After the most recent World News flare-up involving members of a religions trying to tell other members of religion that Their Way is Wrong, I decided to dig out my old theology student persona and do some research into the whole phenomenon of orthodoxy.
Orthodoxy originates from two Greek roots, which meandered to the Latin – “Ortho” meaning right or correct and “doxa,” which is defined as opinion. (Thanks to Kimball Cross for the etymology correction!)
So, to be Orthodox might be defined as “having the right opinion” – except that isn’t its actual definition at all. Merriam-Webster online defines is as “conforming to established doctrine, especially in religion,” or “of, relating to, or constituting any conservative religious or political groups.”
(On a side note: I wonder how members of Conservative Jewish synagogues or temples feel about that definition?)
It’s interesting that somehow we got from having a “right” opinion to “conforming” and being “conservative.” Let’s take a quick look at the evolution of a religion. Note that these steps and any mistakes are my own.
Need
For whatever reason, the current situation just isn’t cutting it for a group, or sect of people. They’re enslaved, lonely, or isolated; their society has evolved away from old stories, their king needs a divorce so he can – ooops, sorry, getting too specific there.
Revelation/Transcendence
A new leader emerges. For this to be a successful religious leader, he (and they usually are) needs two things:
Transcendence – an experience that is beyond the everyday, that somehow brings a numinous reality into the world. Whether it’s noticing a bush that seems to be burning continuously, getting zapped and blinded by lightning or spending a month under a pipal tree, something happens to these people that somehow evokes a different, more desirable, more special reality.
Revelation – in addition to the transcendent experience, the leader emerges with a new worldview, a new way of looking at things that changes up the established order and makes the world more bearable for his audience.
This step is key. Many of us have transcendent experiences – I did myself, when climbing Diamond Head last month, but the only revelation I received is that I need to go to Hawaii more often. For a religion to be successful, it needs to offer a compelling vision of the way the world could be, that is attractive to a broad range of people.
Growth
For whatever reason, but generally because the revelation does offer hope or inspiration for the problem at hand, this leader catches on and attracts followers. The worldview spreads, clashes, meshes with the existing order. Traditionally, this really hasn’t gone that well. During this time, the leader’s religious views may morph or mature.
Sustainment
This is another critical piece. In order to re-create and preserve the leader’s enlightenment, the followers begin writing down the revelations and ways of being. They also attempt to figure out how the movement will live on after the leader dies, and begin to organize themselves into a structure.
Standardization/Evolution
As the faith tradition grows, eventually, it integrates with the existing order (or dies out). Norms and beliefs are established. Roles are defined. This is also when, somewhere, somehow, another visionary may emerge and address a different problem – or the same one, differently – and the cycle begins all over again.
This process contains two critical turning points –one, when the leader or the followers seek to capture and re-create the transcendent and revelatory experience – and the second when they are integrating themselves with society.
Ironically enough, the emotion motivating all of this isn’t usually hatred or self-righteousness. That comes later, if at all. The leader has had an amazing experience that has provided hope and love and joy to a huge number of people. (If it hasn’t, we’ve probably never heard of the religion). Writing it down, seeking to capture it, creating an institution to share it and pass it on to the next generation allows a wider group of people to benefit from it. Who doesn’t want to share a new and exciting thing in their life with their loved ones?
Where it breaks down, however, is when a group of people within the structure decide that this is the only revelation that matters, that no revelation will ever occur again – so any future prophets or visionaries must be channeled into the established structure or stamped out. Instead of seeing the vision for what it was – a wonderful experience for a certain person at a certain time that addressed a certain problem a certain way – this view says this is the ONLY definitive way and if you don’t do it exactly our way, you’re WRONG.
Also, during the organization phase, the structure inevitably gets, well, more structured. Without the leader’s charisma to carry it along, things tend to fall into place to reflect the culture of the time. As roles form, some lead, others follow. Some make policy, others fund it. Over time, again, this solidifies, even if the original vision was a reaction against such institutions.
I’m not sure what the answer is, but I have had some limited success with starting from a place of inquiry and respect, saying things like, “It sounds as if this issue is very important to you.” Since very traditional people often believe that less-traditional people hate them, they can be poised for attack. Repeating phrases like that can sometimes - occasionally - get a conversation started.
Remembering that these traditions – even if they do get used in ways that I don’t agree with – were originally motivated by love helps me do this. On the flip side, being open to new experiences that address problems differently helps keep alive my sense of wonder.