Why do we need religion anyway? Because where would you be without direction. We all need two things, somewhere to go and a way to get there, without it we are lost (Literally and figuratively). It’s all a manner of control. Religion gives us the idea that we are in control of those things physically out of our hands. Those without religion even toss in the air something has to govern everything. Some call it the universe but most call it God.
Religion gives us a sense of purpose, a reason to be. Insinuating we were without reason before. It allows us to see in ourselves what we hope to become and it gives us reason to believe becoming so is actually possible. Believe–believe-believe? See a pattern?
Believe is defined as having trust, faith and confidence in; to accept as real or true. Do we believe facts? No. Why? Because facts are incontestable, the truth as we define it is before our eyes. No proof necessary. Does that mean that anything not before our eyes is false? No but this gives reason to the necessity of belief: those things we can not put our finger on, yet have the experiences and/or revelations within our lives to know exist.
I have never seen wind or air. EVER! Yet I can feel it. I can feel and see its effects, so despite the fact I can not hold it in my hand, I know its there. Why can’t a higher power exist to which the same can be applied? I called out for help and help was given. I cried for peace and peace came over me. And what about the times when I was too blind to see for myself what lie ahead? Who urged me to turn away? Who laid the distractions before my path? Who causes my spirit trouble when I think all is well? Who controls the parts of my being I have no control over? Who loves me when I refuse to love myself? In hindsight I could say I control it all but during the time of discontent all I could see was confusion. If you can’t see clearly and there is no other person in the car, what happens? Hint: If you pull over its called suicide.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Al Barger
I've found that a real puppy dog gives me better love than conjuring up an imaginary god-friend. Granted, the dog is not omnipotent, but it is real.
Also, I doubt a God would be someone who "only wants to love" me. I'd think he/she/it would have more things to think about all day than how much Al the Ant loves him. What kind of neuroses would that involve? I would be highly skeptical of any supposed deity whose major concern was ME.
Also, I lack the ego to think that I would be that much the center of the universe.
2 - Murphy Horner
Your second to last paragraph got really confusing, Dew. Who was the "I" you meant? Yourself?
3 - Dew
Nope, Murphy it was a metaphor. As for Al, being that it is a deity his major concern is all of us and we're able to receive that as it being His direct attention on us. That's why it a called 'a personal relationship'.
I'm sure if you have or had children you would want each of them to know they can always count on you for their full attention, one no more or no less than the other.
4 - Dew
And I am still a freshman blogger, had no intentions of publishing this yet...but after Al's comment, I see it was for a reason.
5 - Eric Olsen
Very thought-provoking Dew, you are a deep thinker and I appreciate your efforts to convey very difficult concepts. I believe such a personal relationship with God is possible but the individual has to accept it.
6 - Rohin
Hey Yo
im a first time blogger but had a great time reading your views. A God who/that loves us, cares for us....hmmm....dont you think that this god is a wee bit unfair? I mean, if he really wanted us to believe , he woulda proved it, in a clear and concise way. This air/water concept is pretty dumb to me. Moreover you say hes helped you from many troubles and given you distractions when you turn to the path of evil...ok....you surely know there are over 6 billion people on the planet. More than two thirds of them live in third world countries(unlike you i assume), these people havent been so lucky. Where was god for them? Yea....i know...im probably wrong....then, im gonna hell right? But this God wouldnt want me to be there right? So why doesnt he give me a sign( Dont tell me im too blind to notice them)?
Im really confused here.
Enlighten me
7 - Dew
Thanx Eric.
No Rohin I do not believe you are going to hell, that wouldn't be my judgement to make.
From your comments obviously you are familiar with the concepts of Christianity, which would mean you already know of God. Why must he show you something thats already there? I think Eric implied it best, the individual must be willing to accept Him.
Look I didn't write this to make converts of the Blogcritics. But as for the third World countries you speak of, its very pretentious of you to assume because they do not have the amenities we have that they are lacking the love of God. They are able to forge better relationships than some of us are because they are not blinded by the greedful desires Americans manifest on a daily basis. In other words if you don't know it exists its a lot easier to go without it. That's the same whether its Nintendo or God. Think about it...
8 - Eric Olsen
My pleasure, and good answer
9 - Dawn
Wow! Just wow! I couldn't agree more.
Al, puppies are nice and sweet, but God doesn't chew up you shoes and piss on the rug.
And as much as I get mad at him/her/it and find his/her/its ways maddening, the divine being is always there.
10 - Al Barger
Yes puppies chew up your shoes. On the other hand, however, puppies don't send you to hell to burn in a lake of fire.
Yes Dew, I'd like for little ones in the family to know that they can count on my love and support. However, I care about that because I actually exist, unlike this "God" that so many people like to fantasize about.
It'd be NICE to have someone watching over me, but on the other hand I don't think I'd take the help for having to give up the privacy.
My preferences here, however, are totally irrelevant- as are yours, Dawn's, and everyone else's. The question is, is the God story actually factual? I don't claim to know the answers to all life's Deep Questions, but I know enough to separate wishes from fishes.
In the classic words of Paul Simon:
Faith
Faith is an island in the setting sun
But proof, yeah
Proof is the bottom line for everyone
11 - Dew
And thats just it, for me and only for me, I don't need something sitting in front of my face. Thats why its called faith.
Quite frankly the arrogance is in you thinking there is no existence higher than your own or maybe its fear that there's something out there you can't control...
12 - Dew
And thats just it, for me and only for me, I don't need something sitting in front of my face. Thats why its called faith.
Quite frankly the arrogance is in you thinking there is no existence higher than your own or maybe its fear that there's something out there you can't control...
13 - JR
Seems like mankind has exerted a lot of control over God through history. First by inventing Him, then by adjusting His stance on various lifestyle choices to fit the cultural bias of the times.
14 - Rohin
Thanx for replyin dew.But ive got a lotta questions. Ok...here goes...You live in the USA and youve got a law there. The government enforces these laws at the same time gives everyone equal rights, equal oppurtunities and people are judged based on that. Now take God...people living in different places...different conditions of living...different oppurtunities. How can a just god judge us like that and throw away the evil in a lake of fire?
Ive been taught God knows everything, when ull die etc.. Doesnt that ridicule the whole idea of Free Will?
Hit back
15 - Eric Olsen
Omniscience is not incompatible with free will - just because God knows what you are going to do doesn't mean you didn't have the free will to make the choice in the first place.
16 - Natalie Davis
Devil's advocate here: God only wants to love us? All that plague, locust, pillar of salt, 40-day flood, smiting people stuff might lead one to think differently. And who would want that kind of love? The religious right says God discriminates against GLBT people and mandates their death by violence in the Bible -- that doesn't sound loving to me. In fact, thinking of all the ramifications that go along with God-following, it could be seen that God wants only for us to love GOD. I mean, talk about an egomaniac. And what a control freak, some might say: Pray, follow 10 rules (while dangling others nearby to confuse you), this is how you genuflect, i gave you a brain but i don't want you to use it -- just do as i say, honor no other gods but me, call me "hallowed" every day, hey baby; i am three in one, you know, obey me obey me obey me or burn -- or be prepared to do penance, punk... It could be argued that the God figure is a narcissistic, contradictory legalist and sadist who most resembles a secretive Roman Catholic bishop.
======================
Yeah, this was written by one who does indeed believe in God and does indeed use the brain God gave her. Watching out for thunderbolts now...
17 - Eric Olsen
That is the seeming personality of the Old Testament God - the New Testament God is much more magnanimous, forgiving, understanding. He would appear to have reformed Himself. Beyond that, we cannot know the mind of God directly, only indirectly. We use faith to overcome our perceived logical inconsistencies - it is outrageously presumptuous to assume our brains are the final word.
18 - Dew
Thats the second reference to the Lake of fire(hell) that I've seen from you. Hell can be taken different ways, my personal take is that you will not end up burning in gasoline undies, so let's move on shall we.
To answer your question about His judgement, your thinking is one in a physical sense, to understand you would how to move to a more metaphysical plane.
God does not judge you by where you live but how you live. Being that , as you said, he knows everything, would he not take in to account your conditions? The only thing that matters and again this is from my perspective, is what is in your heart and how you follow that.
Does God knows all? Yes. How does that effect your free will? It doesn't. Say for example you have to get to New York from Atlanta. There are 6 million ways to do so. Its up to you how you get there. If you choose to take a longer route you put yourself in jeopardy of being grossly distracted and more unfortunately persuaded off course altogether. If you are more determined and take a more direct path, there are more obstacles but the return is greater. The same can be applied to life's path.
With religion, specifically Christianity, society has placed a lot of scare tactics to enforce a sense of spiritual control, in order to combat this it would be wise to know the word for yourself.
There is no question that you could ask me that I probably could not find a scripture for to back my reason for believing, but they would still be just that - my reasons for believing. I have my own personal revelations and testimony that to many who do not believe may write off as coincidence or insanity (of which I have never denied may be quite possible) but it works for me.
Do I believe there is a God? Yes. I also believe He/She wants the best in all cases for all of us. Can I answer all the questions you have? Quite possibly but the answers will always be from my personal conditions. The simple fact that you even have questions means there is a struggle within you, however strong or minute, between what you want to believe and what has been pressed upon you to believe. But as it stands believe is the objective word here. You can not ever have definitive answers for a belief. So its up to you find those answers you need in order to settle that struggle. Choose wisely I'd hate to see you in that Lake<-----JUST KIDDING
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I took so long to reply I see there have been several more comments added. yay!
19 - Dew
Yes God can really lay the wrath down when need be. But at the time it is questionable as to whether the means justified the end. Also the GLBT debate is one that will always walk the earth but can be placed into perspective by a closer view of the Word. Yes homosexuality is referred to as abominable so is fornication. If our purpose is to praise God and multiply the earth, wouldn't same sex intercourse go against that as well as fornication?
Its funny how people can only ever point at Sodom and Gomorrah and their prosecution. As if to say 'heteros' were always good. What exactly did Noah build that ark for I wonder? I guarantee you it wasn't to enjoy the sea. For every person in S&G God has sent his wrath down on at least 5 Heterosexuals. So none of us are excluded despite who we are prone to love. And if you really want to make some psuedo-insecure-GLBT-hating-Christians mad, refer them to the Story of David who is quoting as having loved Saul's son Jonathan more intimately than any woman. And if Peter wasn't a misogynistic self-hating so and so then Eve really did just eat an 'apple'.
20 - Al Barger
Natalie, I'm so PROUD of you. Perhaps it is my evil influence on you, but I couldn't have said that better than you in #16.
21 - Mark Saleski
"Quite frankly the arrogance is in you thinking there is no existence higher than your own"
how, exactly, is mr. barger arrogant?
you believe in something for which there really is no proof, only faith.
al, because there is no proof, or at least something he sees as proof...does not.
who's arrogant?
there will be a quiz later.
22 - Natalie Davis
Thanks Al, but no, your evil influence did not inspire #16, at least not consciously. Actually, I don't believe much of what I wrote -- I was just offering an alternate POV for conversation's sake. I am one of those who believes God is loving and who knows that faith is a huge, but necessary, leap for one who believes. At the same time, nonbelievers make some good points and deserve every bit of respect. After all, we all have free will, and many nonbelievers are more godly beings than a lot of people who call themselves believers.
23 - Dew
'...and many nonbelievers are more godly beings than a lot of people who call themselves believers.' - Amen
24 - Mac Diva
Dew, I've been cutting you some slack on the grounds of youth and naivete. End of that. What you've posted above is pure piffle.
25 - Al Barger
Yes Natalie, I understand that you are a believer. I was particularly pleased though that you give some consideration and understanding to a view very clearly not your own.