What I believe part 2

     A guy asked me about my faith recently.  It led to quite a conversation.  My beliefs have really continued to change as the years have gone on.  Here was part one of my beliefs I wrote 5/12/15: previous blog It discussed creation, the bible, homosexuality, Jesus, etc....

Here is some of what we discussed:

1. Personal God, impersonal God, hands-on, hands-off:

     I think that my traditional understanding has always been that we have a personal hands-on God.  Pray and God hears you.  Pray enough and you can change things.  But the more I live and see and experience, I am starting to think that we have a personal God that is hands-off.  In other words, the world was set in motion and now its going and he is sitting back watching.  But I think there is a personal vesting or interest in our lives as well.

     Thinking of God as a father to all of us, makes it easier for me to try to wrap my head and heart around things.  If I raise my kids and send them off into the world, now life is up to them.  If they do well, I celebrate with them.  If they fall on hard times, I'm sad with them.  But should I be getting involved in their problems?  If I want them to stand on their own 2 feet, then I'd say no I shouldn't.  They are always welcome to come over for dinner, but don't expect me to hand out $ to bail them out of problems.  I have 3 kids, what if I had 3 billion?  Then I kinda need to be rooting for them, but not living their lives.  What if they beg me?  Isn't this kinda like prayer?  Does begging get me to intervene in their lives???  I mean it shouldn't.  Maybe once in a GREAT while I might show up and do something completely unexpected.  But it should never be expected.

     And then when my kids are grown ups, am I punishing them ever for their mistakes?  I'd say no.  I'd say life and mistakes are punishment enough.  I'm in their corner sitting with them in their mess, sad right along side of them.  But I'm not orchestrating a punishment for their behavior....  There is a saying, "sin is its own punishment".  I'm not ever withholding love or withholding protection anymore than I'm ever arbitrarily giving favor to one child over the other.  So why would God be any different if I'm made in his image?

2. Animals versus humans....evil versus altruism.....consciousness versus instinct

     As humans, we are animals.  We're an animal with a brain that has evolved to have a consciousness.  I think that when that happened, we became aware.  We began to think about creation and the start of this whole thing.  I'm not entirely sure how God may have begun to interact with us.  I mean along with consciousness comes the yearning to know our creator and the desire to make sense of it all. 

    Science will tell you (pretty strongly) evolution has occurred, that there were other humans besides us (homo-sapiens).  So what's the problem if a creator began the whole show and evolution took us to animals that became conscious-which would be in the image of God (the ultimate form of consciousness some would say)?  It doesn't have to be an either/or.

     So now evil as we call it, happens when we (sadly) embrace our animal nature and instincts.  But what happens when we embrace our consciousness?  Love, empathy, forgiveness, altruism.  Those are very scarce qualities in the animal kingdom.  They happen within family lines, but you never see a hyena calling over to the jackal to share the carcass.  So are you a conscious animal?  I am.  So act like one, don't just act like an animal.  Act with the gifts that came with the consciousness.


3. Other religious faiths:

     I think that religion is a cultural phenomenon.  I was born in a Christian nation.  Go back 2,500 years and there was no such thing.  What about those born in a Muslim nation?  Hindu?  Etc....

     So what does that mean?  I guess I don't really know.  If my concept of us being children of God is accurate, then maybe the new command Jesus gave in John 13:34-35, (to love one another and that is how we will know that we are his followers), is the criteria we need to use to decide if we are indeed following God. 

     What about all the other extra stuff besides that?  I don't know, what about it?  I mean there are funny things about us humans that makes us exhibit a tribalism that causes us to want to be better/different than those "others".  In and within all religious faiths a layer gets placed on top of loving one another.  This succeeds in turning the focus into an "us" versus "them".   The added layers might even be well meaning and well intentioned in order to "keep us on track" in our efforts to be loving.

     But consider that if we are children of God.  What kind of sense does it make for me to promote my kids to go off in three different directions of exclusivity (Christian, Jew, Muslim) if that is something that really matters?  Unless maybe the only thing that "really" matters is not how they worship, but how they love?? 

Why I don't go to church or college anymore

OPINION ALERT.....

     I was discussing with someone recently the subject of church.  It came up that I went for many years, my kids went as well, but that our family doesn't go any longer.

      It got me to thinking.  I feel like church attendance is a lot like going to college.  You often will go to college, get your degree and then graduate.  It doesn't mean that you stop learning though.  It simply means that you have gone, obtained a foundation, and now are (hopefully) putting that into practice in the world as you continue to grow and learn from life.

     Is there more to obtain from going to more college or more church?  Of course.  At what point though does it become something that you are no longer enjoying, or maybe obtaining information at a rate that doesn't justify the attendance in your mind?  I think that is different for everyone.
   
     Is there anything wrong with continual college or church attendance throughout your whole life? Of course not.  Is it enjoyable, do you feel that you are getting something out of it?

     I'd also say that on the other side of the spectrum, I've met many folks that were extremely loving and Christlike and hadn't had much if any exposure to church.  The same goes for the self made business man with no college.  So do you HAVE to go to either?  Not necessarily.....

     Part 2 of this......

     I believe in a personal God who "knows" me.  This is a Christian tenant.  As such, I don't believe in obligation and guilt as motivators.  I think of the old song I heard as a child, "You've got a friend in Jesus" and I don't think that I visit my friend only 1 day a week out of duty or habit.  I think that I spend time with my friend all the time, allowing him to guide and counsel me.  My friend wants me to be happy, not burdened.  I may have met him in a church, but then the foundation and understanding was built and I began to walk with him daily through real life.


     I went to college in my early 20's.  When I was older (late 30's) I went back to college and obtained my business degree.  It was a worthwhile decision.  You never know, I may go back again some day.  But I am always learning... My life learning doesn't end because I'm out of school.  My desire to grow closer to God and love people doesn't end because I no longer go to church.  Do I want my kids to go to college and/or church for their own foundation?  If they would like to, yes.