Religious Nuts

Over the years, I've heard people talk about those "religious nuts." I imagine you have heard this as well, and you might even have been targeted. Now, let's face it. There are some people who are religious nuts. They may be overzealous, hypocritical, insincere, or use religion for various devious purposes (e.g. to impress people or win votes).

A senior moment could occur when we are actually confronted with an accusation about our faith or lack of it. After all, we are seniors, right? And as seniors, we ought to have all the answers, right? Not quite although many youngsters often seem to have all the answers. As a retired minister, I seem to know less than I did years ago which may not be true. At any rate, I am still learning. Let me share something that I was smitten with recently.

I ran into a statement about "religious experience" that embedded itself into my memory bank. This was championed by a 1965 book titled Religion and Society in Tension (Charles Glock and Rodney Stark authored the study). Basically, they wrote that religious experience can be divided into into four facets [characteristics]:

1. Experiential (religious feeling)
2. Ritualistic (practices)
3. Ideological (beliefs)
4. Consequential (effects).

It is difficult at times to express ourselves to either friends or foes who question us about our faith (religious experience). Some equate Christians as those who merely live in a Christian nation. Or those who go to church. Or those who hold religious beliefs. Or devout (who live their faith).

If we're considered a religious nut, perhaps we could disarm them and ask them if they think we are experiential, ritualistic, ideological or consequential believers [we might have to memorize these descriptions]. If they need an explanation, a door opens. Ask them if they consider that you simply have religious feelings, or if you are going through the motions, or if you have some beliefs (like a creed), or if it really determines how you live.

This might do one of two things. It might derail them or it may open the door for you to discuss your faith in greater detail. If the latter happens, it's a win-win situation.