faith [noun] -belief that is not based on proof
religion [noun] - a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
im completely bored out of my mind at work and don't want to work on anything important. im also full cause of my delicious subway sandwhich. and i dont have plans for the rest of the day, although im working on convincing kira to hang out with me haha.
so to let my mind do something im going to share my little take on "god" and religion in general i suppose, since i mentioned it in an earlier blog. my mom just sent me a quote too, it said that god made us because he thought we'd like it. i think that's pretty accurate if, like i said, there is in fact a god. theres a few things that bother me about the whole concept, and im not singling anything out or trying to piss anyone off, i respect all religions, all beliefs, and i wouldn't and will not push any of my thoughts onto anyone. this is simply my take on things, i in no way want to offend anyone and if i do then i sincirely apologize in advance.
my thought is that yes, there is in some place a higher being, not necessarily a god, just a someone. the thing that does bother me about a "jealous" yet, "compassionate" and "merciful" god, as the bible puts it (which is sort of a contradiction), is that he puts some people in situations that i simply do not understand. there is no personal test or even personal gain in letting a 5 year old get abused, or a 16 year old becoming a murderer, or giving a 17 year old terminal cancer. it's cruel and more evil than i could think of. Where is the mercy? And if all children are innocent why are so many born with life threatining illnesses or die of SIDS? I cant see the mercy in that, or the compassion. it makes me angry and i cant imagine eternally worshiping someone like that.
another point is the ignorance of some religions. i don't believe there is one set god, as i mentioned, or some very large portion of the world would be damned. there are over 4,200 recognized religions around the world and there is absolutely no way that every person on this planet can be exposed to the "right" religion. and what of those who get it "wrong" or have no choice in the path they follow? is it fair for them to be punished as some religions say they should? again, where is the compassion?
one of my strongest objections to established religion is the fact that many do not accept homosexuals. it is proven in studies that they do not choose to be attracted to the same gender, it is genetics. why would anyone choose to be looked down upon by most faiths and most people?to be banished from family, discriminated in military, community, and other organizations and situations. where is the equality and compassion there? and why would this almighty god create someone that by his doctrine should be damned because of this one characteristic. ugh it makes me so frustrated that people are ignorate to that fact. that they shun a person without the slightest thought the person they actually are. it's cruel and very un"godly" or christian or hindu or whatever.
im not meaning to be so critical or singular, as i in fact have a very high respect for others beliefs, except when i have them pushed on me. i think a religion is a choice and it doesnt't need to be shared like it is sometimes. i like to think of it as a more personal endeavor. the whole world doesn't need to know that your obsessed with christ or buddah, even if you think they should know. and beyond my criticism i am actually quite intruiged by religions and their effect on society, although it may sound hypocritical after the points mentioned above.
maybe i'm faithless. maybe im practical. and maybe i'll be damned.
whatever happens this is what i think.
hi darling. i know, it's strange for us to be in such opposition, seeing as you are my closest and dearest friend. but as you know, sharing is sharing, and you do your part as i do mine. so, here it goes.
ReplyDeleteso, you've basically wrote about two of the top reasons why most people who aren't in a singular religion, or are unbelievers, or just people who believe in other things, don't think God is the kind being He says He is in the Bible, or as "Christians" describe Him.
well this may be a concept that is hard to swallow, but i simply see it as truth. see, God doesn't create evils in the world and uses them in our lives to "give us a lesson" or prove to us morally that this isn't the "right thing to do". i used to think that the bad that happens in this lifetime were Gods ways of showing the world what He thought punishment was and that was that. no questions asked. but as i've been studying, praying, listening, discussing, and meditating of God, to God, with God, and with people who simply love God, i've come to see otherwise.
we as humans are far from perfect as we all should know, and if someone doesn't know then they're in complete denial, hahahaha. but we have seemingly corrupted ourselves, our minds, eachother, and this world around us, using people and this beautiful place for our selfish reasons and our temporary "needs". we create the chaos around us and we blame God for it.
God never, ever creates the chaos to show us He's there. He never needs evil to do good, that's just simply contrary to His character.
and see, there's a big difference between Jealousy and Coveting. God created us as His own. we are His creation, wonderfully and beautifully made for a purpose. Jealousy and Coveting are two different things. let's use them in examples to get the full effect.
you'd be jealous of your husband if he were working and not at home most of the time, or if he were cheating, or if he were preoccupied by something other than you. you are jealous because he's yours. your husband. being jealous is wanting the attention of something that is your own. therefore, God is jealous when we turn our backs to Him and find satisfaction in the false promises of this world, or focus our lives far from His path.
now, coveting. you would covet if you wanted your best friends boyfriend, wanted someone else's possessions, wanted something that simply was not yours. therefore, God knows we are His, this earth and all of creation is His, and there's no way He's able to covet.
we all know that the abuse the 5 year old goes through is far from what we deem right, and the 17 year old who has terminal cancer is something so far from a situation to smile about. but you have to see that it isn't God who has put this upon the 5 year old or the 17 year old. it's God who has given the 5 year old the chance to be healed again and to see that they aren't just nothing and that they are so valuable and beautiful in His eyes. we don't see God because we see the pain in this world in His place.
as you already know, i read the book The Shack, and here are just some really great quotes that may enlighten just a little bit.
"I’m not who you think I am, Mackenzie, I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It is not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it."
"Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors." (p. 185)
"Papa has never needed to evil to establish his good purposes. It is you humans who have embraced evil and Papa has responded with goodness. (p. 165)
"As well intentioned as it might be, you know that religion can chew up people! An awful lot of what is done in my name has nothing to do with me and is often, even if unintentional, very contrary to my purposes." (p. 179)
"Mackenzie, my purposes are not for my comfort, or yours. My purposes are always and only an expression of love. I purpose to work life out of death, to bring freedom out of brokenness and turn darkness into light." (p. 191)
..and on to the tougher to swallow - homosexuality, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and all that follow.
i would read this article that talks about the "gay gene" project and it's really quite interesting. i think in a way you'd gain a lot of knowledge about the assumed "biological reasons" for being homosexual. i found it interesting, but not in some cynical "haha told you so" way. it truly was interesting.
http://www.trueorigin.org/gaygene01.asp
there are so many other things i could tell you about God, Christianity as a whole, people as a whole, theology, or whatever. "religion" and so on. but i deem this enough for now. you know i'd never force my beliefs on you and when i write about God on my blog, or mention it or whatever, it's never a shove to your face, it's never boasting, it's never pride. it's my love and faithfulness of God and me externalizing that love. it's praise, it's love, it's humility and it's just plain out love, really.
but hopefully this triggers something. fire away if you'd like, but it's not some kind of challenge, debate, argument, or whatever. simply put it, it's an exchange of opinions, ideas, and wisdom/knowledge.
you know i love you very very much, and i'm not using that term as a soothing mechanism to make sure you don't "hate me" when all is said and done. i truly truly love you as a person, christian or not, religious or not, and so on. you are a beautiful person and your opinions are always worth my time!
xoxoxoxo
i love you very much too.
ReplyDeletei just like you said, have extremely contrary beliefs. i dont believe in a god with rules. not at all. i believe in something bigger yes, and me and my mom were discussing it as well, like how the ocean is bigger than us and if you were floating in it it would ahve control so there must be something bigger than the ocean and so on but i do not believe in a god that came down to save us. i believe that a man was good and prophisized and all that but i think it is completely ignorant not to unederstand anothers religion.
and i never said covet. but he is jealous. which i still have trouble with.
i understand that you see it as truth. i have no problem with that. i repsect you for it. its amazing that someone can put faith in something they can't explain, and frankly would never be able too. so yes its beautiful in its ways but i also see it as blind in a way i can't really articulate.
and about the child or the 17 year old. "god" doesnt alwas give them a second chance, and again there is no way that every person can be exposed to the "right" religion, be it muslim, jewish, or christian.
ill leave it at that for now, as i dont want to fight and i love you my asian!!!
i know, i know, i don't want this to become some internet argumentative thing, so don't worry. one day we'll sit down and have a proper discussion about these kinds of things and do it right, rather than an impersonal online chat, haha. anyways, see you tomorrow at school! xoxoxo
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