Developing a deep sense of religion

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

THE liturgical season of Advent can be a good occasion for us to develop and strengthen our sense of religion, our life of piety, and our intimacy with God. We have to remember that as human beings, we often are trapped in our human and natural world and quite indifferent to the spiritual dimension of our life, let alone the supernatural goal our life is meant to pursue. Let’s do something about this predicament.

Let us hope that as we prepare for Christmas during this Advent season with our customary excitement for the holidays, we do not neglect the religious significance of Advent, and enkindle an intense desire to have a living encounter with Christ who is God who became man to be with us and to show us the way of how we ought to be, since he is the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity.

We cannot deny that there’s vast religious indifference and even hostility against religion today. A complex structure of rationalizations now supports religious indifference and hostility to religion. It seems that the threads of naturalism, skepticism, agnosticism, atheism, relativism, etc., have become more sophisticated, snuffing whatever religious ember that may still remain in a person or in society.

 

Nowadays, reason and empirical findings are considered the ultimate measure of things, and are made to dispute the claims of faith, steadily removing its attractiveness to the people. With this approach, piety is slowly eroded until it becomes practically dead.

  

With this trend, it is held that if things could not be fully understood and explained, if they could not be directly verified, if they are not socially, economically or politically practical, then they should be rejected. They are deemed senseless.

It’s as simple, or rather, as simplistic, as that. Such an attitude sorely misses the point that truths of faith, being spiritual and supernatural, require more than human reason to be believed. It’s a tyranny to force everyone to work only within the framework of reason and understanding alone, beyond which things simply cannot be true.

      

It sorely misses the point that we precisely need the gift of faith, because we are men of belief, more than of reason. Faith always respects reason, and always works through it, but is beyond it. It cannot be fully grasped by reason, much less by our senses. It has a longer spread, a wider scope, a deeper reach, a firmer grip on reality.

It is our faith that will tell us that we need not only to be with Christ, but also to be like Christ. And the season of Advent is a good time to develop a burning desire for this purpose. 

We need to be reminded that we have to develop an abiding and burning desire for Christ to fulfill the real purpose of our life which is precisely for us to be “another Christ.” We should be clear about this ultimate purpose of ours so we can have the proper sense of direction and focus in our life, and the corresponding urge to fulfill it.

Our problem is that we often take our life’s real and ultimate purpose for granted, preferring to sway and dance according to the music played simply by worldly conditions. We prefer to be guided by our senses and emotions, or by our reasoning alone as expressed in our man-made different ideologies, philosophies, sciences and technologies, etc. 

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

MEDICINE FOR HEART AND SOUL

My column in Mindanao Daily News

OPINION

By KLAUS DÖRING

 September 21, 2021

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In Pandemic times , music helps me to overcome many daily hurdles. I learned from a psychological  friend that music, because of its deep connections with the brain, is intrinsically meaningful to humanity as a race. We thrive off it. It drives our actions and emotions, and its influence on our brains creates a sense of unity with music that few other art forms can provide.

 

We are beginning to understand our own love of music not only as a cognitive reflex, but as a true art form. Because of being too busy in the past, I neglected this special love. And the relation between religion and music too. 

 

The relationship between religion and music can be coined as the “spirit” of the “sound.” Both provide a means of transcending human existence.

 

Music has the ability to deepen the meaning of words that accompany it, both in a religious context or even on your local pop radio station you listen to on the way to work. As described by St. Augustine in Weiss and Taruskin’s Music of the Western World, St. Augustine reflects on his baptism, “The tears flowed from me when I heard your hymns and canticles, for the sweet singing of your church moved me deeply…The music surged in my ears, truth seeped into my heart, and my feelings of devotion overflowed…

 

Yes, music has a way of filling in the gaps in thought, feeling, and emotion that words cannot do justice, which can be incredibly powerful when accompanied by a spiritual belief. Using music for religious reasons also gave early humans the ability to experience and explore the tantalizing effects of music without committing a sin. In the present day, music is used much more widely and for purposes other than worship, which has allowed religious music to grow and expand into many types of praise that have a wider impact on many people. Music is a nearly universal part of religion because it appeals to and heightens human senses in a pleasurable way which, in turn, allows humans to praise through a medium that makes worship more enjoyable.

 

A life without music? I wouldn't survive!

HUMAN THINKS - GOD GUIDES!

[My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and The Metro Cagayan de Oro Times]
 

I am happy! Yes, I am! I found joy, freedom, and peace of mind, when I discovered what I believe is the secret of a happy life - as an expatriate living in the Philippines for 22 years now. 

I was brought up in a religious family and lived in a parish house up to my 10th birthday. Our Christian life was a fantastic style of religion. Though I was used to it, my attitudes have been really very ungodly. Many times, I was prone to anger and did all possible unpleasant things to others. I gave more attention to worldly things until such time I was deeply immersed in what we call "worldly trend". I did those things simply to enjoy life without caring for other people around me.

But then, suddenly, "someone" (let's call him GOD) interfered. He directed my way. I received plenty of different challenges and tasks - especially, when I decided to stay in the Philippines for good.

Sure, I have always been able to travel around the globe. But, believe me, not every trip or even a single day became a satisfied success or event.

Today I am no more surprised at the painful trials I suffered in the past. Instead of being surprised I tried to rejoice, because I learned that trials are meant to test your faith! Maybe even right now during the time of Corona Covid-19.

When I got the idea to write this piece, I rummaged in some very old books of my late "Lola" (born in 1899!) and found a faded and more or less crumbled-to-dust document. It has been a hand written piece of an unknown Dutch soldier, who must have written  this in mortal agony during his last battle in World War II, dated November 1944. I like to share it with you, my dear reader, because it also reflected my past - and, maybe also yours:

"When I stopped my ungodly attitudes, I learned to pray. But when I prayed, I asked for power to become popular, and He made me weak and taught me how to be obedient. When I prayed, I asked for health to be able to do great things, and He gave me afflictions, to do better things. When I prayed, I asked for riches and abundance, and He gave me poverty to become wise instead. When I prayed, I asked for strength to receive people's glory and fame, and He gave me weakness to let me feel how much I need Him. When I prayed, I asked everything for a wonderful life without problems and trials, living like a king, and He gave me LIFE!"

I didn't receive anything about which I prayed since living in the Philippines as an expatriate. But, I received everything in time and I didn't expect it anymore. More or less against my own free will, all unspeakable and unpronounceable prayers have been answered. I am really very much blessed.

That's what I also feel right now in this moment. I am what I am right now, NOT BECAUSE I PRAYED FOR IT, but, because all unspeakable prayers have been answered.

Human thinks - God guides!

A chance of religiousness?

A CHANCE OF RELIGIOUSNESS?

One of the most important parts in my life is the belief in supernatural power which governs the universe. It doesn't matter which religion we belong to or believe in: the recognition of God as object of worship. The form of worship should be our primacy need.

During my stay in several Western countries, I experienced icy and conceited comments such as religiousness isn't popular any more. Religiousness makes people unwilling and morose because of exaggeration and sometimes even hypocrisy.

Increasing negative headlines about the "institutional church" nowadays and also in the past, and embarrassing comparisons lead only to discord. 

How comes? We want to see the religiosity of our fellow creatures. We want to understand their ideology. 

But we are also poking our nose into other people's business too much. Let's look behind the scenes and let's find out what religious behavior promotes: humility in actual life. Maybe. It's hard for us to do without affecting others. We even forget the real meaning of religiousness. St. John Crysostom subscribed the topic "Pagans and Christians" very well: "There would be no pagans if we were good Christians. But the pagans see us manifesting the same desires, pursuing the same objects - power and honor - as themselves, how can they admire Christianity?

They see our lives open to reproach and our souls worldly. We admire wealth equally with them and even more. How, then, can they believe? From miracles? But these are no longer wrought. From our conversion? It has become corrupt. From charity? Not a trace of it is anywhere seen. (Quotation "Winnowing Fan", Vol. XX, June 2003, S of G Foundation, Makati).

I am proud to have people in my surroundings who taught be how to be on the right track - unconcerned and unnoticed. Natural and uninhibited, they showed me how to put real religiousness into action besides praying and going regularly to church. I call such people religious. I mean it as praise because they don't like to blow their trumpets while a acting as Christians in our daily life. Having such people around us make it easier to practice forgiveness... .

I'll be back on air soon. It's Mango Radio 102.7 FM proudly broadcasting from Davao City and Zamboanga City. It's a mission-oriented radio station. I am blessed being together with all these wonderful religious people.

Religion and music

MON, OCTOBER 31, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION
KLAUS DORING

Yes, both belong together like a fish and an ocean, light and life, the voice and the ear. In the entire universe, we humans are probably the only beings capable of creating and hearing music. The ability to hear is one of the specific gifts that our Creator gave us.

Our fragile blue planet is surrounded by a thin layer of gases only a few kilometers high. Only this atmosphere is the reason why sound waves can spread through the air. Everything behind this atmosphere is ruled by the sheer endless vacuum of outer space, where galaxies and stars explode and implode in impenetrable silence.

According to the biblical narrative, the world began when God broke through this deadly quiet: “And God said: Let there be light!” (Genesis 1:1). God spoke – and light and life resulted from His audible voice. Because life was created by the word, it depends on the word. That is why it is in the nature of every person to listen. Like a parabolic mirror, our souls are created to listen to the eternal space of the hereafter, to try and sense whether a word, a sound or a voice is trying to reach us from there, in order to fill us with meaning.

I love music. I can’t live without music. Hold on, this is not one of my earlier columns in this paper. But from time to time, I need to express myself if it comes to this topic. And, I know, that Filipinos love big tunes with great words and beautiful melodies, especially, when it comes to classical music. I experienced this many times during the last six years while hosting several radio shows with classical music and inspirational thoughts.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

Music and Religion

Music and religion belong together like fish and the ocean, light and life, the voice and the ear. In the entire universe, we humans are probably the only beings capable of creating and hearing music. The ability to hear is one of the specific gifts that our Creator gave us. Our fragile planet is surrounded by a thin layer of gases only a few kilometers high. Only this atmosphere is the reason why sound waves can spread through the air. Everything behind this atmosphere is ruled by the sheer endless vacuum of outer space, where galaxies and stars explode and implode in impenetrable silence.

According to the biblical narrative, the world began when God broke through his deadly quiet: "And God said: Let there be light!" (Genesis 1:1). God spoke - and light and life resulted from His audible voice. Because life was created by the word. That is why it is in the nature of every person to listen. Like a parabolic mirror, our souls are created to listen to the eternal space of the hereafter, to try and sense whether a word, a sound  or a voice is trying to reach us from there, in order to fill us with meaning.

I love music. I can't live without it. From time to time I have to express myself regarding to this topic. And, I know, Filipinos love big tunes with great words and beautiful melodies, especially when it comes to classical music.

I am hosting radio shows with classical music in the Philippines since many years. Presently, I am blessed and honoured having such show on "The Edge Radio Davao - 104.3 FM. If your time allows it, please tune in: Sundays from 2 to 4 pm... .