Religion offers safe, trusting community

A June 20 letter reads, “The path to morality leads away from religion not toward it. That is one more reason more informed, moral people are turning away from religion.”

I wonder at the efficacy of eschewing the wisdom from the world's religions and starting all over again in our search for morality. Religion, culture, science, politics and even reason/logic have been misused to express hate, start wars and engage in terrorism and genocide. People can misuse or manipulate any idea or belief to justify any harm.

All the world's major religions advocate the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Should we toss out this belief? Logic and reason, while crucial, offer only some of the “answers.”

We must also explore our hearts as we make decisions, use our resources, and live in the world. And we need community to help us as we explore.

Religion and religious community can offer us an opportunity for deep introspection. They offer us a community, so we don't become so narrowly focused that we can justify however we choose to behave. As the world becomes more complicated and our decisions have greater impact, we need trusted communities in which we may explore what we think and feel and believe.

The Rev. Tom Capo

Peoples Church

Unitarian Universalist

Cedar Rapids