One of my modules this year is on Religion. It's not the first time I've studied the topic from an anthropological perspective, but a whole new level of learning is happening this time round!
Previously, I freaked out when doing some of my readings. Hearing theories on how all societies have a religion of some sort, beliefs that help them make sense of the world. Reading about the role of witchcraft in societies, and how it works to help them function. Learning about witch-hunting by Christians back in the 16th century, who decided particular groups of people were witches, and convinced a majority of people, including intelligent thinkers of the time, the stereotypes were true. About witch-watering in America, "justified" in the bible. About the cognitive-science perspective on religions, about Richard Dawkins and the God Delusion, about how religion is merely a coping mechanism, a comfort, to deal with death, and how others use it to frighten people into behaving "righteously". I was scared I was going to read something really good. Really convincing. Really disproving the existence of the super-natural. That the God I've thought to have believed in for so long is actually a hoax. A social construct. I feared the truth.
Today, I was sat in the library, after a morning of lectures and conversations about belief-systems, reading about more divination practices, and was overwhelmed with a sense of peace. Relief. Joy. That God is a rock. That He is consistent. A constant. The constant. That regardless of religion, rituals, my fears, my doubts, the intellectual trend of the moment, He remains unchanging, steady. Not boring. The furthest thing from it. But at peace, wanting us to forget all about religion and rest in Him. Well, not forgetting about it altogether, I have an essay to write!
