To my own surprise I have come to the position that simply rejecting religion is an inadequate response to suffering. We need to reframe the sacred within a secular context. Also necessary is the translation of religious concepts and values that respond to our need for meaning into secular language.
There are a number of religious themes and ideas that can be successfully translated into a secular framework. They include: anamnesis (or remembrance), universal fellowship, redemption, consolation, hope, ritual practices, God as intersubjectivity, the sacred and sin.
Suffice to say that religion has been the cause of countless deaths and huge swathes of suffering and oppression. This needs to be duly recognised. Furthermore if the act of translation is to be a fruitful exercise we need to take the risk of looking at religion in a more positive light.
Benefits of Religion
In my work I address the following issues:
- many of the values and concepts that we take for granted in western liberal societies (for example: responsibility, autonomy, history, progress and individuality) have their roots in Christianity
- the possibility of a rational content to religion
- Western medicine, philosophy and culture have generally failed to provide an effective answer to chronic and acute suffering and pain. All religions offer an approach to suffering that enables us to find meaning. Otherwise, despair and depression seem to be the only possible responses.
- in the absence of politicians and academics offering a strong critique of society, religions offer the possibility of such
- in establishing a secular sacred on a firm rational basis we need to avoid a simplistic rationalist rejection of religion. We need to engage in a dialogue with religion.
See my article – Religion
