The Danger of Buffet Spirituality
When I was younger, I remember enjoying family dinners at buffets - Sizzler, Hometown Buffet, Golden Corral, Souplantation, or local Chinese ones. As a family of 5, we appreciated the cheapness, the convenience, and the variety. Each of us could choose what we wanted to eat, and we could eat as much as we wanted. I looked forward to using the soft serve ice cream machine for dessert (if they had one, that is).
But as I’ve gotten older, I’m not a huge fan of buffets. I mean, I’ll go if that’s where I’m invited to. But it’s not my first choice. Sometimes it’s overwhelming to have too many options. Sometimes buffets allow you to overindulge and then feel crappy afterwards. Sometimes I’d rather pay more for better quality food.
This reminds me of spiritual hunger and the quest to find what satisfies the soul. When I was younger, I made the mistake of picking and choosing different things I learned. I was raised Christian, so obviously I had that as a foundation. But the more knowledge I accumulated, the more tempting it was to branch away and form my own religion, if you will.
Learning More But Straying Away
As a high schooler, I related a lot to existentialism, which was taught in my English AP class. We read The Plague by Albert Camus and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Rather than holding onto my faith, I pondered questions such as, “What is the meaning of life?” and “Do we live in a random, absurd world?”
Then in college, when I took a religion course, I was drawn to some concepts of Buddhism. I could relate to the endless cycle of suffering, and Buddha looked so peaceful. Today I notice Buddhist statues in various public settings and the recent popularity of practices such as yoga, meditation, and breathwork. People, I believe, are yearning for peace.
I had an Indian roommate during my first year of college, and she was Hindu. I respected her religious beliefs, just as I respect all my friends. But also, back then, I wanted everyone to like me. I went through a period when I believed, “Oh, maybe all these different religions are valid. Maybe Christianity isn’t the Truth. Or maybe everyone’s believing in what they choose to believe in, or what they grew up in, but ultimately, maybe we’re all believing the same thing?”
I also formed in my head what I wanted to believe about God and, for the longest time, led a very passive walk with God. “God will always love me, right? God will always be by my side and take care of me.” I wanted to only believe in a compassionate God. But God is also an all-knowing, powerful God who has no problem correcting someone’s path or punishing someone for disobeying Him. I learned that the hard way later in life.
Reflection on Current Times
The Summer Olympics in Paris is currently underway. I missed the Opening Ceremonies, but I heard/read about it. Apparently there were drag queens, and there was a scene portraying Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper” with figures such as a man dressed up as the Greek god Dionysus.
A lot of Christian groups were outraged at the mockery of the famous work of art that reflected a well-known event in the Scriptures. I can understand their point of view, but I can also understand when a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee justified it as “international diversity and Paris’ dedication to inclusivity.” But couldn’t they have displayed that diversity in a different manner, as opposed to what feels like a mockery of Christianity?
We live in a consumer society where individuals feel, and sometimes demand, that they get to choose what they want. When you go to the grocery store or shop online, there are so many options. Numerous dating apps exist - a romantic relationship has morphed into this product that you can choose to pursue by swiping right or left. Rather than listening to the radio, many people now listen to Pandora or Spotify and create their own playlists, curating which artists and songs to include. In social media, users have the option to mute or unfollow friends so they don’t show up in their newsfeed. I’m not saying that any of these things are bad. I’m saying now we have so many options and the ability to control our environment.
Conclusion
So now that we have a lot of power to control, do we ourselves act like gods? Some of us think we are independent and can control our lives. In reality that is false because God is in ultimate control. Maybe it’s fear and anxiety that’s controlling you. My pastor recently said in a sermon at church, “If God is God, then you are not.”
I still respect my friends and what they choose to believe in. Several of my close friends are Jewish. But truth be told, I am concerned for my friends who label themselves as “spiritual” because I think they’re lost. I’m also concerned for my Christian friends who may be creating the image of God they want to see and not seeing God for who He really is. Or for my friends who are picking and choosing the things they like about different religions. I challenge you to choose something (I mean, ideally Christianity) and remain steadfast in your faith. Spirituality or Christianity should not be treated like a buffet.