For what it’s worth, that’s not an especially relevant passage here, as it’s less to do with being open about your faith and moreso about intent. For example, those who would go to the synagogue to pray or who would give alms to make themselves feel better and appear righteous. The Bible is crystal clear that you should be openly expressing your faith to others should the intent be to spread the religion. Mark 16:15–16, for example, reads (NIV):
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Probably more relevant for your case are the passages along the lines of: “Look, give it the old college try, but if they aren’t willing to listen, don’t be a bitch about it; just move on.” For example:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
My brother was studying to become a Jesuit and there was this running joke amongst the Jesuits about praying where they would go “Why? God doesn’t exist.” This may sound hypocritical and it kind of is, but they consider the religion more a moral framework rather than something to rigorously believe in. That’s also why Pope Francis resonated with many non-believers because, at least the modern Jesuits, apply the moral lessons of the New Testament with a healthy dose of rationality (they are considered the intellectual branch of the church for a reason).
Very few, if any, Jesuit these days believe in the existence of a god, but they find value in the moral framework and how they can apply that to make this world a better place. It’s the only religious order I can stomach to have conversations with.
This right here I think is the ultimate way to practice religion. It’s an excellent framework for helping understand your connection to the universe and how your morality intertwines.
I’ve been reading up on Taoism and one of the things I resonated with is that it accepts the idea that you can worship anything. Even a rock. It’s not about actually believing that the thing holds power, but rather allowing yourself to give in a bit to the universe in an understanding that you are ultimately powerless. You have to give up some of your agency to the idea that there is power beyond your control and understanding and you have to accept that.
If you believe you’re an individual being separate from the world around you, the world will catch up to that idea. Aggressively. But if you accept that the world does not cater to you, and if you surrender some of that responsibility to a higher power, you’re not nearly as blindsided when the world finds you.
For what it’s worth, that’s not an especially relevant passage here, as it’s less to do with being open about your faith and moreso about intent. For example, those who would go to the synagogue to pray or who would give alms to make themselves feel better and appear righteous. The Bible is crystal clear that you should be openly expressing your faith to others should the intent be to spread the religion. Mark 16:15–16, for example, reads (NIV):
Probably more relevant for your case are the passages along the lines of: “Look, give it the old college try, but if they aren’t willing to listen, don’t be a bitch about it; just move on.” For example:
Matthew 5:43–44:
Matthew 7:1–3:
Matthew 10:13–15
The Parable of the Weeds.
Etc.
My brother was studying to become a Jesuit and there was this running joke amongst the Jesuits about praying where they would go “Why? God doesn’t exist.” This may sound hypocritical and it kind of is, but they consider the religion more a moral framework rather than something to rigorously believe in. That’s also why Pope Francis resonated with many non-believers because, at least the modern Jesuits, apply the moral lessons of the New Testament with a healthy dose of rationality (they are considered the intellectual branch of the church for a reason).
Very few, if any, Jesuit these days believe in the existence of a god, but they find value in the moral framework and how they can apply that to make this world a better place. It’s the only religious order I can stomach to have conversations with.
This right here I think is the ultimate way to practice religion. It’s an excellent framework for helping understand your connection to the universe and how your morality intertwines.
I’ve been reading up on Taoism and one of the things I resonated with is that it accepts the idea that you can worship anything. Even a rock. It’s not about actually believing that the thing holds power, but rather allowing yourself to give in a bit to the universe in an understanding that you are ultimately powerless. You have to give up some of your agency to the idea that there is power beyond your control and understanding and you have to accept that.
If you believe you’re an individual being separate from the world around you, the world will catch up to that idea. Aggressively. But if you accept that the world does not cater to you, and if you surrender some of that responsibility to a higher power, you’re not nearly as blindsided when the world finds you.