About Religion…

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
-Proverbs 22:6

Since I’ve been here I’ve had a lot of conversations about God and religion with a variety of people who have a lot of interesting opinions and views. As most people know, I was born and raised as a Christian. My grandfather is a pastor and my dad gives sermons in church sometimes. I would say that I know the Bible pretty well backwards and forwards. Although I was born and raised a Christian, there are a few things I’ve always wondered about. This is mainly because I like to think things through logically and I really don’t like being told what to do without valid reason. Coming on this trip and seeing real poverty, suffering, sadness, death- and on the flipside, seeing such generosity, compassion, kindness, happiness and life has really opened my eyes.

My view has forever been: “Religion is between you and God.” God always knows your heart and your true motives. I don’t think one has to explain or justify ones behavior to any human being. I know people of various religions who try and find “loopholes” in their religious rules. I think this is absolutely ridiculous. The most recent example I can think of was when the Pope died and so many people were saying: “I really hope we get a more ‘liberal’ Pope this time.” Give me a damn break. Do people really need the Pope to tell them what to do? And if he did, would they listen? Probably not. If you don’t like the rules, then don’t follow them. People shouldn’t try and find loopholes to attempt to justify their behavior to others (and often themselves). It’s between you and God.

Being a Christian, this post will be based on the values and information I’ve been taught. For the feminists reading: I will be referring to God as “He” although I doubt God even has a gender. I’m going to touch on some topics I’m convinced of and some I’ve been thinking about:

Is there a God?

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
-Genesis 1:1

I was having a conversation with an elderly gentleman who is a Buddhist and he told me that they don’t believe in a God. In high school I studied a few world views in my “Moral and Religious Education” course; I guess I wasn’t paying attention because I didn’t know this. I explained how I don’t see how one can assume that the design of the world is mere coincidence (or a big bang). Nature doesn’t appear to be random. It looks like there was an architect and a plan. He came back with the classic: “Well then, who created God?” question. I asked him who created the gas or the molecules or whatever spontaneously burst and created the world. He said that was always there. I said: “Exactly. You believe that this magical gas was always there, and I believe that God was always there. It makes more sense for me to believe in an eternal God than an eternal gas. Right?” That’s why I believe in God. There had to be something that was “always there”.

My take on this: Was there an eternal God or some random eternal gas? I’ll choose God. I can’t look at nature and think this is all coincidence. Someone or something carefully planned it.

Judging Others

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
-Matthew 7:1

It’s very ironic that Christians are probably the most judgmental group of people you will ever meet. How many have you heard saying things like: “Oh, well so and so is like this. And so and so is like that! Can you believe it? And they call themselves a Christian!”. Once again, since religion is between you and God, one has NO right to judge another human being because (I hate to be the one to break this to some you): no one is better than anyone else! Not even if you’re a Christian.

I know people are often scared to approach (or even hang out with) Christians because they’re afraid of being judged and looked down upon. To me, this defeats the purpose of Christianity. I believe people should feel like they can approach you with their problems without you beating them over the head with a Bible. Here’s the funniest thing about the “Bible-thumping” (as some people call them)-Christians: Usually they’re setting the worst examples! I’ve never been ashamed to tell people I was a Christian or that I went to church every Sunday. But I never shoved religion down anyone’s throat. But when people ask me: “How come you’re different? How come you’re happy all the time?” I’m proud to tell them I believe it’s because of my Christian upbringing, values and I know things always work out. People shouldn’t look at you and think: “Well, if that person is a Christian, that’s the LAST thing I want to be!”

My take on this: You shouldn’t have to judge people to make yourself look (or feel) better. If your life is actually that great, people will come and ask you about it. THEN you can tell them how great being a Christian is.

Being a “StumblingBlock”

“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
-Romans 14:21

“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.”
-I Corinthians 8:9

For those who don’t know what a stumblingblock is, let me give you a classic example: I go out to a club and have a drink. Being a good Christian boy, I’m not an alcoholic, but someone who sees me there decides he wants to go clubbing everyday and becomes an alcoholic. This is my fault. Quite frankly I think this is idiotic because I do like to believe that people have their own brains. Or maybe it’s the fact that it’s just easier to blame it on someone else or say: “The devil made me do it!!”

My take on this: Sure, someone can call me a stumblingblock and make me the scapegoat, but ultimately it’s their life getting screwed; not mine.

Being “Righteous / Holy” and Being “Unequally Yoked” pan>

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
-Galatians 5:22-23

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”
-2 Corinthians 6:14

I was talking to my grandmother’s sister a few weeks ago and we got onto the topic of girls (as usual). She said: “Make sure the girl is holy.” I laughed and said: “Please define ‘Holy’ for me”. She said: “Well, she should be kind…loving…joyful…” I interrupted and rattled off: “Fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (I told you I knew the Bible well! ) If you have all these qualities but you’re not a Christian, are you not holy anymore?” (Yes, I was trying to spark a debate.) She didn’t say no, but she said: “Well, Jesus is the only way.” Which lead us to a lengthy debate about free will (discussed below). I couldn’t find a definition of righteousness in the Bible, but I’m assuming that having the fruits of the spirit qualifies you.

Many years ago, people used to take the first part of the 2^nd verse to endorse racial segregation. “Be not unequally yoked.” Most people were smarter than that, so they took the next 3 words. I often heard “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” Wait, I didn’t hear the second part very often: “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” Am I then to assume that having the fruits of the Spirit is insufficient to be righteous? Or is it enough just to be a “believer” but not necessarily have those qualities? Don’t know…I remember a great example of “being unequally yoked” that one of our teachers in high school gave us (I went to a private Christian high school): He said, “Imagine you’re a Christian and you’re standing on a chair. (He then stood on a chair) Your partner is on the ground. Is it easier for you to pull them up to your level? Or for them to pull you down?” The answer was clear. I thought this was a great example at the time, but thinking about it now, it again assumes that as a Christian you’re better than the other person (i.e. you’re on higher ground and they’re pulling you down).

My take on this is: I would want a Christian partner for the sake of my kids. I wouldn’t want the kids to be confused for example as to why dad is going to church on Sunday and mom isn’t; or why mom is fasting for Ramadan and dad isn’t. Do I think that someone will pull me down from my chair? No. I don’t think I’m on a chair. I’m firmly grounded in my roots, values and the way I live my life. I don’t think someone will be able to convince me differently.

Heaven and Hell?

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
-Revelation 20:15

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
-Psalms 9:17

Matthew 25:34-46 seems to be the most detailed passage I could find where God is damning people by saying: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…” The interesting thing in this same passage is the people going to Heaven are the people who: gave meat to the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, took a stranger in, clothed the naked, visited the sick and visited the prisoners. I know many Christians do good just to go to Heaven (or to avoid Hell). I feel it’s even more impressive and touching when you meet someone here who has made a lot of sacrifices and is doing things for others, but they don’t believe in anything. It’s moving that a lot of people who aren’t Christians are doing all these things not to get “Browny points” in Heaven but just out of the goodness of their hearts. Being a Christian, I made this trip because I wanted to do something good; if it does get me browny points, all the better!

I was speaking to a Jehovah’s Witness who told me they didn’t believe in Hell. I explained that I believe in Hell because if I believe in Heaven, then there has to be balance in everything. Almost like the Ying Yang; you can’t know good without knowing evil. Like 50 Cent said in the song Many Men: “Sunny days wouldn’t be special if it wasn’t for rain; joy wouldn’t feel so good if it wasn’t for pain.” Everything in balance: positive/negative; light/darkness; black/white; joy/pain; good/evil. He felt that God wouldn’t throw you into a “game” for 70 or 80 years and then based on your performance send you to Heaven or eternal damnation. I guess that makes sense. Also, if your earthly parents can forgive you for all the stupid things you do, how much more will a Heavenly God be willing to forgive you? There are many Christians who believe that once you’re a Christian, you’re set. It’s done. God has forgiven all of your sins-past, present and future, so you’re guaranteed a spot in Heaven. This is another interesting (and convenient!) viewpoint.

“…God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
-Romans 12:3b

My take on this: Most people believe in a religion to try and answer 1 question: “What happens when you die?” I haven’t quite figured this out. It’s hard to believe that God would send His creatures to Hell if they’re making a conscious effort to try and be good. Similarly to various religious types looking for “loopholes” based on a technicality in the Bible, the Torah or the Koran, will God throw you into hell based on a technicality (i.e if you’ve lived an exemplary life but for whatever reason you didn’t accept Jesus as “the way”)? If you’ve been given a “measure of faith” and you don’t have enough faith to believe that there’s only 1 way, you spend the rest of eternity in fire and brimstone? I personally find that a little cruel and would God do that? I know quite a few people who live much better lives than many Christians; are these people going to burn in hell forever? This brings us to the final and controversial topic of having free will or being pre destined…