Whispering Wyrd

There is a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln that says, “I care not for a man’s religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.” I’ve always loved that quote because it reveals something simple but profound… if what we believe doesn’t make us kinder, then what good is it?

To me, it points to two important truths, kindness, even in the smallest things, and the danger of what I can only call empty religion. By “empty,” I mean a kind of belief that is spoken aloud but never truly lived. It’s lip service without real inner change.

I see religion and spirituality as related, but not the same. They can overlap, but too often they don’t. Religion, as I understand it, is often a system of required beliefs, sometimes held together by fear. “Believe this, or face consequences. Follow these rules, or be judged.”

Spirituality, when it is real and deeply experienced, works differently. It changes a person from the inside out. It softens what was once hard. It opens what was once closed. It naturally leads toward kindness, compassion, empathy, and truthfulness. Not because those things are commanded, but because they become unavoidable, they arise naturally as a result. Religion can exist without real transformation. But true spirituality cannot.

If there is no increase in compassion, no increase in kindness, no deepening of honesty, then something is missing. Spirituality is not threatened by questions. It doesn’t fear or punish doubt. It doesn’t need to silence others in order to survive. It welcomes inquiry. It listens. It grows. And it does not call for violence.

This has been weighing heavily on my mind because of things I’ve seen recently. Government officials publicly praying for “overwhelming violence.” Pastors openly praying for the death of political opponents. These aren’t hypothetical situations. They are happening right in front of our eyes, and they should concern all of us.

Those who claim Christianity while praying for harm or death are not reflecting the teachings of Jesus. I don’t have to be a Christian to recognize that something has gone wrong when violence is justified in Jesus’ name.

War is not something to be glorified. Violence is not something to be celebrated. And it should never be wrapped in the language of faith.

I was raised in the Church of Christ. I’ve attended Baptist churches with my wife. Later, before I stopped going to church altogether and became honest with myself about what I truly believe, I attended Mass at a Catholic church weekly. So I’m not unfamiliar with Christian teachings, nor with the misunderstandings that often exist between different traditions.

I’ve also spent time in recovery communities, where I saw something important lived out in real time. People there speak of a “higher power” or a “God of your understanding.” That language exists for a reason. For many of us, the word “God” carries pain, memories of fear, control, or even rejection. Recovery groups understand this. They remove dogma and threats, because people who are struggling don’t need to be coerced, they need to be supported.

And in those groups, I’ve seen something real… people changing. Becoming more honest. More compassionate. More willing to face themselves and grow. That is what spirituality looks like to me.

The reason I am speaking about this now is because I believe deeply in the idea that for harmful things to continue, good people often only need to remain silent. I have tried to be careful in writing this, to keep in mind the Buddhist teachings regarding speech… is it true, is it beneficial, and is it necessary?

My intent is not to offend, but I am no longer willing to stay silent in the face of what I believe is harmful and wrong.

If spirituality means anything at all, it has to show up in how we treat one another. Even people who disagree with us.

Amituofo
~Buck