Shouldn't the ego become attached to something outside of itself--namely God? That's what the word religion is derived from--man being reconnected to God. That's what religious worship and traditions are for--the connection to God and to religion are closely intertwined for this purpose. I think that is why so many radical changes (granted, to changeable things) in such a short time were also accompanied by so many leaving the clerical state, seminaries, and parish churches (with hindsight it is of coruse easier to see this effect). It's probably why this phenomenon is common among those who prefer the EF and all that goes with it.
Obviously, if someone is only partaking of them for show, then that is no good, but it's difficult to judge whether that is the case.
The ego isn't the person, but the false self-image created through the years in order to protect the self. Its what we want the world to see when they look at us, because we are insecure with our true being. The ego will then attach itself to identities that it wants to project to the world. For some, its religion as in Catholicism. The ego is very defensive and any attack on what the ego has attached itself to, will be met with offensiveness reactions. You'll see it all over the web in religious forums.
When a person receives the gift of faith through the revelation of Jesus Christ, they are stripped of the ego because God only knows the true person He created.
Its why St. John of the Cross and other great doctors of the Church, that that we must detach ourselves from ego driven agendas in order to be one with Christ as we truly are.
In other words, we come to know ourselves.
Self-knowledge is a very important part of spiritual growth, and as long as the ego continues to create masks, spiritual growth is stunted. It
takes time and work, but its through the transforming grace given to us in Christ, that makes it happen.
For some people, its instant, others it takes a life-time.
Jim
