I can understand the temptation to sell religion as a matter of improving yourself, whether it’s self-esteem or self-worth or, well, treasures on Earth (the “name it and claim it” version of praying). Churches have by and large shifted from emphasizing damnation versus eternal salvation, and in sweetening the message, have also seen attendance plummet. Along the way, they’ve lost much of what makes them unique as faith communities, as well. Still, as I center down on Sunday morning into the silence of our worship, I hear all the traffic on the highway outside the meetinghouse and wonder just where everyone’s racing to. For many, I know, it’s the mall, as if that has anything they really desperately need that much one day of the week, much less life everlastingly.
I hear a similar message in many of the yoga enthusiasts, who preach the heightened self glories emerging from the practice, and once again, I sense something else is missing.
What it comes down to, essentially, is whether one’s being self-centered or selfless in one’s focus. The selfless version, I’ll argue, demands a faith community – a circle of kindred souls who are committed to helping one another along the way, including listening to their perceptions of our own efforts, pro and con.
The role of a teacher – whether a guru or a pastor or a minister or elder – is also important, as well as the circle of discipline that individual submits to.
The self-centered version, in contrast, needs no one else – or many just an audience.
As I ponder the nearly empty churches on Sunday morning – and other places of worship on Friday night or Saturday – I’m left wondering just what is being fed to the spiritually hungry or what invitation is being issued to the wider world. It’s not a matter of shaping our message to popular marketing, but of being true to an alternative way of living.
And, as I see it, that demands a circle of faith – not just a solitary individual. As Jesus said, where two or three are gathered. For starters. Or a bit of what I experienced living in the ashram.
Let me add, it’s anything but easy. Far from it.
Jnana's Red Barn 
Many thanks for the follow. This is a lovely post! Namaste. . . .
I always loved my time attending Friends meeting, and you’ve made me question why I moved away… I think I moved away from Christianity which I felt had missed the boat… I found that the techniques of psycho-therapy and learning both to know myself and heal my wounds, took me further along a spiritual path than the theology and sincerity of Christianity.
I felt that this examination of the self in order to purity the soul, and live a life true to the beatitudes and teachings of the Gospel had once been the purpose of the first followers of Christ, but that it has since been lost amidst centuries of power struggles and dogma…
And I know that there are many loving disciples like yourself who walk the same sort of path today, but there is great prejudice now against entrenched power structures that have always excluded women…amongst others… ( Friends excepted!)
Actually I could write a book on this subject, which would include the erosion of values via TV, etc etc, and the loss of community, etc etc…
The other side of the coin is that though the churches are empty, there are other communities of souls trying to live the Good Life…..
The tenets of Christianity will always be the underpinning of enlightened societies I optimistically feel !!!!
It’s those communities of soul, as you phrase it, that most interest me. This is where we are close enough to encourage one another … to speak truthfully and lovingly, as needed.
Even better, when those communities are able to interact with others, even when they’re halfway around the globe from each other!
Jnana, I love these words…and yes, isn’t it wonderful that the internet can connect like minds and souls to support and encourage each other.. that golden net of love and instant connection that now covers the planet…a gift we’ve never enjoyed before !!