Religion — Can It Be Fluid?
Diverse inspiration
My cousin coined a new term: “religion fluid,” being open to inspiration from other faiths. We both were born and raised Catholic. Catholicism has been engrained in us with a childhood of going to catechism classes, mass, and completing five of the seven holy sacraments. The last two are for priests (holy orders) and departure from life (anointing of the sick).
My Catholic husband and I went through catechism classes and attended the same church in our childhoods. We even share a first communion picture of us together in second grade. As my cousin and I left for another church last Sunday my husband said, “If you’re looking for God, you won’t find him there. He’ll be at the Catholic Church.” Ha!
Our parents, though not as devout as our grandmothers were, continued the tradition and passed down the rituals of Catholicism to us. I am doing the same with my sons. My cousin did the same with her daughters. I am like my parents were — I go in spurts of, “Let’s start going to church,” and then I don’t go for a long while. I volunteered at the church as a faith teacher for many years leading my kids’ classes when they were younger. We always go to Catholic mass on Christmas and Easter. I’m currently one of those Catholic families that leaves the devout Catholics without a seat on Christmas because the strays finally showed up to mass!
Back to my cousin’s original premise which I am adopting, “I am religion fluid.” In this big world — I don’t think there is one right way to have faith. I choose to have faith regardless of my doubt.
My cousin and I went to North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia — a Christian, non-denominational, evangelical megachurch. It didn’t have that “holy” feeling the Catholic Church has for me, but I got a practical message from the sermon on avoiding distractions from our purpose from a very charismatic pastor. Also, the music was phenomenal, like what you would see at a rock concert. My cousin and I decided we would mix it up and go sometimes, but still go to the Catholic Church as well. We are are also open to other churches/temples — Eastern or Western.
I have enjoyed trying Eastern practices, too. I used to go with a Buddhist friend to her temple to meditate. I also attended the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San Jose, California when I lived near there. It is a meditation center in the spiritual tradition of Kriya Yoga and believes in one Truth (or God) known by many names. I have a hard time sitting still and meditating, but Eastern services have helped me to do so in group settings.
Everyone has their own path. I just was enchanted by my cousin’s claim of religion fluidity. To be fluid by definition is to have no fixed shape and to yield easily to external pressure. This definition needs some adjustment to fit my interpretation of religion fluid. My definition of religion fluid is — “I am not confined to hearing from one voice or one ideology, ” and “ I am open to being enlightened by a diversity of cultures.” Religion fluid — I like it, Cousin!
