{"id":4169,"date":"2011-05-01T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-01T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=4169"},"modified":"2013-05-31T18:29:43","modified_gmt":"2013-06-01T02:29:43","slug":"religion-breeds-hats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/religion-breeds-hats\/","title":{"rendered":"Religion Breeds Hats"},"content":{"rendered":"

I work with people from seventeen different religions. No, not different Christian denominations, but seventeen different religions. Here they are, if you are curious:<\/p>\n

Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Messianic Jewish, Muslim,\u00a0Nation of Islam, Moorish Science Temple,\u00a0Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Santeria, Rastafarian, Wicca, Asatru, Native American Spiritism, \u00a0and Scientology.<\/p>\n

As I listen to and observe the people of these various religions go about their work and live their lives, as I join with them in discussion about their beliefs and practices, I have come to one major conclusion about something that all religions have in common:<\/p>\n

\"Rally<\/p>\n

While many people say that Religion Breeds Hate (and this is often true), I believe that it is also true that Religion Breeds Hats.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just by way of illustration, here are some picture of numerous different religious hats:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

It seems like every major religion has their own special hat, with their own special times to wear it, ways to wear it, and reasons for wearing it. Many of them are very protective of their hats, and have long histories and explanations for the traditionss behind the hats. Sometimes they have to be made with a certain cloth, or by a certain type of person, or in a certain area of the world. Not surprisingly then, there are occasional disagreements about which hats are valid and which are not. People will sometimes refuse to fellowship with others because of the hat they do or do not wear.<\/p>\n

As a result of all this “hatred” I have come to see the hats of the various religions as a symbol for the differences between religions, as well as within the religion itself.<\/p>\n

When arguments about doctrines and beliefs arise, when debates get out of hand, when discussions turned heated and people get called heretics, as people scream and yell, as eyes bulge and veins pop, as spittle starts flying, ink starts running, and the blood starts spilling, I sometimes look at it all and think, “They’re arguing about a hat.” They’re arguing about the color, the size, the fabric, when to wear it, where to wear it, and who gets to wear it.<\/p>\n

Sometimes the arguments are literally about hats, like the frequent debate found in some churches about whether or not the youth should be allowed to wear baseball hats in church:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But even most of the religious debates that are not about hats, are still just as pointless and petty. Especially when you realize the damage that such debates cause some people, and even the toll on human life that they take. Just look at some of the religious debates of the past, and how they have led to hangings and burnings and beheadings.\u00a0Things like the form of baptism, the use of icons, and what happens to the Eucharist when a priest prays over it.<\/p>\n

While many of us are convinced that theological differences are more important than hats, when we step back and think about the arguments of the past, many of them really are not.<\/p>\n

Heated Hat Debates of Today<\/h2>\n

Are we arguing over anything silly today? Certainly. Like what? Timmy Brister lists<\/a> these as the main theological debates of our day:<\/p>\n