What makes people religious?
 Religion makes some people feel better, stronger, some feel too weak, lost, helpless without someone with superpowers having the ultimate control, a safety net… some may need to feel they are significant, watched over, looked after and that a god or god head listening to all their thoughts, deeds, prayers, gives them that… some can’t cope with the belief that their much cherished life ends when their body, or that of their loved ones, ‘gives up the ghost’ so feel comforted knowing these ‘ghosts’ will go ‘rest with Jesus’ in a heaven somewhere. Some may feel religion is their culture, that they have been IN-Doctrin-Ated and this gives them identity, a sense of who they are. Some may feel that without ‘the word’ of a ghost of a dead Jewish political activist from 2000 years ago, that they would have no idea how to live a good life, treat others well or be happy. This is their reality and for them it is a valid and absolute heartfelt truth.
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Personally, I’m comfortable with being only as significant as any creature… an ant, a rabbit, an elephant… that we apes are only that significant… it doesn’t scare me to be humble, to be equal, to simple be. I’m happy to be the one watching over me and watching out for me, and listening to me. I’m happy knowing that I can trust that I’m a good enough, happy enough person who can endure and face up to brutal realities and significant challenges and adapt if necessary. I’m fine with the knowledge that the spirit of anyone I’m close to or have ever been strongly inspired by or influenced by, lives on in me and that so too shall I live on in all those who have loved me, being inspired by me, been influenced by me, and in all things I have created that I’ve left behind.
I believe in life force. We can argue that life force IS ‘god’ within living things. Life force drives the survival of living things; the seed that germinates, the tree that puts down roots, the animal that survives its prematurity, its own stupidity, its wounds and goes on to thrive, the ants that procreate to create armies, the humans who connect, love, hate, over populate, invade, desecrate because they feel driven to have more, be more, take more, ensure their own privilege and survival more… and the bacteria that find sustenance, the viruses and cancer that find ways to survive. All of it, driven by its own life force… life…living things… viruses, bacteria, cancer, lettuce, cats, people.
-- Polly Samuel (aka 'Donna Williams') Author, artist, consultant and presenter. http://www.donnawilliams.net I acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of this country throughout Australia, and their connection to land and community.
