step up for me.
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Date: 2008-12-27 07:08 am (UTC)Ahh, the Protestant Reformation! \o/
But that's the point--at this point, I don't want one with the idea of a transcendental signifier at all. Symbols aren't real, no, but neither is language--they're things the brain is wired for and finds satisfying. Once you start thinking in language, you start thinking in symbols.
From my point of view, there isn't any such thing as a "real" religion anyway--I dig that people believe theirs is, and that's cool, but I wouldn't feel comfortable taking part in one that thinks it is. Maybe later when I'm more centered about spirituality, or maybe not, but not now. Even taking symbols seriously would be a step up for me.