Thinking

By: L Jones

How do you make the right choice, when all the choices are correct and all the choices are incorrect? That’s the dilemma, paradox or whatever you want to call it when dealing with religions.

So, before I attempt to define who God is, I may first want to investigate exactly what religion is.  Dictionary.com defines religion as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

The first thing that needs to be noted is that religion is a man made coping strategy to help deal with the unknown. It’s not based off of the word of God, but simply the thoughts of man. It’s funny, because I can hear lots of you out there now saying, well what about Jesus? If you look closely at the Bible, Jesus’ teachings are mainly about how to live a just life on Earth. The things that Jesus talked against were foolish man-made laws, which were taught and enforced as if they were laws of God. 

So, who is God? I was reading another website and got this answer: “God is the mathematical formula, which runs the universe.” Alex Chui.   A mathematical formula? Now that’s interesting. If you found out today that after all those years of praying and reading the scriptures of man that God was just a mathematical formula, what would you do tomorrow? I do not believe this is so, but I do believe there is some truth in this statement…

By: L Jones

You ever wonder why there are so many religions? I do. I also think about how none of us know for certain which religion is the correct religion. We don’t know if any of the religions got it right. Throughout history, as man continued to think about God, man continued to change its religious beliefs. But after listening to some people, you’d think they had face to face conversations with God.

Sometimes I try and imagine who God is and what God is like. Are we truly made in God’s image? If we are, I hope it’s simply cosmetic, because if mankind is any indication of what God is like, I don’t even want to think about it. We haven’t gotten pass racism, ended world hunger or have a clue how to achieve world peace. God-like? I think not.

So, who is God? Is God the Creator of everything? That’s a difficult concept to wrap your mind around. I mean, when you say everything, that includes nothing. How do you create nothing?  How do you know to create nothing? Silly questions right; but it’s like trying to create light and not darkness. What’s the point of light if there is no dark? What’s the point of everything if there is no nothing? So back to my original question; who creates nothing for the sake of everything? God, I guess.

Does God know us individually, like Santa Claus? I’m not saying God doesn’t, I’m simply saying it’s a difficult concept to wrap your brain around when you think about it. Why would God need to know us individually?  Are we so arrogant to believe that we are that important? Out of all that was created, we are blessed to have a personal relationship with the Creator of everything? It is definitely possible, but I struggle with thinking its probable.

 By: L Jones

I am far from an atheist and even farther from a saint. I believe in God and I believe in an existence bigger than here, but that’s about as far as I can go. I do not think that our individual relationship with God is as personal as we may think. I debated about writing this post, because this is one of those touchy subjects. When you discuss religion, everyone is ready to stand up and defend their beliefs. Well, let me just say it up front, this is not a fight. I am not choosing sides or saying what God said or any of that, I am merely writing what Lee is thinking…

What I want to talk about is the movie Religulous. It’s interesting and a bit entertaining. The movie brought up lots of questions that I am I am sure lots of you think about from time to time. Why is religion so powerful? If there was one religion or even two, I could understand better the need for adherence, but there are hundreds of religions; most of them boasting incredible events in history associated with their particular practice.

My problem with religion is it’s man driven. Look at our economy; man driven. Look at our justice system; man driven. Look at our foreign relations; man driven. So, why would I put my beliefs in something as serious as my eternal life to something that is man driven? That’s an interesting question isn’t it? I am a man, so how can I connect with God any better than any other man? It’s simple, I pursue God with my best interest at heart, not in the interest of the preacher who took up a career in ministry to get a paycheck, not the interest of an extremist’s who has turned a personal tragedy into a vengeful cause for God; not for the sick in the head priest that pleasures himself with young boys, but for my best interest.

I don’t need a book that has fantastical, unbelievable stories to persuade me that there is a God. I can feel God through me. That’s all that matters to me. I honestly do not believe that our lives are according to some divine plan. I believe in life’s randomness. I’m not trying to sell you, this is just what Lee is thinking…

For those of you who can tolerate some questioning of your faith, I would say check out Religulous. It was entertaining. I was a bit annoyed at some scenes. If you have children, it is a bit graphic for them. Thanks for reading.

Synopsis: Bill Maher interviews some of religion’s oddest adherents. Muslims, Jews and Christians of many kinds pass before his jaundiced eye. Maher goes to a Creationist Museum in Kentucky, which shows that dinosaurs and people lived at the same time 5000 years ago. He talks to truckers at a Truckers’ Chapel. (Sign outside: “Jesus love you.”) He goes to a theme park called Holy Land in Florida. He speaks to a rabbi in league with Holocaust deniers. He talks to a Muslim musician who preaches hatred of Jews. Maher finds the unlikeliest of believers and, in a certain Vatican priest, he even finds an unlikely skeptic.  Written by J. Spurlin