For several weeks I have been engaged in a debate with an Evangelical pastor over the true meaning of the Bible. He is familiar with my position, as detailed on the website http://timeoftheend-faithandreason.net but has difficulty accepting it. This man is of the mindset that I have often called attention to as being the result of nearly seventeen centuries of brainwashing and indoctrination, beginning with the Roman Church and spreading to its many Protestant spin-offs. Here is a rundown of the differences between our beliefs;
I believe that God is All Things Everywhere, the Spirit of the Universe; he believes that God is not present everywhere, but only where [He] chooses to be. When asked how [God]makes these determinations, my friend replies, "Only God knows."
I believe that the Mind of God is Natural Law; precise, all-encompassing, logical, and immutable; my pastor friend believes that [God], a person "up there" somewhere ( though he can't say exactly where, picks and chooses among his creatures those to whom [he] will bestow favors or inflict punishments. When asked why his [God] behaves so capriciously, the answer is always the same: "Only God knows."
As I believe that the Mind of God is Natural Law, then God's reign in the Universe is passive. And as physics tells us that energy is all there is, so must this universal energy be the actual power of God. Being passive it has no volition but responds to prevailing conditions as they evolve through time, and it is purely rational. Because the universe works so well, has forever in the past, and shall remain so forever into the future, we must accept that the Mind of God is biased toward the good. But as there are an infinite variety of behaviors acvailable to mankind, and as these are generally divided between constructive and destructive ends, the power of choice authorizes the much touted "free will" that God gave man.
An old Spanish proverb states: "God says, 'Take what you want, and pay for it'". Depending upon the choices one makes these payments are either in the form of premiums or penalties.
My friend, on the other hand, believes that [God] makes deliberate decisions based upon how [he] feels about a particular matter. In this context [God] causes people to suffer for not following [his] plan, a plan which is for the most part not very clear. This [God] brings trials and tribulations into peoples' lives so that they will turn to [him]; when asked why this [God] allows wars to happen in which innocent people die, my pastor friend says, "God has his reasons." When pressed for an explanation as to what these reasons could be, his reply is, "Only God knows."
Another sticking point in the good pastor's only-God-knows theology is the supposed sacrifice of [his] only begotten son, Jesus, who "died for my sins." This idea conflicts with scripture on several counts, the main one being what the self-same Master said about the Father. "What father, if his son asked for bread would give him a stone; if asked for a fish would give him a serpent? If man, who is evil, would not do these things, how can you believe that the Father, who is so much better, would do the like?" It seems that this man's "father" sent his only beloved son to die in a most grisley fashion in a transaction that baffles a rational mind. But "God has his reasons." We might ask, What human father would not lay down his own life to save his children? In religions that call for sacrifices it's always someone else who is sacrificed, not the priests or elders who call for these levies.
My belief in the Spirit of the Universe, that it is All Things and in all things, provides that we are all cells in the universal body of God: Children of God. But my pastor friend says that Jesus is the son of [God] and at one point said that Jesus IS God! When asked, Where does that leave the rest of us? he has no answer, except to tell me that I am wrong to ask such questions. His position on this and other issues smacks of an exclusiveness, a "holier than thou" position that brooks no question, coupled with a form of "divine" censorship that bars any investigation.
When asked why he subscribes to such convoluted, contradictory beliefs, this man says it is because his faith is strong. Blind but strong. The weaknesses in this "strong" faith are glaring but he ignores them and simply tells me, "You're wrong." As if saying so makes it so.
The pastor has been visiting my website and read a chapter from one of my books, The Mind of God, and produced a set of counter arguments based on scripture. The specifics are not worth the time and effort to detail here, but the tract he produced contained a liberal dose terms such as; "obviously", "probably", and "perhaps". Taking the last item first, perhaps is another way of saying maybe; hardly definitive in any sense of the word. When asked about statements that contain the word "obviously"; Obvious to whom?, there is no reply except that "it's just obvious." "Probably" is another, much bigger can of worms that my friend seems to have trouble grasping.
Probability is a very special term, one not to be used carelessly, as it cannot stand alone in any logical sense. To say that something will probably happen is to form a conclusion based on factors leading directly to that conclusion: trends, in other words. I drive an automobile. My probablilty of having an accident is very low because; I observe the speed limits, am fully aware of my surroundings, slow down in school zones, and in general "let the other guy have it." I'm never in a hurry, believing it's better to be late than to not get somewhere at all. Now, if I talked on a cell phone while driving, or diverted my attention to scanning for a radio station, lit a cigarette, or tried to read a newspaper, the probabiity that I would have an accident (?) would increase sharply. I'm one of those who believe that most "accidents" are deliberate acts of commission or omission, risks that careless motorists take that practically invite disaster. My pastor friend's "probabilities", on the other hand, are just pulled from the air with no precedent, prologue, or trend. In fact, he has very little to say that is definite, except, "You're wrong."
Perhaps? Probably? Obviously? Take your pick. But I'm happy, loved and respected by decent people, have dear friends such as never before, am in perfect health, and haven't a care in the world. This may be because; I drive carefully, don't smoke in bed, don't look viscious dogs in the eye, look both ways before crossing a street, have a rear-view mirror on my bicycle (on which I ride over 3,000 miles a year), don't meddle in other peoples' business, don't complain or criticize, accept things as they are, and in general maintain a pleasing attitude that people respond to in loving ways. My cup truly runs over and I know why: I do my part and the Spirit of the Universe has no quarrel with me as I live according to the law. Most of the time. Being in this human condition provides that I make the occasional poor judgement, but even in this I am protected from the dire consequences of these miscues. Life is a classroom, exprience is the best teacher, and mistakes are pointers showing me the things I need to work on.
It's up to each individual to decide what he or she will accept in terms of spiritual demonstration. Shall it bea smoke-and-mirrors "faith" that contradicts itself at almost every turn; that tries to impose its fantastic beliefs on others; who quote the Bible in one context and when challenged claim that there are many interpretations of the book, and the one they follow is the right one. How can they be so sure? It's right because they say so. Iraq had weapons of mass destruction because a loudmouth coward said so. But it turned out to be a lie, and a million people died, were maimed for life, became refugees, or suffered deprivations that no human beings shoould ever be subject to. Mother Church had "heretics", the neo conservatives (Nazis) have "terrorists", both inventions of fear mongerisng hypocrites to subjugate the decent people of the world. Whether they be men who wear dresses and like young boys, or expensive suits and love power, they are no better than animals; secretive, predatory, callous, and corrupt beyond measure. One blames the Devil, the other blames anyone that's handy, for the things that go wrong.
As an alternative, contemplate the Spirit of the Universe who provides the light and air, the sun, moon, and stars; who is good, true, beautiful, peaceful, orderly, and harmonious; whose divine wisdom is found in Natural Law, a law biased toward the good. Look in a mirror and see what you find; a true child of God or a lowly worm in the dust? Where are you and how did you get there? If you are like so many people we hear about, chances are you're troubled over some non-issue that looms large in your life. Do you feel kinship with the rest of your brothers and sisters or are you isolated and alone? If this is your lot in life, as yourself how you came to be so. Isn't it because from earliest childhood you were indoctrinated into some religious belief and/or political doctrine? Did you go to church? Did you vote in elections? Did it make any difference?
Wake up, fools! The human race has suffered long enough from the power plays and mind games of religion and the greed and incompetence of politics. Both seek to divide us into manageable denominations and political ideaologies which history should have shown by now don't work. In closing let us consider the Seven Deadly Sins according to Mohandas Ghandi;
Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Knowledge without character
Business without morality
Science without humanity
Worship without sacrifice
Politics without principle
No comments:
Post a Comment