You know, growing up, my family always went to Catholic Mass on the weekends. I thought nothing of it; it was something my parents wanted us to do. I memorized my prayers. I didn’t dislike it. I didn’t love it, either. However, these days, modern Western society has sort of turned its back on organized religion. I mean, different events have occurred where it’s a little bit understandable. There was the whole pedophilia controversy with the priests several years ago. However, even before that happened, it was still considered, among teenagers, “uncool” to practice a religion.
It seems that there are many teenagers and young adults in today’s world that do have a jaded, even cynical view on organized religion in general. Again, it’s partially understandable because many branches of Christianity have become infamous in their strict stances against homosexuality, for example. Being a proud gay man myself, I of course don’t agree with these kinds of obstinate viewpoints. But you can’t make the assumption that every single person who is serious and committed to organized religion is going to stand against homosexuality. That just isn’t the case. You can follow a religion and be faithful about it without adhering to every single tenet of that belief system. Deep down, I feel, by and large, we all believe in the concept of love and salvation.
I really turned on organized religion. But then I thought about it. I thought about the people whom I’ve crossed paths with in my life who made going to church a part of their daily or weekly routines. I realized, those people seemed to have better lives on the whole. They seemed to be happier people in general. How can you look disparagingly on a person if they follow a religion with passion, and it’s working out for him or her? You cannot, I’ve learned.
Through my learning and reading of the Big Book (of Alcoholics Anonymous), I’ve also learned that even organized religions can be beneficial to me and other people who are in recovery, as well. And I don’t necessarily have to return back to the Catholic church, either. In this country, I have the right to religious freedom. I can explore different faiths, if I so choose. One very important notion, though, that I picked up from the BB that I always try to remember when I am sitting in Mass is that even if there is an aspect of church or a religion I don’t like, I can’t let that one thing turn me away from something that could be really beautiful and special in the grand scheme of things.
I think you’ll see what I mean with this quote from the Big Book; it’s one of my favorites:
“We talked of intolerance, while we were intolerant ourselves. We missed the reality and the beauty of the forest because we were diverted by the ugliness of some of its trees.”
– pg. 50, the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Original copyright 1939.
God bless you.
Louis Grassi 