We could use some smart religion

Woods Cross, Utah: Those who have grown up without any exposure to Scripture have been taught that religion has done more harm than good, and much of it is based on blind faith and superstition. There is a good deal of evidence for this argument.

However, historical research is uncovering the fact that God and Scripture as known in their original, foundational forms were more about good faith in human relations and verifiable reality in nature than what religion ultimately came to be.

There have been three overlapping evolutionary stages in theology. First, almost every early human attributed the marvelous things observable in life to unseen higher powers. They worshipped these powers because they had an innate desire to give honor to the palpable elegance of nature.

Another kind of awed earthling dug into the mysteries of the cosmos a little deeper and studied its actual workings. These folks, the earliest scientists, were called priests. Their job was to figure out the favored system of government and economy of the gods, bring the kingdom of heaven to earth and discern God’s will for the day.

As history progressed and knowledge reduced the expanse of the unknown to understandable arts and sciences, religion became the domain of liberal urban activists and conservative rural agriculturists who affirmed the value of hard work, romance, children, good health, neighborliness, moderation and remembering/celebrating God’s creation. All of this was the whole point of creation.

Turns out, Scripture is not a book about religion in the modern sense, but a book of science, history and political life. It contains many sophisticated approaches to dealing with the disinformation and violence of today’s social world for those earnest enough to want answers.

Kimball Shinkoskey