It Happened One Day

One day a man came to my house for the purpose of asking me what religion he should follow. I asked him what religion his parents were. He said they were Catholic. I asked what he liked about religion. He said he liked the emotion and the rituals. I said that the answer was easy. He should be a Catholic. I know someone who has great problems in her life. When she was young she was an oddball who couldn't quite fit in. She decided the answer to this problem was to be unique and a rebel. She spent her life building up her new character. She joked about how she was abnormal and proud of it. She did stupid things in her life and taught the stupid things to her sister. Then, surprisingly, the little sister did many of those same things because she wanted to be like her big sister. All this time the big sister taught her how to be unhappy. Yes, that's what she knew how to do. Never in her life did she try to be normal and accepted. Never once did she ask for help. In fact, I asked her if I could help her to understand life and how to be happy. Of course, her answer was: Oh, no, I think I have my life under control. This was her normal way of "dealing" with things. Part of it was her build-it-yourself religion. When her mother died, she did everything that could be done to go in the wrong direction. The saddest thing she did was to trash her mother's beliefs and go looking for something else. She is now a pagan, but not a very good one. When someone like her rebels against a religion she really doesn't understand, they will never be satisfied. Quite frankly, her mother would roll over in her grave if she could she her now. But she is tough and she doesn't need help and she will continue in the direction in which she is going - hating and insulting her own mother's beliefs and convincing herself how enlightened she is. It's strange how people would rather destroy their lives than to accept help from someone who loves them. It's too bad she never really understood her mother's religion. Then, again, she never really tried to understand her own place in her own life, either. She's just too tough to worry about such trivial things.

Atheists

What is up with these people? Here's my take on being an atheist. I enjoy talking to people who are Christians. I enjoy talking to people who are Muslims. I enjoy talking to people who are Jews or Hindus or Buddhists. Or New agers. Or agnostics. I don't enjoy talking to atheists. Someone wrote a book explaining how the universe is too big for God to have created it. Huh? This goes directly to my problem with atheists. How can a human being know everything there is to know? That's what it would take for me to come to the conclusion that there cannot be a God. Anything short of omniscience is not good enough. If God created the universe, I tirelessly repeat, how can we make Him subject to its laws that He set up? I don't see God as part of the universe. I don't see the universe as part of God. I see the universe as God's creation and that He can interact with it anytime He feels like doing so. How can we prove there is a God? How can we prove there isn't? The haughty say you can't disprove a negative. Well, I don't see what that has to do with God as he is not part of the universe and is not subject to its laws and we are not equipped to detect Him unless He, the creator of the universe, wants us to. Therefore, I just don't get atheism. If you folks are angry at God, that's your business. If placing your hand on the Bible and swearing to nothing (I would think that was an advantage) somehow offends you, I'm sorry you're so delicate. Just stay away from me. I can't get a meaningful conversation out of you. If I did, I probably wouldn't understand what we were talking about because I'm not omniscient like you. Do me a favor and admit you just don't know and we'll get along just fine. Be an agnostic.

The Anti-Semitic Cycle

I am very tired of the Middle East situation. The Jews are God's chosen people. What were they chosen to do? They were chosen to save the rest of us. Yet who are the most hated people on the planet? Who do people hate when they get to the point at which there is nobody or nothing left to blame? They blame the Jews. It's an endless cycle that has gone through many millennia. It never ends. We are approaching the top of the cycle once again with the situation in the Middle East. I am not a Jew. When people ask what religion I am, I say: I'm Jewishish. No, that's not a typo. Spiritually I am Jewish but in reality I don't choose to be. Have you ever heard the saying: If men were meant to fly God would have given them wings? I respect the Jews and admire them as a people. However, I do not wish to be one. It's sort of the way I look at cars. There are certain cars that are incredible. But I don't want one. It takes the pleasure out of them. If I had one, it would be less mysterious. I would have less of an interest in it. It's the same with the Jews. I admire them for the things they have suffered and overcome. The reason they exist in Israel is called miracles. The Israeli history of the return to the homeland is filled with incredibly illogical things. There is a historical account you should read that comes in sixty-eight parts, I believe. It describes the Jewish history and the things the hysterical, dishonest media aren't telling you. If you will read through this with honesty, you will finish it with a very different and knowledgeable attitude. They teach anti-semitism in most colleges and universities, now. It's not that our young people are stupid. They are just as smart as older generations. However, when you are only told one side of the story embellished with untruths, it becomes the truth to you. There is only one way to overcome this misguided ignorance. Here is a link that will change your whole world if you can overcome the crap you've been taught: Link. That's the first installment. You can sign up to receive it weekly so that you can let it sink in and roll it around in your brain. There are also interesting comments on the web version to consider from its readers. If you don't go read it, you will continue to contribute to the ignorance and hatred.

Alternative Goals

I used to get feeds from a web site that was always finding some new interesting piece of evidence to add to their life-wasting cause of disproving the Bible. Most of these "discoveries" were things I was already familiar with. It struck me that he and I were going out there to find new factual information - he to try to disprove the Bible and I to try to better understand God. I've seen many people who do the sort of thing he does and I can't help but wonder why. Why doesn't he order some pizza and get some beer and watch a nice movie? What is it in his undertaking that is constructive? Is this somehow fulfilling his life? I have no idea why someone would do this. Perhaps he is angry at organized religion. I think organized religion is an important thing. Jesus spent his time on earth trying to get the organized Jewish religion back in order. Of course, he failed because he is dealing with humans who have free will. I like the line in the song: He could have called 10,000 angels ... It seems to me that organized religion has the same problem as socialism and utopia in that people are running it. From the moment a religion has been set up with guidelines and leaders, it's downhill the rest of the way. So, I agree that organized religion is a problem, but the problem is us, not God. I wish that fellow and others like him all the happiness in the world but I don't think they are going to find it where they are looking.

My Kind of Religion

There are many religions in the world and they cover a wide range of beliefs. The kind of religion that makes sense to me is firstly one in which Someone is in charge of all that exists. This would be a Creator. Intelligent Design implies this in the universe. While I am not an ID advocate, I certainly am offended at the way the scientific community (or maybe the scientific exclusive club) treats the concept. There is no way science can rule out a Creator or Designer, as it were. But, going on, this Creator that is necessary to my beliefs would not be subject to the laws He set up for the creation. He would be independent of it though He certainly could participate in it. When things get a little out of order, He could make some minor adjustments to correct them. He would be undetectable unless He chose to be detected. Hinduism does not fit this because the universe is the Creator. Buddhism is the daughter of Hinduism. Paganism worships the creation so that's out because I just cannot imagine God being happy with his people worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. I know if I were God I would be very angry at the ingratitude. I am not criticizing these religions, I am only saying they are not for me because they do not fit my picture of what God should be. Unless I'm missing something, that seems to cut it down to three religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Of these Judaism is the mother, Christianity the older child, and Islam the younger child. Judaism to me is the more sensible religion with the main focus on God and what He expects of us. Christianity grew out of Judaism with the one major change - that Jesus is the long-awaited messiah. I have not resolved that issue. Islam seems to have a dominating, angry version of the Jewish God. Not many Muslims ever bother to read the Bible, though. They just read what Mohammed said about it. The Jesus of Christianity seems to be the peaceful, turn the other cheek type of God while the Islamic God is demanding "Do this or else." Somewhere in the middle is the Jewish God who lovingly and patiently guides his stubborn followers along life's road trying to teach them to get along. He is like a Father to his children. I'm sure that's really the same message Jesus tried to teach. As far as Islam goes, I don't like to say much because the radical leaders that run it are angrier than their God seems to be. I'll just leave them alone.

Let's Be Honest

I do not mean to rile anyone up with my thoughts. They are just my thoughts. I can have an intelligent, objective discussion with anyone who wants to. My intention is for me to find things out from you and for you to consider my viewpoints. Perhaps my rambling will supply a missing piece that has tormented you and will make your life happier. All I know for sure is that Someone created the universe and it is a mystery to us to explain that. I do, however, think that He knew what He was doing and that it wasn't a mistake. I believe He considers the desires of his people and sometimes changes the future. I think He knows your name. I think there is an afterlife and that when He calls your name, you will rise to meet Him. I also believe there are many who will not hear their name called at all. I believe that most of the time He does not interfere with our events and actions and decisions. We have been given two great gifts - life and free will. Enjoy them and use them wisely.

And What About Jesus?

There are several religions that tell you that if you do not accept their rules you will go to Hell. Two that come to mind are Christianity and Islam. I do not think that Jesus meant it to be this way. I don't know for sure about Mohammed. If you submit to this type of thinking, life's a gamble. Or, perhaps, the afterlife. Here's how I deal with it. Jesus was a Jew and thought a lot like the Pharisees. I don't see that he wanted to start anything new. He was trying to fix something old. There is nothing wrong with Judaism in its "caring about your neighbor" viewpoint. It allows that other religions are different ways of seeing the same God. Islam looks through Mohammed's eyes while Christianity looks through the eyes of Paul. I'll bet you thought I was going to say Jesus. Christianity is as different from Jesus, though, as Zen Buddhism is from the real Buddha. The question here is: Was Jesus God? I don't know. All we can do is to try to gather all the information we can, study it, and make a judgment. Most people never do this because they are afraid they might have made the wrong choice in these very confused days. Isaiah, the great prophet, says that God judges a man by what's in his heart. What's in his heart he does. God wants us to care about others, no matter what their religion or none. A lot of people cop out and say: The story of the virgin and son existed a long time before Jesus. Tell me how that is relevant to the question. I, personally, do not believe that Jesus touted himself as the long-awaited messiah - his followers did do that later. But tell me why the story existing before the event nullifies the event. How can mankind making up a story nullify the true event when God says it's time to do it? I do not think Jesus was God but, presented with factual information, I can hit my knees at a moment's notice. If Jesus is God, I have to accept it. Not a problem. It would be very welcomed to suddenly know for sure. On the other hand, I have to remember that worshiping Jesus if he is not God would be like worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. If I were God, I would be angry, too.

Adam and Eve

The Bible and science agree that there was an Adam and there was an Eve. In science they are anonymous. In the Bible they have been made into characters. It is probable that Adam and Eve were not originally seen as real people but as symbols for who those first humans might be. Christians know this type of narrative as a parable. Some parables contradict each other. The first two accounts of creation also contradict each other. I have seen many people who waste their lives looking for things like this to claim the Bible is false. Unfortunately for them, these contradictions don't matter. The stories were passed down orally in many cultures and were made into two great stories in Genesis. The whole point of a parable is to teach things to younger generations. The first parable teaches that God created all things. The second parable teaches that mankind often turns its back on the Creator. You know, like those people who waste their lives trying to disprove the Bible. Angry people. If they could be honest with themselves, they could try to understand the purpose of having this type of story. Then they could relax and just try to understand what the story is telling them and accept or reject the message. The first couple of chapters are not scientific documents. They are not meant to be broken down and tested. When I see people arguing about the details of these stories, all I can do is shake my head and pity them. Take them for what they are. Relax and learn something.

What is God?

God is the Creator of the universe. Everything we know He gave to us. Rivers and trees and frogs make us happy. Yet we can't seem to find God. Many things have happened in my life that also can't be explained. At just the right time. I don't pray to God on my own behalf. I pray for others and that's how I think it should be. God takes care of me and will do so until the end of me. I believe there will be more to life after death. I don't know what it will be. Perhaps then I will meet Him and He will know my name. He will know my mother. She certainly prayed for me a lot. Whatever God is, He is mostly unknown by us. He is not subject to the laws of the universe. He created them. I like the account in the Torah/Bible. He spoke and it was so. We can't understand God. He didn't have a beginning. He is not unable to hear us all if we pray to Him at once. In fact, He would probably be delighted considering how much we apparently hate Him, now. I wonder if God cries.

What Do We Really Know?

We know we exist and, somehow, we began. We know the world around us and how a lot of it works. We know there is time and it had a beginning, at least for us. But how did we get here? What happened before we began? This is the part we can all relate to: We just don't know. Given a choice between God and the big accident, I'll choose God. I don't see much evidence that would persuade me to believe that for a zillion eons, nothing happened. Then, all of a sudden, everything happened. Science doesn't like to consider that Someone might have made it happen. Someone who is not subject to time or to space or to a lack of knowledge. The God I picture created the universe we know. He set up the rules it must follow. To try to find God is a hilarious and vain undertaking. How would we sense Him? Are we equipped to perceive God with our feeble, created senses? Can we see or hear or touch or smell or taste God? It is funny to me that the world is turning out to be incredibly more complicated than scientists of a hundred years ago could ever have imagined. Yet many of them vehemently reject even the possibility that a supernatural being could have played a part in our lives. It is easier for the big accident to have happened than that a Being who knows no space or time to have created all things in a timely and logical manner. Isn't that funny?