I am not a religious person. I've probably been in three churches in my life, and two of those were for weddings. Do I believe in God? I don't know, it's too hard to get a handle on the whole thing. By thing, I'm talking about the Bible. It just cannot be true, everything in it, it's just not possible. I've read the Bible, and have studied different books on the differing meanings of it. I just can't believe something that was written thousands of yeas ago, by man no less, could be completely true. Men have done more damage to others in the name of the Bible than all the plagues and wars combined.
The Ten Commandants would be great if everyone lived by them, but I know of no one person who can. You can't stop what goes on in your heart, or head. It's just not possible. I will not covet! Even if you don't do the act, like Jimmy Carter said in a Playboy interview, he lusted in his heart. That in itself is a sin, according to the Bible. I have never been sold on the whole idea, of a God who is so mean. A God that will kill men women and children on a whim is no God.
A God that would let some people live like Kings, even though they have blood on their hands is no God. To let a child starve to death doesn't seem to me a Godly thing, especially if he could just stop it with a flick of his finger. What pleasure could this God get watching people die agonizing deaths? I know, he works in mysterious ways, right? Bullshit! This isn't mysterious, it's deviant. It is deviant behavior to want to watch people or animals die in such gruesome ways. It just is.
Do I believe in a superior being. Yes. I believe at one time people far superior to us must have traveled this earth. But I believe they were a decent people, who came and tried to help mankind out. Not send them to wars to die. There might have been a Garden Of Eden for all I know. This whole world may be, or was, the Garden of Eden. And we just screwed it up, as we're doing such a good job of now. Somewhere, mankind went off the tracks. Greed and lust took over, and we all know the one with the most power gets the biggest piece of the cake. It's human nature.
I do not begrudge anyone their beliefs. If this is what it takes to sustain you and your family, go for it. I'm also not saying there is anything wrong with religion. I might be wrong. Believe me, it damn sure won't be the first or last time I was wrong about something. As a matter of fact, I've been wrong a lot more than I have been right. So see what I do, and do the opposite and you'll never go wrong. I guess I'm just in mourning for Zoey, or I'm just on the doldrum express going nowhere. Maybe I'm back in my depression period, who knows. I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round' and round'. Thanks John!


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Bad things happen to good people. Like you, I know that for a fact. We all have way more questions than answers. That's what faith is made of - more questions than answers. I wish I had something more comforting to say to you right now, because I know this is a crappy time. I know your heart hurts and I'm sorry. Sending you and Terry lots of (((BIG HUGS)))
Kim
Evangelicals can be a bit well-intended, but a little (simply) deluded?
Metanoia.
Ecclesial - it means to be called-out from wordly delusion and vain speculation.
We think goofy.
I'll read chap 7-8 of Ecclesiastes.
A Jewish scholar pointed it out to me.
He wore Sear Sucker pin striped suits.
He'd wear bib overalls on the weekend.
He wore a real dapper Southern hat. Tip.
He was low profile because he was a fed.
He was playing Life fair and doing good.
He could not speak too publicly. Discreet.
I liked talking to him. He'd give tobaccos.
He's an incredible scholar and gentleman.
He has a den with book. He sneaks a smoke.
He gave me tins of gourmet tobacco to smoke.
I gotta go find my corn cob pipe. scanner? Oho?
You ever go off to sneak a bit of legal tobaccos?
We can be like Willie Nelson in a White House?
Puff a peace pipe of:`Stratosphere' on roof top?
Maybe Barack Obama will puff a pipe on a roof?
Tell Michelle 'Abigal' O that Ya will bring cheese?
I'll haul along the huge jug of chocolate goat milk?
Praise the lame goat, scanner! Ale, howdy doodle!
I am just going to keep my mouth shut, because God is the center of my life, and I know that that would just annoy you if I said anything about it. To each his own. And please cheer up dear friend!
I understand. The doldrum express is a precarious ride. Just take a moment to breathe in some sunshine. Many care about you.
Willie on the White House, arriving via the Magic Bus. Thanks Art!
Linda, I'll Google that in a few, Thanks~
Kat, It must be nice to even have a center. I'm so jealous of you!
Ardee, they say the proofs in the pudding. How about chocolate goat milk pudding. Art says it's great!
Thank you Chuck. A lack of sleep post I guess!
I would recommend a book called, "The Shack," because some of the questions you and countless others ask are answered in this book. Yes, it's fiction.....but the author's answers sure make sense to me! Love to you!
do you think it might actually help to "get in touch with your feelings-find out why you might be feeling this way?"
maybe writing about it would help, like a release
The author, William P Young wrote "The Shack" (which is a mesmerizing piece of fiction) in answer to the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The book won't give you any of the answers you expect and the last thing it could be called is "preachy."
I read this book in the middle of one of the greatest tragedies in my life - my dad died in 2005 - very unexpectedly, my mother died a year later - again, unexpectedly, my step-mother waged war (literally) against my brother and me over my dad's estate, she helped the bank and my dad's ex-business partner steal dad's business from us and helped the bank frame my brother for fraud - he went to prison for 15 months. Then my grandmother died and my daughter miscarried a child. My brother's wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor, her mother died 6 months after my mother and my nephew and brother both had complete nervous breakdowns. I'm pretty sure I lost my sanity somewhere in there, too, (which is probably why I lost two jobs back to back in a year's time,) but I had to keep going, the probate case was still raging. It was 4 years of absolute hell. My heart was broken in a million pieces and my mind was shattered nearly as bad.
Do I think this book is "God-inspired"? Absolutely. Is it the same old tired Christianity with nothing but platitudes? Absolutely not. I'll never look at God the same way again after reading this book.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I know what it's like to feel like you've been shattered and the hits just keep on coming. And I don't think it's any coincidence that Patricia mentioned this book and it just happened to be the book that helped me find a thread to grab on to when I was hopeless. You're in my prayers, my friend.
Sorry for the length of this comment....
Kim