Church and State (of mind)

Throughout a recent stay in Guadlajara, I’ve became quite fascinated with this particular church. It’s incredibly simple inside. Just walls, pews, a roof, bells, and a few religious pieces here and there, but its inner sanctum is incredibly ordinary when compared to the elaborate cathedrals and basilicas Guadalajara is so famous for. It seems funny writing this, as those who know me well know I’m not a religious person, but the presence of this little church brings me an inordinate amount of peace.

I’m not anti-religion. You’d think an atheist would be, but you’d be wrong. I have an incredible amount of respect for people who are devout. If faith is what gets them through their days, then I hope that faith is in abundance for them. What I am is anti anything religious based that is easily viewed as superior or hypocritical.

In Louisiana, there was such a strong emphasis on where people went to church. In meeting people, it wasn’t at all uncommon for that to be in the top three opening questions. “Where do you go to church?” I always found it such an incredibly personal question to ask of someone, and a completely unnecessary one at that. Where someone does or doesn’t choose to find their sanctuary doesn’t seem the type of thing that should be anyone’s business. The disappointment on people’s faces when I responded with “nowhere,” or “I don’t” stung. I was judged on something that didn’t fit an expectation rather than on who I was as a person.

In the four years I’ve been in Mexico, I have never once been asked that question. I was never asked that at home in England. No one - until moving to Louisiana - ever inferred that I was not as kind, as decent, or as moral as them based on that answer, as it wasn’t an answer any question ever called for. Mexico is a highly religious and devout country, but - like me - it seems to find that particular topic one of personal choice rather than public scrutiny. I like that very much, and I appreciate it even more.

Here, people are judged, of course - we are humans after all, and that’s in our nature, sadly. But here people are judged more on actions and how they handle the consequences of such. They are judged on how they interact and assist in their individual neighbourhoods and communities. They are judged on how they treat people as they walk through each day. They are judged on their humanity.

I’ve always been accepting of the religious beliefs other people have, but living in Mexico has made me form a deep appreciation and respect alongside that acceptance. It’s incredibly lovely living in a country that accepts me for not having the same beliefs. I am a good person. I am a kind person. I am a helpful person. I am a loving person. If people need help, they know beyond a doubt that they can count on me. It’s wonderful being judged for those things rather than where I spend an hour a week.

Religion is too often - at least in my eyes - an incredibly false premise. Each religious text prides itself on serving as a guidebook of sorts outlining how a follower should and shouldn’t behave. I don’t think many people read those texts that way, and I wish they did. Religion is not political. Religion is not demanding. Religion is not a dictative measure of a man (or woman or anyone). Religion is personal.

I took great solace in sitting on a balcony in Guadalajara with my coffee and my thoughts while staring down at a simple and beautiful little church, and knowing that believer or not, I can - and do - find moments that bring me great joy. Because religious or not, and to put it in a way some of you may better understand, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22) I don’t need the Bible - or any other religious text - to tell me that, but I’m hoping that in using that particular passage we can all agree on something - isn’t that what life should be about?

Maybe one day we’ll all just intrinsically know that without feeling the need to outdo each other by knowing it “better” than our neighbour based on individual religious beliefs.

Wouldn’t that be something beautiful?