Conspirator
- Brian
- I went out there in search of experience To taste and to touch and to feel as much As a man can before he repents.
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The OK Revolt, Old No. 2
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There have been plenty of times in my life when I doubted the existence of God. Primarily, this was when I was a teenager, but there are still things in my adult life that make it hard to reconcile with belief in a loving God. Like the massive poverty in places like Africa or India. I've never been to India, but I've made two short trips to Africa and it was more than enough to leave an impression. I know there are poor people in the United States; I've even spent a little time during my life in these poor places within the United States. But, it does not even remotely compare to the suffering I witnessed in Africa.
I'd like to say that I admire those Christians who can just explain away the suffering of the poor (or the victims or war, crime, oppression) with philsophical jargon and stating the facts of human free will (this is how good God is: He gives us choice!) I don't admire them, though. Most likely, they've never actually seen suffering or done anything to try and stop it. They don't know how futile an effort it is when the very systems of religion, government and economy in which they live ensure their suffering. They even justify it.
I don't think you can prove God through empirical tests or crafty arguments. (I don't think you can disprove him through this methods, either.) What I find so reassuring of my own faith is how backwards Jesus is from everything else. I read his "Sermon on the Mount" a lot and am fascinated. This is so backwards from the philosophy of the world, the selfishness of every thing else in life, that in it's own crazy way it makes sense. It is the opposite of everything in life that depresses me, that I hate. It is the reversal of these things. Blessed are the poor, turn the other check, don't pray on street corners, all that stuff. It's the opposite of what I see. It's so crazy that it's reassuring towards my faith. I really think that this backwards approach to life could actually end all the things that are the opposite of God, too.
I actually had a real punchy ending to this post (in my opinion), but my marvelous little girl has seen fit to so break up my concentration that I can't remember it. But this is a pretty good ending too.
I'd like to say that I admire those Christians who can just explain away the suffering of the poor (or the victims or war, crime, oppression) with philsophical jargon and stating the facts of human free will (this is how good God is: He gives us choice!) I don't admire them, though. Most likely, they've never actually seen suffering or done anything to try and stop it. They don't know how futile an effort it is when the very systems of religion, government and economy in which they live ensure their suffering. They even justify it.
I don't think you can prove God through empirical tests or crafty arguments. (I don't think you can disprove him through this methods, either.) What I find so reassuring of my own faith is how backwards Jesus is from everything else. I read his "Sermon on the Mount" a lot and am fascinated. This is so backwards from the philosophy of the world, the selfishness of every thing else in life, that in it's own crazy way it makes sense. It is the opposite of everything in life that depresses me, that I hate. It is the reversal of these things. Blessed are the poor, turn the other check, don't pray on street corners, all that stuff. It's the opposite of what I see. It's so crazy that it's reassuring towards my faith. I really think that this backwards approach to life could actually end all the things that are the opposite of God, too.
I actually had a real punchy ending to this post (in my opinion), but my marvelous little girl has seen fit to so break up my concentration that I can't remember it. But this is a pretty good ending too.
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