tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27836089.post6124602669749862986..comments2023-11-02T02:49:12.689-06:00Comments on Waiting for Charlie...: Pray to God, But Row For Shore???majellamomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03809626019321902004noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27836089.post-12839414688518244072008-10-24T15:52:00.000-06:002008-10-24T15:52:00.000-06:00I think religion is going a little bit too far in ...I think religion is going a little bit too far in some cases. And I could probably write a book (or ten for that matter) on the subject because religion in any form is so vague, leaves so much room for interpretation that it's just idiotic to ACTUALLY sit and wait for a sign from God. (I read this book on religios beliefs once and there was this story about a certain african tribe if I remember correctly that often migrated. And they worshiped a god in the form of a ... totem that they always carried with them -this was like the center of the world for them, an idea of a pillar that links heaven and earth -. And one day the totem was destroyed somehow and they were so overwhelmed that they just stoped in that very spot and just sat down and died. This is how much they believed. And while I find that very beautiful in a poetic, ideological kind of way, I find it disgusting when mentally underdeveloped primates still do stupid things like this in our day and age.) The more you read about religion (any religion) the more you realise that it's only a feeble HUMAN attempt for answering those special questions: why are we here, what is the purpose of our lives, is there life after death etc etc. I have come to a point in my life where I no longer believe in religion. I still like to believe in a higher power, life after death etc. but not in the way that the bible presents it; I don't believe that going to church every sunday or praying every night will make me a better person or get me into heaven or ... you get the idea. (If you haven't please watch the movie THE MAN FROM EARTH to better understand what I'm talking about - of course I don't really believe that the movie could be, how should I say, inspired from a true story, but the idea is that it gives a POSIBLE alternative that CAN'T BE DISPROOVEN). And that's the problem with religion ... it baisicly sais: "JUST BELIEVE! It doesn't matter that it doesn't make sense. JUST BELIEVE IT !" And that's what that family with the 7 children are doing ... JUST believing. Now the problem here is that we live in a cause & effect type of universe so let's say God will help you BUT, basicly, if you don't work you won't be able to feed your family. You can believe as much as you like ... "paint a pumpkin black, it don't turn it into a bowling ball" :) ... And don't even get me started on those suicide bombers ... freakin' idiots. :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27836089.post-58607592674158359542008-02-23T08:22:00.000-07:002008-02-23T08:22:00.000-07:00I think this is an appropriate post to follow on t...I think this is an appropriate post to follow on the heels of a post on spiritual direction.<BR/><BR/>What immediately springs to my mind is Matthew 25:14-30, the Parable of the Talents, in which three servants receive money from the master, two invest it and one buries it.<BR/><BR/>--<BR/><BR/>I once heard that one reason why science in the Islamic world stalled out after the vestiges of Christian culture dissipated is that Islam does not recognize secondary causes. The example was given that this man took a cab in the MidEast, and the cab driver checked to see the gasoline level by lighting a match at the mouth of the tank. The two Westerners were alarmed, but the cab driver said if they blow up it is only because it was God's Will.<BR/><BR/>Since I did not watch the show, I cannot comment on it directly, but this family may not be giving sufficient consideration of secondary causes. It would be a shame to "bury" the gift of children by smothering them in poverty and public shame.<BR/><BR/>whimsyWhimsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com