Homeostasis is the property of either an open system or a closed system, especially a living organism, that regulates its internal environment so as to maintain a stable, constant condition. Religious homeostasis is a system as well and what is indicative of a sysem (all systems) is that the internal elements of that system are tied one to the other. They are not independent. Change one part of the system and like tipping a domino, stuff happens!
Much like psychologists who tell us that when you remove one person in a room of eight you change the entire dynamics, so too with religion. And this is what makes people so afraid of adopting ANY change because subconsciously there’s this sense that we might be altering not one belief, but many. Winds of change can cause a lot of damage.
It is so much easier to say ALL is LITERAL and leave it to that rather than having to say SOME things are literal and some are not. Ok. Which are literal. Now the headaches begin. Which box do you open up, and when you do, how do you keep everything in that box from jumping out? Is the Jonah story real or a metaphor? Were Adam and Eve historical people or is the story an allegory?
We say that God is LOVE and that His love is UNCONDITIONAL. But, if you really start taking that track and then agree that there’s no ETERNAL hell (but some temporary form of divine judgment) many, many other things change. They have to if we’re going to be spiritually honest.
And isn’t it easier and better to say that the Bible is simply and totally INFALLIBLE than to question any one verse, one name from history, or to even entertain such thoughts? So, let’s not even talk about it. Let’s keep the thermostat set on “current doctrines” and let’s not change a thing. Go with the flow. Don’t rock the boat. Don’t challenge or question anything.
Religious homeostasis baby! It sure beats having to think!
Oh yes, simpler, but ooh….so boring and stagnet…so we see the religious system.