Today's post has to deal with some thoughts that have come out of many tragic events over the last several months. I hope that any who read this will take it with the respect that it was intended with.
Top 10 Questions I would like to answer and not have
to apologize for.
10. How can you believe in a God without there being
any proof?
I get thrown this question often my atheists, and
unfortunately there is no answer that I can offer that seems to satisfy the
majority of them. I simply put it as my belief that there are things in this
world that cannot be proven yet. I cannot prove to anyone that God exists, nor
would I want to. I will say that I am skeptical of some who seek proof, for if
God were to provide that proof, they would simply try to find an explanation
explain how that proof was not really proof. A belief in God is something that
is personal and is based on faith. Faith does not require proof, but for me it
led to my own personal proof. Does that make me naïve? For some, yes it does.
For me, not at all.
9. How can God allow bad things to happen?
In all fairness, whenever I am asked this question,
I have to ask them one in return: what would you have Him do? Shelter us and
protect us from every bad thing that happens or could happen? How often have
we, growing up, wished our parents would give us some more freedom and opportunity?
If the alternative is to have God take away all the bad, how can we fully enjoy
all the good? Most of the trials I face are things that allow me to grow. This
includes the death of loved ones to disease, loss of job, loss of marriage,
etc. yes, God could have taken away all of those trials, made it so that I did
not have to endure them, but where would my growth be? I would not be the
person I am today, and I would not give up what I have learned for the easy
road. Besides, I do not see this life as the only thing we have. I believe that this is but an act in a grander
play, and by doing my best to stay on God’s good side I feel that I am setting
myself up for a happy ending. If someone were to murder me tomorrow, then so be
it. I don’t want to die, but I don’t want God to interfere in everything.
8. Where was God when
happened?
This is closely related to #9. The difference in
this question is that often it is accepted that God won’t stop bad things from
happening, but that He should be there when they do. Well, my answer is simple:
He was there. He was there when all bad things happened, but usually in ways
that we cannot easily perceive. He is there in the form of others, usually. He
is there in the form of a friend who calls you out of the blue to see how
things are, in the EMT who arrives at the scene of an accident, or the hug from
a stranger to you when all hope is gone. He is there in the knowledge that
prayers and thoughts from others are with you, which does give you relief and
comfort. God is there. I would counter with why you don’t see him.
7. Why do so many people do such evil things in the
name of God?
Inquisitions, terrorist attacks, genocides, wars,
suicides, and persecutions have all been used in the name of God by one group
of people or another throughout time. I find a bit of a paradox in this
question. Quite often this is a reason why people choose not to believe in God,
or at least follow religion in general. For those who do not believe in God, I
find it amusing that they choose not to believe in a supreme being because He
takes away our right to choose for ourselves (see question #6), and yet in the
next sentence they take away all accountability for those who commit these
atrocities and say “They did it in the name of God, so it is God’s fault that
these things happen!”. I look at what the major religions of the world teach,
and nowhere do I see justification for these acts of wickedness. If someone
blows up a building, kills and wounds hundreds of people, and then says “I did
this in the name of Bryan Andrews!” does that automatically make me the one
responsible? If I have not done or said anything to condone this, or if people
choose to misinterpret my words to excuse their acts of violence, then am I
culpable? Not in any court of law that I am aware of. The moment that you start
blaming God for these actions you are acknowledging His existence.
6. Why does God want to take away our freedoms with
so many rules?
God does not take away our freedom with His rules
and commandments. Instead, He is simply telling us what actions will make us
the happiest, and which actions will bring us the most pain. He tells us what
we should or shouldn’t do, and then allows us to choose for ourselves. If we
touch a hot stove, then we get burnt. If we take someone else’s life in murder,
then we lose a bit of our goodness. In my particular religion we are instructed
to not consume alcohol, coffee, or tobacco products. Does this mean that I have
no freedom? Nope. I choose whether or not I partake. I choose to abstain or
indulge. The way I see it, addiction is a loss of freedom. People who cannot
function without a cup of coffee in the morning or a cigarette every two hours
do not show me freedom. My religion also teaches us to abstain from sexual
activity outside of the bonds of marriage. My wife and I believed that this was
important. We have great joy in our intimacy at all levels. By waiting, we
entered into our marriage without the threat of STDs and we did not have to
worry about altering my wife’s wedding dress to fit her pregnant belly. We did
not have the regrets of past one-night stands with people we would not want to
be intimate with. So often I hear regret from people’s sexual encounters. By
avoiding such regret, does that make me a slave to my God? Does it make me a
square? So what? I am happy with my choice.
5. Why do you believe you have to convert everyone
else?
Easy answer! I don’t believe that. Did I serve a two
year mission for my church? Yes. I did not do it to convince everybody in what
I believe, but instead to share what I have found to bring me such love and
happiness with others. Do I feel disappointed when I am turned down? Yes, but
not because I feel that I failed. Do I feel hurt by some of the rejections? Sometimes,
but again, not because I have failed but instead because of how the other
person reacted. I often wonder why people are so upset with me for sharing what
I believe in with others. One person told me “Why do you think I care about
what you believe in?” My response was “I didn’t know if you cared or not, so I
thought I would give you the chance.” Please don’t be mad at us for wanting to
share. Now, if the person becomes pushy and won’t take no for an answer, then I
understand your frustration. I feel the same thing when I meet an atheist who
continues to hound me for believing in a fictional God.
4. Why are religious people so hypocritical?
I love this question. When I first heard it, I will
admit that my initial response was “we’re not!” or “Not all of us!” lately,
however, my tune has changed. Yes, we are hypocritical people. I go to church
on Sunday, and then during the week I do things I know I shouldn’t do and don’t
do things I know I should do. So yes, I am a hypocrite. That is why I go to church.
Church and religion is not meant for people who are morally perfect. It is
meant for all of us who are not perfect, who make mistakes, to help us do
better. Yes, some of the hypocrisy is frustrating, such as when a person makes
a big deal about being a good person at church, and then deliberately does some
pretty awful things, but then that person has a pride problem. Where is the
best place to go if we are struggling with a pride problem? How about church!
3. Why would anyone ever want to raise children in
this terrible world?
In
light of the recent bombings in Boston and the many tragic events that have
occurred involving horrific acts of a few individuals against innocents, I have
seen the question asked again as to why anyone would want to raise children in
such a world. Upon thoughtful reflection, I looked at my little girl this
morning and couldn't help but think that the world needs every precious child
it can get..., for in them is such sweet innocence and love. My daughter's
innocent love inspires me to be a better person. This world needs her, and it
needs me to raise her to rise above the hate and the evil that frightens so
many of us. It needs me to raise her to be loving, compassionate, forgiving,
and caring. Why raise a child in this world? Because this world needs that hope
and love that my daughter offers.
2. Why are your beliefs so intolerant of others who
are “different” from yourself?
My beliefs are not about people, they are about actions
and behaviours. I believe that there are actions called sins. I do believe that
people are inherently good. While I do see certain actions as sinful, I do not
use that to judge the person. I believe that people will be judged accordingly.
I have been taught to love the sinner and hate the sin. I too am a sinner, and
my sins are many, therefore I see those who sin to be no different than myself.
Having said this, I cannot simply say that certain actions and behaviours are
not sin. This does not make me intolerant. The definition of tolerance is to
accept the existence of something that is contrary to ones beliefs. When people
say that by believing something is a sin makes me intolerant, they forget that
to tolerate something means that there must be opposition to it. Quite often, I
find those that demand tolerance are among the most intolerant people. This
does not excuse the hatred and persecution that some who believe in God inflict
upon those who do not believe. I believe that one can separate their love for a
person from their actions without compromising their beliefs.
1. Do you have a problem with those who do not
believe as you do?
This is the one question that I actually hear in
many different ways. It comes from those who do not believe as I believe as
well those who do not believe in God at all. It is also a question that often
comes with sincerity as opposed to the other questions, which are more often
accompanied with s touch of scorn or sarcasm. Basically, the answer is simply “no”.
Sometimes, I do feel frustration when others cannot or will not see things the
way that I do. I admit it that if everyone shared my beliefs, it would be
easier, but in all honesty, it will never happen, and I am fine with that. I
appreciate anyone who is true to their beliefs to the best of their abilities,
as this is often the way that good people are. What I do have a problem with are
those that choose to not respect my beliefs as I try to respect the beliefs of
others.
