Empty Cathedrals and Mitt Romney

I have gazed up into the beautiful, massive cathedrals in Europe, touched by their history and their amazing gothic and Romanesque architecture. I have felt stirred by the centuries of people who have come to offer their allegiance to the only image of God that they knew--having not thought to question the religious stories and dogma. And I have been struck by the fact that hardly anyone actually worships in these cathedrals anymore, a fact that Mitt Romney despairs about.

Today in his Texas based speech the Presidential candidate said: "I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired ... so grand ... so empty," he said. "So many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer."

It has not occurred to Mr. Romney that in the spiritual evolution of human beings, many in modern day generations have moved beyond the mythic religions of old. It has not occurred to Mr. Romney that we can be very spiritual without buying the Christology mythos. That we can pray, expressing our deepest human longings, gratitudes, and wonder, without praying to a decider God. Today many thoughtful people ponder different conceptions of the power in this universe, the power and forces that support life and at times strike life dead. Many people have put aside the anthropomorphic, ego filled controlling bitchy God, for a more complex and mysterious wonder about it all.

No Mr. Romney, it is not about being too busy...it's about having a different life experience and perception than you. And that's ok, we don't have to agree, as long as you don't become President and make this country a theocracy--taking us back to the middle ages.