Meditation on Meditation

Religion - or Church?

In my mind it is important that there is a distinction between churches, and religion.
In general, I see religion as a valid and powerful method for studying our place and purpose in the world.
The many scriptural writings we have, coming from all faiths and creeds, are a wealth of information and, sometimes,  just very good art.
Religious thinkers of all persuasions, particularly ones on the cutting edge of inspirational writing, have given us some of the most reliable and credible ethical foundations for building societies, and developing free thought. Spiritual reflection is an incredible wellspring of both creativity and problem solving.
Churches, on the other hand, are often the devil in disguise.
Churches grow up around inspirational and adventurous thinking, but treat such inspiration as doctrine and so miss the point.
They try to create realities out of abstractions and to build power structures for the control of thought, but utilizing and often misrepresenting the product of unbridled thought.
Often the intention of a church on the outset is good (a fine example being the chapel that was built by St. Francis of Assisi, by his own labor) but as they grow, invariably the spiritual/inspirational mandate of the church is eclipsed by its own need to survive.  The same, I might add, holds true for government.
Once that eclipse occurs, the churches serve only themselves. All else is merely a byproduct of the churches self preservation.
An analogue of this in music might be an attempt to try and translate the musical notes composed by Mozart or Beethoven and to transliterate them into English, or German.  Music is a language in itself - it can be described and understood, but it cannot be translated.  Like music, scripture does not translate either.  It is to be read, and understood in its own right.  When we read a lot of it, we begin to understand the world in that language, just as a child learns to understand the world in the languages that are spoken around it.  Scripture is meant to be read and understood in its own context.  It is something that is not of the world - it is of itself, in a way it is its own world.  When used correctly, it teaches us how to look at the world in a new language.  And one's world view can be enriched by reading and learning a multitude of languages.
I take great enjoyment from reading diverse religious scripture and studying or making religious art.  Hindu scripture is dazzling in its magic and complexity.  St. John of the Cross wrote some remarkably moving and emotionally overwhelming poetry.  The Koran and the Torah are stimulating and intoxicatingly wealthy resources. There are some amazing debates about law, society, and intellect to be found in the Kabbalah.
As an artist, I find it all to be stimulating and inspiring.  If I hit a dry spell in my own creativity, reading religious stories and philosophy will recharge my batteries.