Religion and faith

I read a very thought-provoking article today in the 'Mormon Times' section of the Deseret News. It was written by Orson Scott Card and was refreshingly open-minded. Please read here: http://mormontimes.com/ME_blogs.php?id=1299

As I was thinking about religion in my own terms, I am reminded of how the word 'faith' is interchangeable with 'religion' for good reasons. On the flipside, science tends to be a polar opposite of both--not because science is wrong or anti-religious, only because it requires proof (concrete evidence) for something to be true or believed.

I find it particularly comforting in the fact that religion is all-encompassing. It knows no boundaries. Each individual's definition of faith is only contained by his/her's own limitations. And when we find ourselves questioning everything/anything it is a sign that we are on the road to expanding our own personal circle of religion--willing to perhaps expand our self-created borders.

We are challenged in the scriptures to experiment upon the word...question, wonder, ASK, wait, listen...and sometimes we are just not spiritually ready to receive the revelation in which we seek-- despite our earnest inquiries and expectations. An all-knowing Father will not give us further personal revelation if we are not spiritually mature enough to understand. And that's what is so great about religion. It is never-ending. We are always learning, questioning, exercising and receiving...perhaps preparing ourselves for greater insights with every doubt...allowing our minds and hearts to open and push aside the cobwebs which weren't always there to block our spiritual eyes.

How fitting that we read in the scriptures about being reborn. Every minute of every day we are doing just that...seeking to re-birth ourselves from our limited human mind into discovering truths and knowledge that were always there in our spiritual minds. We are putting forth the effort to see with a new perspective, even a godly perspective...doing something to help us become more all-encompassing, more part of our faith and religion and ultimately becoming more like our Father in Heaven. It's a lofty goal and grand mission but one worth every ounce of effort, perspiration and hard work.

Elmer Wheeler in The Wealth Within You, said, " Begin thinking of faith in terms of "something to do" rather than something to "have."...Faith is not a substitute for work. It is not a substitute for preparation. Rather it is a necessary part of these things. There is nothing which can be demonstrated and pointed to as faith except in relation to work. The man who says he has faith he can do something and then does nothing, has never known faith for it comes into being only at the point of action."

And to come full-circle I think Oswald Chambers puts it best, "Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason--a life of knowing Him who calls us to go."

I encourage myself to expand my own horizons of faith/religion...question more, doubt, seek, study, learn, ASK and be ready to receive the spiritual manifestions and burning bosom that only comes from the true Spirit of faith, from a loving Father who knows me better than I know myself.