I can’t remember what, but something got me thinking about commitment to religion or faith. There is often discussion about how certain people aren’t “real” Christians or Jews or whatever because they don’t follow certain rules. I tend to place these people on a spectrum of relaxed to let’s say serious.

For me I think there is always the gray area. Nothing is ever black and white. But at the same time this is contradictory to religious doctrines. Obviously not all Christians follow the Bible to the full extent, if they did I don’t think our world would be where it is today. These people fall on the more relaxed side. But do we consider them not Christian? No. Of course some people do, those on the serious side. Is this a simple case of preschool politics? If everyone is following the rules, except one kid, the others will call him out for not doing what he is supposed to. Is it fair? Can we judge people based on their commitment, even if they fulfill the basic beliefs? I say no.

Are our religious doctrines supposed to be seen as more “guidelines” than strict rulebooks?

On first impressions, Baha’i makes a lot of sense. But after reading more about the all-accepting religion, it doesn’t really fit the bill.

The main points of the Baha’i faith are:

1. All religions are one.

2. Religion must conform to science and reason.

3. All humans are one.

4. Baha’u’llah is the manifestation of God for the present age.

5. Women and men are equal.

6. There should be one universal language. 

All of these points are ideal. But that seems to be the problem for me, it’s very idealist, and not a reality. All religions are not one. Religions inherently contradict science and reason. The Baha’i faith seems to be searching for unity and a world community. It is almost an anti-religion, preaching the need for coexistence among all. However its roots are with the Islamic faith and they still wholly believe in a God. They believe in a higher power. 

My main issue is with the idealism. Should religion be ideal? Should it reflect an ideal world? And strive for perfection? No one is perfect, but are we supposed to try? 

Baha’i seems to be based on the world we live in, it is seemingly progressive, but what it strives for seems out of reach and frankly all over the place. It is universal, which is something I understand the need for, but I find hard fitting in the schema of religion. 

Religion is old. And I mean freaking old. 

Most of the reason I have started this journal is to learn. There is a lot of religion that weaves itself through history and vice versa. The two are never not related to one another. My main goal is to educate myself the best way I know how- reading. I am striving to go straight to the source, reading first and foremost each major religious creed and moving from there to find the circumstances surrounding major religious events. That said, there is no way for me to keep my personal biases from ultimately effecting my final conclusion. I have inevitably been influenced by the world around me. My family’s views and how I was raised present an internal struggle. However, a greater need to determine what I believe and why has led me to this point.