In his famous song “Imagine,” John Lennon dreamed of a world of peace that included no religions. The Beatles superstar was not a fan of Christianity, saying: “Jesus was all right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting (religion) that ruins it for me.”
Even Christians have sung this same tune. From a concentration camp, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer called for “a religionless Christianity” because the Nazis had co-opted the institutional church of his country. Christian author C.S. Lewis claimed, “Of all bad men, religious bad men are the worst.”
It is easy to call to mind atrocities done in the name of God. But does that mean that religions have no redeeming purpose?
What exactly do we mean by “religion?”
One definition refers to any system of beliefs that includes a deity or deities. But certain philosophies, like Zen Buddhism, do not involve the concept of God or gods yet are still considered religions.
It is helpful that the etymology of “religion” is derived from the Latin prefix re- (“again”) and the verb ligare (“to bind, tie”). The same Latin verb gives us the English word ligament, meaning tissue that connects bones.
A religion reconnects people. It binds us together again.
Any specific body of people — whether a nation, tribe or family — is in constant danger of unraveling, fracturing or splintering. In order to come together, we need shared beliefs, rituals and music.
Lennon most certainly knew this need, yet he still claimed the followers of Christ ruined the religion. As a Christian pastor, I am painfully aware that many people would agree with him. Incidents of hypocrisy among believers can cause people to leave the faith. Churches fracture and splinter. Christians can even tear each other apart.
Last week, a reader suggested an op-ed prompt: “There’s more to Christianity than being constantly aggrieved.” Many Christians seem angry or annoyed, even outraged over perceived insults and slights. They may even seek to hurt others. This is hardly a healthy definition of religion! The sense of having been wronged draws sides in our culture as clearly as college sports teams.
But the stakes are even higher: Jesus said a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:24).
Religion can divide us, pitting one group against another. And history is replete with atrocities done in the name of God.
But there are countless gestures of goodwill every day. People seek to connect in positive, helpful ways.
You may say I’m a dreamer, but I believe the foundational similarities between religions, even between people with no faith in organized religions, are enough for us to build upon. Instead of being aggrieved, we can seek consensus by giving others the benefit of the doubt. I believe we can reunite our country. Sing it with me!
“I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.”
Andrew Taylor-Troutman is the pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church and author of Gently Between the Words: Essays and Poems. He is currently working from home with his wife and three children.