This post is probably going to rub most of you the wrong way because it touches on a sensitive subject. Challenging a persons beliefs is, in a way, challenging their entire existence, because what we think and what we believe make up who we are as people and how we view the world around us. We are what we eat, drink, believe, and think. And if any one of those is altered or conditioned in any way then there will be drastic changes within that person, either physically or emotionally. But I wish to make it absolutely clear that I am in no way, shape, form, or fashion pushing any belief or ideal onto any of you, and it is definitely not my intention to convert or save. I am simply making an observation and stating my opinions on a subject that many have their own opinions about.
When I was younger I used to hear people say that they were “God fearing” people. A teacher of mine once asked me if I was a God fearing person and I honestly did not know how to respond. So I said “no.” Then she said, “What?! You don’t fear God?!” Guessing that this wasn’t the response she was looking for, I quickly changed my answer. “I mean, yea I fear God! I thought you said something else.” I believe I was in the 4th grade when this happened. Talk about being confused! I was always taught that fear was a negative emotion. I was also taught that viewing God in a negative way was blasphemous and a one way ticket to hell. But like any child, or adult for that matter, I didn’t ask any questions and just went along with whatever my authority figure told me. But one question always stuck with me throughout my childhood and adolescent years: Was I supposed to love God or fear Him?
Alot of you might be saying that the answer is simple; both! But how is it possible to love something with all of your heart but fear it at the same time. I once heard a preacher use an analogy where he compared God to your biological father. He said “you love your father of course, but you were afraid of the consequences if you didn’t do what you were supposed to do.” But you aren’t necessarily afraid of your father as much as you are of the punishment that came along with doing wrong. Because if you’re truly and honestly afraid of your father, then there is no way you could truly and honestly love him. Many people confuse fear with love. People will do anything out of fear… even say “I Love You”
Many people would point to the bible as a reference to show God’s wrath and fury if you disobeyed him, and they would also use the same bible to show how much he loved you if you lived according to his will. The way I see it, if you truly loved God you would have no reason to fear him because you would do whatever it took to stay in his good graces because you loved him that much… but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The main reason people do what they do, as far as obeying God, going to church, and doing whatever the bible says, is because they are trying not to go to hell! They fear that God will send them to hell if they didn’t do it, not because they love Him. Also, people think if they don’t love Him then they’ll be sent to hell. The reason people love God the way they do is because they fear him! Paradoxical and ironic!
Now lets move on to another topic that always intrigued me. The personification of God. Jealousy/envy and wrath. Traits of God or traits of Man? When used in association with a human being they are two of the seven deadly sins. But when used in association with God they are evidence of His power, and His dire need of our love. I was taught to believe when I was little, like many Christians, that Man is born with Original Sin. That we are born unworthy. And life is all about pleasing God. I was taught that there was no way we could be perfect, but we could strive for perfection by obeying the word and following God’s only begotten son Jesus the Christ. I’m not knocking anyone’s religious views. I’m just saying its a little confusing. If we’re not suppose to be wrathful, or envious, or vengeful towards our fellow man, having a God that does the same wouldn’t make any sense. You might be saying, “Well, he’s God he can do that.” But in a sense, using that as an excuse would give us an excuse to do the same. “Since my God is wrathful, and envious, and vengeful, then that must mean its not that bad of a sin.” I’m sure people don’t actually say that out loud but on a subconscious level it has an affect. Which is why I believe there have been so many wars in the name of religion; because their violence is justified by some verse in the Bible or Koran. Its sorta like when a parent says “do as I say and not as I do.” Kids are gonna do whatever they see their parents do.
Now I’m not denying the existence of an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent force that is the source of all creation. Whatever you choose to call it, it exists. I’m just saying that instead of realizing that we were made in It’s image, we tend to make It into our image. Maybe this idea of God that we have has been forced upon us by the various world religions. Maybe this idea of God that we have only exists in our mind. Maybe God lives within us but we just don’t realize it. Maybe we are all gods but we’re just too afraid of what that might in tel. Because that would mean that everything that happens to us is of our own doing and we’re not ready for that type of responsibility. Because it would be a whole lot easier if we just assumed that some white guy with a long white beard is sitting up there controlling everything and in order for things to go our way we have to pray to him and give him 10% of everything we own.
I’m sorry in advance for the people I’ve offended. But if you truly believe in something with all your heart then what I say wouldn’t matter.