As you can see from this week's quote, I’m really enjoying Epstein’s book, Range.
He talks a lot about learning, and how when we learn a variety of things around a subject, instead of just focusing on the subject alone, we learn deeper and more long-term.
We may succeed in the short term when we employ our short-term memory. But if it doesn’t sink into our long-term memory with a range of understanding and struggle, then we will not do as well down the road.
I’m transferring this research into spirituality.
In the church, I was discouraged from trying to figure things out for myself. I was to inherit Christian belief, adopt what I was taught, memorize scripture, and copy how exemplary Christians lived.
This is what I’m concluding:
What Epstein’s, and others’, research shows is that what happens is we become mechanical robots and even puppets of the faith. Faith and our beliefs have been bestowed rather than learned through deep thought, confusion, discovery, and struggle.
Those who learn how to parrot the best rise to the top. But eventually, when faced with life’s challenges, they will not have the tools necessary to survive and thrive.
I think this is what deconstruction is.
It’s not just a questioning of our beliefs or our relationship to religion and the church.
I think, more fundamentally, it’s a deep need to find out for ourselves.
Many things can lead to the discovery of this deep need.
Like realizing a belief is silly, doesn’t make sense, and no longer works for us.
Like being abused by a church and its leadership who we believed should care for us.
Like seeing the emptiness, inhumaneness, or destructiveness of much of religion.
Something tells us, “This isn’t right!”, and we henceforth embark on our own vision quest to find out what is.
So… struggling to learn… is a good thing. A very good thing.
You are acquiring important tools to help you become independent.
