How to worship yourself: Lessons from Sheila Larson and Van Halen

Posted on 01/27/11 7 Comments

In 1986 Robert Bellah and a coterie of other sociologists published a landmark study called Habits of the Heart. One of the most memorable characters described therein was “Sheila Larson” who describes her own religion as “Sheilaism. Just my own little voice.” (Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life (1986), 221) While this might sound pretty wacky, it is remarkable how many people navigate their daily lives by finding recourse to their own designer “religion”.

Consider the song “Mine all mine” from Van Halen’s 1988 album “OU812″. Okay, its a dated reference. I got that. But man is it appropriate. Click on this youtube link to get the song and then check out the lyrics below.

The song begins with the speaker/singer (Sammy Hagar in the 1988 recording, though these days it’s probably Diamond Dave … if he can manage to hit the high notes) lamenting the corrupt and wayward life that he has lived:

Oh forgive me father, for I have sinned
I’ve been through hell and back again
I shook hands with the devil
Looked him in the eye
Looked like a long lost friend

Ow-ah, anything you want, any dirty deeds
He’s got everything ‘cept what I really need
Keepin’ me temporarily satisfied
But not one thing I’ve tried
Filled me up inside or felt like mine
Mine all mine

So now the singer sets out on a journey looking for meaning in his life:

Yeah, the search goes on
The more I look, my world keeps gettin’ smaller
Staring at the sun, searchin’ for the light
Almost ended up blind Some only see what they wanna see
Claiming victory, oh but that’s not me
Gimme truth, gimme somethin’ real
I just wanna feel like it’s mine all mine

Then he turns to consider organized religion but is put off by the religious plurality of the world as well as the corruption of much organized religion:

All the words on the wall look the same in the mirror
Every riddle and every clue
Ow, you’ve got Allah in the east
You’ve got Jesus in the west
Christ, what’s a man to do?

They’ll find a cure for anything
Just kill the pain or numb my brain
We see a man speakin’ the word of God
Provin’ to be a fraud. his own church applauds

So what shall he do? And here Sheilaism gives way to Sammyism or a different religious and moral compass for everyone:

Stop lookin’ out, start lookin’ in
Be your own best friend
Stand up and say “Hey! This is mine!”

There you go! My own religion. Mine all mine! Look inside, find your own little voice, and start living with your own designer religion. And if it’s really successful maybe you can even start a franchise!

Walter

Look inside, find your own little voice, and start living with your own designer religion

Is that not what everyone does anyway? The huge number of Christian denominations insures that Christian believers will be able to find a tailor-made Christian “suit” that fits them like a glove.
- randal
  
  Not only denominations, but many churches are now geared toward specific market segments. One church nearby advertised a Christmas eve service “For families” on their sign board. I found that really offensive. You mean the elderly and single people (and obviously homeless people) are not welcome? But that seemed to be their target audience.
  
  Look at the average church website: it features pictures of handsome families and happy twenty somethings. Many of these are actually stock photos rather than pictures of any people from the church. And the overall message communicates the people they want there.
  
  So it is true that the “mine all mine” Sheilaism religion can be manifested within hyperindividualistic and consumeristic Christianity as well.
  - afpierce
    
    offensive? because a service was exclusive? Or was it only because it was exclusive on a Christmas Eve? The service by necessity had to be themed or orientated around something and targeted at someone? I find generic services are often incredibly boring and uninspiring. There is an amazing diversity among Christians and it would be impractical (if not impossible) to have a service to satisfy them all. Most pastors would identify themselves with a particular kind of ministry — today many would feel it is the young families that are the farthest away from God and therefore the ones that need the most encouragement (or enticement). I have a youth group that is just for boys. Why? Because the needs of boys are different than those of girls in a very broad sense particularly in our community (and besides, mixed groups are much different than single identity groups). Are some parents offended? Of course? Justly so? Certainly in their mind. Could they send their sons and daughters to another group? Yes. Do some? Yes. Am I offended because they are looking for something different? Of course not. Would I like them to be able to find something for their kids? Absolutely. Would that sign read “all children welcome”? I hope so. Does it invalidate my work? No.
    - randal
      
      I think a youth group is a different thing from a church. I have no problem with groups within the local congregation (e.g. boys youth group; seniors group, etc) but it is a very different thing to attempt to homogenize the local congregation itself to a specific group. Do you think it would be appropriate for a local church to restrict its service to boys? Or Caucasians? Or people of a particular socio-economic class? Or…
      
      It is one thing to have the homogeneity develop naturally in a church, particularly if it is an expression of the wider community. It is another thing to tacitly exclude some by targeting others in your advertising.
http://www.atheistmissionary.com/ The Atheist Missionary

The best explanation I have found to explain our inherent sense of right and wrong is provided by Australian psychologist and social researcher Hugh Mackay in his book Right & Wrong. Mackay makes a strong case to suggest that true moral mindfulness amounts to each individual deciding what is right and wrong for themself. This doesn’t mean that people make moral decisions in a social vacuum. However, Mackay writes: “there will be many occasions when we will decide, on the basis of our own experience and our own private reflections, that something is right or wrong for us, even though other people – including people close to us – may reach a different conclusion.” Mackay explains that while moral decision-making is an inherently subjective process, that doesn’t mean “anything goes”. Although there is no absolute rule to guide every decision – no universal “right answers” – there is always a right answer for each individual and it is up to them to work it out.

The idea of having a supernatural deity tell them what is right and wrong (or bestowing them with an inherent sense to discern that distinction) appeals to religious believers. The problem with this approach is that: “cheating, lying and exploiting other people are not wrong because this or that religion says they are; they are wrong because societies can’t function harmoniously unless people agree to respect each other’s rights, needs and well-being”. (Mackay, p. 238). The same can be said for the arbitrary killing of children. Of course, if you rely on your deity to make the rules, at any given time he/she/it can direct you (as the Bible tells us God commanded Abraham) to kill an innocent child.
Shawn

I am sure I read this post wrong, because it looks very much like Randal is promoting subjective morality at a minimum and possibly atheism at a maximum !

Ok, I accept it might be sarcasm, but nonetheless he makes good points !
- Taniwha
  
  Not always quite so sure what Randal Rauser really promotes either Shawn.But still so far we are pretty sure seems it doesnt really agree with the terms of a Calvinists opinion of what constitutes a decent barbecue.