Other Wordly Affairs

Religion is quite a bold subject, and it tends to hurt many peoples feelings. I will try my best not to take away from anyone else’s convictions, for I believe one cannot possibly know the answer to the all mystical question of a greater being. But what I will do is give my own opinion on the matter, because hard as I may try, I find it hard to come by any facts on the subject that can be strewn against opinion. It all seems to be opinion in some way or another, there is no way around that. Because if it was the opposite- if there were facts to be argued for the existence of a God, there would be no discussion. Because facts are meant to be true, and I have yet to come by someone who can give me truth as to why their God MUST exist, it all seems to be what they think. That leaves me with nothing to do but give my own opinion and state why I think in such ways. I will try to use as many ‘facts’ as possible, but I mostly will be using common sense to guide me. Anyone who cannot stomach a debate on religion, or cannot stomach to question their own convictions without jumping to the conclusion that they would be abandoning them should NOT read further. In order to debate such a subject, one must possess the ability to take a view point opposite of their own. I have done this many times, and it has lead me to the thoughts that I am about to dispense… Over the thousands of years that man has walked the earth, it seems that religion has always been there with us. As far back as we can date our early ancestors worshipped Gods, so it seems that there is something inside us that drives us to such ideas. I would venture to say that these ideas and beliefs have been thought up and contrived to give people what they want: meaning. For whatever reason it is dreadful for a person to think that after death there is nothing, and that everything we do on Earth amounts to nil. The thought of being so alone and so meaningless frightens the majority of people. So much so, that we have contrived our own makers and our own Gods to give us the answers that we could not give ourselves, even going far enough as to give ourselves a paradise after death! Instead of continuing the search for meaning, they cling to faith, using it as a crutch when individuals come to ask the tough questions, and blindly following what it preaches at no expense. It is troublesome, at least, because one has yet to prove that a God exists. And yet, so many take this to be a fact. I suppose one could argue that because so many believe it, it must be true, and consequentially makes it true. But this does not hold to the test. For once the great population thought that the world was flat, and no one could be told otherwise. So we cannot deduce that because people believe it so much, that it is true, because people often believe foolish things. So we ‘without faith’ keep searching for something, some kind of fact, to let us know if such a being exists. But none has presented itself. The faithful argue that there are signs and messages to their credit, but it still relies on the perception of the individual. It still relies on what people think it means. But let us go back to why I think we have made these Gods up for ourselves. I happen to be of the opinion that if I were squashed the same as a lizard, it would amount to no difference. We are both organisms of the Earth, both operate of the same chemicals and natural processes, and both live and die just the same. So why then, has the human race clung to such a fantasy as heaven, when we would not expect the same from a lizard? Of course, the answer is that a lizard cannot consciously think. “I” is not in the lizard’s vocabulary. Why should humans be so different? Well, the fact that I can sit and write divergent thoughts on the subject is a whole matter in itself, but the difference is that a lizard would never worry itself with such things. It has no conscience to tell it to be worried about having no meaning. The fact that we do, enables us to be scared over such trivial things, so much so that we make up answers for ourselves – No one wants to be as meaningless as a lizard, right? So we have God and Heaven, and we have had him and our endgame paradise in many forms over the thousands of years. He is all knowing, and created everything- even has a spot for us in a wonderful place! What a perfect existence to have! Someone thought it all up and we are just pawns in his game! What a beautiful thing faith must be, because it must come with such happiness. To know in your heart that you have a purpose, that someone is watching over you must be very comforting. But it is not suited for the logical type. Too many inconsistencies exist in it to be true, and I find myself leaning more towards the natural aspect of life. All things exist and live off one another, say the faithful, because that is the way God intended it! Never once thinking that maybe some other force may be behind it, one as natural as water running downhill through dirt. It changes and adapts to everything and everyone, all at once. Nature itself is the true designer, in my lowly opinion of course. Now, what of the word ‘God’? What does it really mean to people? In my mind, if there is some other worldly force behind everything, driving everything, ‘God’ is just as good a name for it as any. But it seems silly to think that such a profound figure would be as we’ve made it, taking human form and all. It seems that if there were to be a ‘God’ it would be an all encompassing force – one that can never be found, because it is one with us. But, people will always have their faith for God and heaven, and others will always detest it. In that, I would like to remind all who hold their convictions so tight: that the truth which you seek and cherish, the meaning of our existence, is sought by both sides of the spectrum. Whether one calls it ‘God, or ‘Nature’, or ‘Chance’, it is STILL seen as a force driving things along. Do not be fooled by people’s objections to your opinions, and their hatred, and their sympathy for them. Because they seek meaning exactly the same as all humans do, and as humans have done since we can remember. Is there a God? One could not say for sure. But you could also not say the opposite for sure either. All in all, God will probably always exist, as will the search for the proof of his existence. Hopefully we have stirred up the faithful enough not to be so blind. And hopefully we have riled up the nay-sayers enough to see that they themselves seek meaning, with the convictions they hold to be true. Before now I have mentioned little between the difference of having faith, and being religious. Now, if God were all knowing, and a good servant of his had been good all of their life, why would they have a need for church? Can all the things a good Christian must do to be faithful not be done without giving money to a church? Would God not know that you are faithful, because he is able to hear our thoughts and our prayers? What of church then? What of organized religion? Such a profound being as God could not possibly care whether or not you were late for church, a man-made house of worship- or care that you did not kiss the priests hand, or give him money. Surely he must not be interested in such material things, because such things are only given value by us, man, not Him. So really he must care about virtue, and honesty, and love, (if he were to be up there caring at all of course), because these are the things that make good men, not donations or church attendance records. Faith and belief is a beautiful thing, and inspires hope and love, where religion is just a scheme to control the masses, and exploit this ever so lovely faith. God would not be swayed by such material and trivial matters. As if CHURCH had any effect of God’s opinion of you. He would judge you solely on what is in your heart and mind, not by the actions we perform. Men of good moral character do not commit heinous acts, just as men of indecent moral character DO. But only because it was in their mind in the first place, they were bad before they committed these condemnable actions, or they would not have thought them up. So, if assuming all that I have said is true, a person of real faith and belief would not be swayed by a church labels, boundaries, and convictions of an organized religion. They would see it as a personal matter, and no church should have a say in the relationship between an individual and their God. (Of course, this is if such a relationship exists.) But, over time we have seen that humans seek safety in numbers. And I will end this segment by saying that almost all religious persons I have encountered have been good-hearted, honest people. Over-zealous? Perhaps. Close-minded? Maybe. But it makes no difference. They are still good people. So we will let them have their religion and God. And we will hope and wish that no more death and destruction is brought upon us in the name of these things… That is another matter altogether, and perhaps it is better left for another time in my thoughts.