GOD…Do you believe? Part 2: My Search for Enlightenment Continues
Not to make light of this topic but I wanted to quote a quip by George Carlin it went like this:
“Tell people that there’s an invisible man in the sky who created the universe, and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint is wet, and they have to touch it to be sure.”
Why is that? Is it because we are not supposed to question GOD but fear him? Why fear GOD? I thought with GOD in your life he guided you, helped you in difficult times in your life, carried you in times of tribulation, and all around you were happy. It did not make any sense to me to fear anyone whether real, mythical, ghostly, or supernatural.
GOD, if I believed, had supposedly performed miracles. The definition of a miracle is a supernatural act or effect. Miracles are supernatural so that means GOD is supernatural, meaning not of the living. Ghosts are not of the living but supernatural and some people do not believe in ghosts but do believe in GOD. With that being said that means GOD is the only ghost…how interesting and hypocritical.
“How happy can you be when you think every action and thought is being monitored by a judgmental ghost?” The previous question is a referenced quote from a former evangelical Christian Dan Barker. I did not want to always be second-guessing myself and wondered if what I had done will get me into a mythical land called heaven.
Personally, I need proof. If I am going to devote my lifestyle to something then I need to be able to see, feel, and hear it. You know something tangible. It amazed me how so many people will base their life on the teachings of one book, The Bible. How is that possible with so many inconsistencies proven in many verses of the bible?
In the churches that I went to, talk about suffering, peace, or how to combat the suffering was never talked about. It was all about GOD. He is the Almighty One no one questions his words. That was not what I was looking for.
Just because I did not believe in your GOD does not make me a bad person. Some religious people tried to make me think so. My non-belief in GOD did not automatically make me a criminal but some people would look down upon me if I did not have GOD in my life. Some people that I knew and met in my life are very religious people. Nevertheless, they can be very hypocritical. They preached one thing but when it comes down to their own life, they do the opposite. What is up with that? If you preached the Bible then you should live by it. In my reading of the Bible, I found too many inconsistencies in it.
I heard someone say that religion provides structure. It may be structure but it was corrupted. Where is the structure in the Catholic Church when all the corrupted priests fondled young boys in their congregation? Where is the structure in the U.S. Government; if congress is so religious then they should have structure? Where is it? Has religion corrupted our government? That was not the path I wanted. I guess the majority of people chose GOD, a mythical being, to follow. I was not a follower like most of the sheep in the herd. I followed no one. I wanted to lead people out of suffering. I needed to figure out a way to do that.
I continued my research outside Christianity. Peace and combat suffering should be promoted as the number one priority. In my mind, our mission as human beings is to combat suffering and have it conquered in our lifetime. The path looked brighter. I may have found what I was looking for.
Follow the link below to read about other religious leaders who lost their faith: http://www.salon.com/2013/03/27/5_religious_leaders_who_became_outspoken_atheists_partner/
risinghawk
Excellent! Yes, an apt and wonderful description of a pervasive problem – RELIGION. It is a “corrupted structure,” (love that phrase). It isn’t the lovers of “God,” whatever the form of that power may be to that person, that are a problem. Love is love, and if you are living it and sharing it, that’s awesome. But the BUSINESS that is religion . . . that is a different animal. Religion, to me, is a corporate entity, with rules and regulations that apply to each and every faith, and a need for funds to continue to operate the many branch offices. That leads to no end of conflict.
Frank
Yes, the BUSINESS that is religion is a whole different animal as you said. The one thing that gets to me is that Religion is a big part of government in the USA. I do not think our forefathers intended for religion to be so abundant in government. Religion is meant to be a personal preference not something that is to be brought into debate in government. Each person has the right to choose what faith they follow. It is shame that religion is more like a business.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Peace!!!
risinghawk
And peace to you!
mystic1muse
Yes, people mistake organized religion, forms, for spirituality which is essentially formless.
Formal religion is often just worship of man-created images and acceptance of unfounded authority based on fear, self-interest, and unthinking desperation to escape the surrounding chaos. People look up with dim faith and try to build religions out of God but mostly build them out of themselves. They look up and sense only a tiny part of a picture, adding their halting often-discordant colorings to everything.
http://mystic1muse.wordpress.com/
Frank
I liked your insight on religion. I don’t want to have to fear something or someone in order to be pressured into worshiping them. Thank you for your comments.
Peace!!!
Hari Qhuang
One needs to be really open-minded to read this article! 😀
As a Chinese descent, I was taught – just like any other Confucian children – to respect the deities, spirits and traditions. I should not question anything.
But I am also a Buddhist, and the Buddha said that we should not have blind faiths in things. He said that belief must come from understanding and agreement. If we think that His teaching is wrong or questionable, do NOT follow it!
Frank
Hari, thanks for your thoughts and your incite. In all my research, I have gained respect for their Gods, deities, spirits, and traditions. As you are a Buddhist, what would you recommend to me on my journey? I cherish all feedback and advice.
I have been reading some books on the different religions and am currently reading some books on Buddhism. I have found them to be very helpful on my journey.
Thanks again.
Peace!!!
Hari Qhuang
Since you have read many books, how about watching a DVD? Have you watched the documentary about th life of Buddha narrated by Richard Gere? 😀
Frank
Thank you. I will have to find that DVD.
Hari Qhuang
I hope you find it. it is quite fun to watch. There are many great people giving enlightening comments, including The Dalai Lama himself. 😀
Frank
Hi Hari, I have found that DVD on Netflix and have enjoyed watching it. It is very enlightening and informative. I will watch it again. Thank you again for the advice. Take care and have a wonderful day.
Peace!!!
Hari Qhuang
I’m glad you like it! 😀
I’m having a wonderful day. It’s full moon tonight, meaning lots of vegetarian food-hawkers today. I hope you have a wonderful day, too! 😀