thoughts

it is interesting that when people speak about god you get an emotion or reaction in a room full of christians. it's like everyone's on the same page, and there's some kind of understanding among everyone who is nodding along with the speaker. even if they've never even met. that connection between everyone brings them closer and creates a sense of belonging. it's a satisfying feeling. how much is that sense of belonging the reason that people are christian? how many people would still be chirstian if there wasn't the community? how many would still go to church if they hadn't gone to church every sunday when they were a kid? i've always thought of it as a personal connection. everyone understands god differently, and perhaps god touches people differently, then why do people go to church? education and discussion i suppose. or wait, priests/pastors/ministers.. are they the connection between the common people and god? are they special or have they mastered their understanding of god more than the average joe. if that's the case then why don't people want to spend their time learning more about the one who is pulling all the strings?

is it blasphemous to compare all this to ultimate? in some ways, ultimate provides many of the things that a christian community provides. there is an understanding among the people who play ultimate. everyone is on the same page that there is some type of code, spirit of the game. of course, the details are debatable. there's the work hard/play hard mentality that is shared among the community, and it seems that people are willing to help each other out, even promote and participate in projects that will benefit people/environment as a whole. another uncanny resemblence b/w the two is the proselytizing aspect of it. play ultimate! you're life will be so much better. believe in god so you will have a more fulfilling life and you won't go to hell. in the end, ultimate is a selfish endeavor. you play because you enjoy it. or you enjoy the community, but everyone owns up. it bothers me a bit when church goers are only there for the social aspect of it, and don't care to actually understand their religion. yet they still use the name of god to justify their actions or use it to recruit people into their community. then religion to them drops down to the level of ultimate, yet i expected so much more out of it.

but what am i saying? i haven't really made an effort to explore my spirituality. of course i have my own set of beliefs. and they are pretty arrogant. people are in control and things follow rules of logic. i'm open for god to find me in some way, but just haven't felt it yet. maybe i am missing the big picture by not actively looking. i think i am ok with that for now. you can ask me again when i'm on my death bed :P

addendum:
nytimes article on topic:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/magazine/04evolution.t.html