Spirituality in the Era of SAS (short attention spans)

Agnostic? Or just busy?

I was talking to my mentor from the CBFMW program one Monday evening. It was one of a couple sessions we are to schedule each month during the course of our mentoring relationship.

The financial statement for May was the targeted agenda. But when I opened our conversation, it went something like —

“I badly need help.”

“Why?”

“I need to hire a project manager.”

And I went on a tirade of rants on why I need one and uncovering more challenges in retaining our team’s culture and expanding the team’s relationship (in the long run) so we can get stellar hires. It included the plan of going out and networking more for the purpose of hiring.

And then my mentor said, “How about church? Do you meet people there too?”

“We’re agnostic.”

Agnosticism.

We’ve been at it for seven years already — seven years of being away from the routines and rhythm of being a Roman Catholicism of which we are born into. It was seven years of just lighting a candle whenever we visit churches.

Our family grew up religious. We were members of Kids for Christ, Youth for Christ, Couples for Christ. I was present in all the youth leadership conventions. It even brought me as far as Lucena City just to praise and worship at a national level.

Somewhere along the way, we lost heart but gained a more “logos” approach to spirituality. How? That’s another story. My mom wasn’t happy about it. Neither was our grandlola.

But we practice spirituality in our own way. We do Buddhist meditation techniques. Yes, we zazen whenever we can. We release ourselves from the material baggages that come with debt and finances. And, in a way, we know we’re good without God.

We are spiritual. But we aren’t religious.

Is it going to be an issue if one is agnostic? Is it a concern when one is a non-theist in this religious country? Is it a flaw to be secular?

I think the answer is YES.

That prospect who didn’t take me seriously on the proposal because I told her I can’t come to her prayer meeting.

That fellow digital marketer who got stellar contracts because he’s also a church leader.

That community leader who wasn’t building deeper relationships because she’s as agnostic as I am.

There is only so much attention you can pay and so little time to do so.

Would you rather take the time to know how good a person is despite his religion? Or would you just turn towards your religious circle and get the talent that you need? Would you rather deal with a supplier who looks familiar because you met him in a religious conference? Or take sweet time to gather your view on a supplier you just met.

Let’s all save time. Shall we? If religions now work like corporations, better use it as it is! Let’s do the networking in-house. Let’s do the hiring internally and move people up the ladder!

Agnosticism is a flaw. What societies do agnostics have? What circles do we have that do fervent weekly gatherings that build bonds? What ways do we know fellow agnostics who aren’t as smug about their beliefs. Nada.

In this era of short attention spans, it’s vital to connect with people instantly. And some attentions can only be captured by religion.

When we ended our session with my mentor, I didn’t want to offend him. He’s Christian by the way. So, I told him that I just might go back to being a Roman Catholic soon — go to church and all the routines that come with it.

But here’s the thing: Will I be in it for spirituality? Or in it for the perks?