Religion, a Travel Perspective

posted 28th November 2010    Written by: Lindsey    CATEGORY: Lindsey, Season 3, Spirituality, Travel

I lived in Turkey for a semester in college, where, although technically a secular nation, the population and recent history are primarily Muslim. The city of Istanbul is filled with beautiful mosques, intricate Islamic art, and an echoing call to prayer warbled out of every mosque’s speaker system five times a day. I’d frequently traipse across the city, filled to the brim with everyone from businessmen, to hunched over old women hawking packs of tissues, to giggling children, to the ever-present Turkish man, identifying my American-ness from miles away, to slyly mutter “cok guzel…” (very beautiful…) as I walked past. To shed my shoes and step onto the soft carpet of the empty mosque in between prayer was overwhelmingly peaceful.

It was my first exposure to Islam, still coming as an outsider, from a primarily Christian nation, and a Christian upbringing. I felt no threat to my personal belief system as I watched barefooted men on their knees on the ornately patterned carpets, offering up their prayers. I felt only peace, glad that there was this place for these men to be still and quiet and reflective, in the midst of a bustling city.

I questioned religion, and my own experience. How could I claim that the services I attended were more righteous than these services? How could I argue that one way of expressing love to God was better than another? It started to seem that religion was more exclusive than inclusive. That there were battles of HOW to love God, when in the end, all this religion stuff was a different way of celebrating a higher power full of love.

The memories I have of the Methodist church I grew up in, were of serving my community. The motto was “all are welcome.” There was an an open door kitchen every week to feed anyone in our community. We had an annual fundraiser for world hunger. In high school, while all my fellow National Honor Society members were scrambling for community service work, I had mine completed halfway through the year via my own personal children’s education project in the church basement. It was an awesome, inspired community to be part of.

I never felt exclusion as a part of this religion. But as I was exposed to more and more opinions of religion, as I went to away to college, and traveled more, I found a general consensus that religion was accepting one story as fact, and refusing all the rest.

This weekend I was watching Donnie Darko (again!), and on the subject of God, he hypnotically rambles, “It’s like I could spend my whole life debating it over and over again, weighing the pros and cons and in the end I still wouldn’t have any proof so I just… I just don’t debate it anymore.”

There’s no right answer to the religion question. So I’m not going to argue.

I think religion is a beautiful way to connect to a higher power, and with others who seek this connection. But any extremism, exclusion, or control by a man-made system… count me out.

As I’ve grown up, I have stepped away from identifying with a specific belief system. I have deep respect for Islam and Christianity, as they are the religions I know most about. I have been practicing meditation and self-knowledge through a variety of Eastern religions and yogic philosophies. I am always moved when I am a part of a spiritual service, of any type. It’s exhilarating to feel the electricity in the air of a group of people celebrating life and God.

In the end, I just think it’s all about love and kindness. Operating by a moral code that encourages positivity in the human spirit.

My mission is “to share life and love in a beautiful world” and I guess we can say that’s my spiritual guideline as well.

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Comments (16)

16 Responses to “Religion, a Travel Perspective”

  • Taylor Says:
    November 28th, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    This is perfect and I completely agree. Religion can bring out the best or the worst in people, and I think it's a fascinating topic.

  • Jennifer Says:
    November 28th, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    I completely agree! I grew up non-religious, moved to Ukraine, fell in love and became Russian Orthodox for my husband & his family…I have found that peace, acceptance, and also a set of family traditions. Great post!

  • erinmakesitwork Says:
    November 28th, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    Funny how on this hot-button topic so many of us have expressed that its all about love, kindness and acceptance. Religious beliefs and differences seem to matter little in this Stratejoy community. I think possibly it speaks to the fact that our generation will move to recreate "one nation under God" as a phrase for religious tolerance and as a model for treating all people equally. At least, that is my hope.

  • nikki_klecha Says:
    November 28th, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    I couldn't agree more. Beautiful way of putting it, thank you.

  • Alisha Says:
    November 28th, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    Amen :)

  • Heather Rae Says:
    November 28th, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    Really beautiful. Perfectly said…"to share life and love in a beautiful world." That pretty much sums it up in my book. :)

  • Doniree Says:
    November 28th, 2010 at 9:43 pm

    This is so beautiful, and I love your perspective having come from different backgrounds. Love and kindness – absolutely my religion as well :)

  • Akhila Says:
    November 29th, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    Beautiful post- love your perspective and I completely agree! Love and kindness is a great way to look at it =)

  • Lindsey Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 5:30 pm

    Fascinating because it does have that capacity to bring out all sides of the human spectrum. Such an interesting lens through which to view the world!

  • Lindsey Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    Wow, what a spiritual adventure for you! Thanks for your input, Jennifer!

  • Lindsey Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    Really, what else is there? If I can do that, I will feel fulfilled!

  • Lindsey Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 5:46 pm

    Thanks, Akhila! It's the universal religion of a generation, hopefully.

  • Lindsey Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 5:50 pm

    Amen, sista! Right there with you :)

  • Lindsey Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    Like Erin says above, I think our generation is moving towards a more inclusive view of spirituality, and to get all hippie with it – all you need is love!

  • Lindsey Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    xo!

  • Lindsey Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    Love and kindness, baby. All we need to rock this world :)

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