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I think it's time for me to post a manifesto regarding my past and future musings on the existence of God. There is every chance to suppose that someone who agrees or disagrees with my views may never find this particular essay, but I thought it prudent to post it anyway.
Despite the fact that my family never spoke about God, and we never went to church (that I can remember, anyway), I still developed a keen interest in the existence of God. That's the most accurate way I can describe my early journey toward the 'undiscovered country.' I certainly didn't acquire any exposure to the subject at school, for reasons that remain obvious, thanks to the ACLU, et al. I also didn't have any friends back then who invited me to church. So, the point here being, I do not fit the supposedly typical mold of a believer who is indoctrinated by authority figures or peers. I made my decision on my own, and in fact it was in odd contrast to the other members of my family at the time. How many people actually believe in the existence of a Creator is mostly up for grabs these days; the numbers I've heard quoted seem to be highly affected by who's quoting them. The shifts in opinion appear to be somewhat generational, because anecdotally, I've noticed that more older folks are believers, and more of the younger people I've encountered (I work with many adolescents and twenty-somethings) tend to be either atheists or agnostics. The kids are mostly agnostic, in my experience; I think that may be due to an overall desire to avoid the issue. It's way too confusing to know what to do with an inclination to believe, when so many of their 'heroes' in popular culture are prancing on the atheist promenade. Pardon my digression. I am not affiliated with any denomination, nor do I wish to ever join a particular religion. I believe very strongly in the God that the Hebrews chronicled in the collection of books that non-Jews call the Old Testament. I also believe that the New Testament is very possibly an extension of the Old Testament, therefore I give it almost as much gravity. Now, to clear a few things up: I do NOT believe anyone knows the entire truth about God (yes, that obviously includes me). However, this should never be an excuse to avoid trying to learn whatever that truth may be. I do NOT believe anyone can buy his or her way to heaven (if it exists) by money nor deed, because those very acts smack of selfish intent. I do NOT believe God is a wise old man residing somewhere in the clouds or in space or on some distant planet. I do NOT believe the scriptures should ever be used as an excuse to treat other human beings with disrespect or abuse. Any people doing so, clearly do not understand nor appreciate the invaluable written content they're besmirching before the entire world by their actions. I do NOT believe people begging for money in God's name on television have anything to say that is worth listening to. That goes for anyone publicly invoking God's name for personal gain, or for the purpose of sowing discord. I do NOT believe human beings need other human beings to teach them about God. If God is almighty, then a pastor, priest, rabbi, mullah, imam, televangelist, sponsor, cult leader or any other affiliate are all completely unnecessary. Those who seek truth in genuine sincerity will always find it. And no, I'm not selling my views, nor do I have any interest in proselytizing them. This essay is for the sole purpose of preventing a possible misunderstanding by any who think they agree or disagree with me on these matters. I do NOT believe God needs to be defended in any way. I once had a friend angrily call God an asshole, and then he was shocked that I didn't react with indignation. My take on the matter has always been: any Being capable of creating and sustaining life in every way does not need my puny little attempt at defending God's honor. Perhaps the fundamentalists (of every religion) in the world might take a clue here; resorting to arguments, fighting and murder don't convince anyone of anything except that the combatant's faith is a exercise in fragile self-delusion. I do NOT believe God answers prayers like a cosmic Santa. Try asking for a cookie to appear on your plate. I do believe God is aware of everything that transpires in the universe, however. I do NOT believe God enjoys the suffering that human beings visit upon each other. This includes the nasty little caricature of God relishing the final toss of a human being (or soul) into burning flames of eternal torture. It's unfortunate how many people can't seem to see the way this traditional (but biblically inaccurate) depiction of the Second Death detracts from actual eternal separation from God - the true punishment that a human being should fear, for a life of unrepentant sin. I do NOT believe human beings are clueless children or puppets on spiritual strings who are not responsible for their decisions and actions. Come on, let's be honest, at least on this one issue. The individual's desire to relocate blame to anywhere else but on his or her own shoulders is why so many can't seem to fathom that there are true consequences for the things we do. It's way too easy to push the blame on a faceless Creator, especially when we want to do our own thing. Never mind that our own thing often merely adds to the ills of the world by way of selfishness. "Hey God (who isn't really there), you supposedly made us this way, so why should I be expected to rise above my own selfish instincts?" or the ever popular, "You supposedly created this world, so why should I have to take responsibility for anything that happens in it?" Somewhere in all this childish logic, the proponents seem to gloss over the whole 'free will' thing. Mix in a robust ingratitude for the statistical miracles they call their lives, and you have a recipe for delusion and potential disaster. I do NOT believe a lack of miracles or an 'imperfect world' are evidence that God does not exist. I do think it's incredibly arrogant (and amusing) for the created to presume to set the ground rules for the Creator. We see the world, we see the results of positive and negative decisions. We don't live in behavioral stasis; we adapt. Therefore, the foolishness of constantly trying to swim against the current never ceases to amaze me. People continue in this way, day after day, year after year, millennium after millennium. The bottom line? When the rules are known and they're still broken, it's not much different than knowing the edge of the cliff holds certain death, and deciding to step on the gas instead of the brake. Yet human beings have done this for as long as they've populated the earth! And lastly: I do NOT believe it is worth my time to try and change anyone's mind on this subject. Whether or not others wish to be atheists, or to pursue a belief in God, is entirely up to them, not me. That doesn't prove my opinions correct, but it also doesn't prove them wrong. I do care what happens to people, I simply recognize that human beings are more than able to make their own decisions... and indeed they do. There will definitely come a time when the word "but" will no longer make a difference. |