Faithless

Prophecies, signs, fate, destiny...shit happens? Can any of us really know? If you say you do, then I would argue you are not using fact to stake your claim, rather faith in things unseen and unproven. A whole heart belief that Karma is a bitch or you were meant to be standing where you are standing right now. That's OK of course, I'm not claiming to know anything better but let's be honest with each other for a minute if we can. I seem to recall that I promised I was going to be honest so let everyone do their part.

What do you believe? Are we here with purpose and plan, mapped out by some omnipotent spirit to an unknown end? Our lives a prelude to ever lasting life in the beyond or doomed to hell without an electric fan if we haven't done what ever version of scripture we are supposed to be following? Or, this is it, you're born, you live and you die. Nothing more. Potential fuel for the earth is what we have to look forward to, if you're really good or rich you can have a building named after you.

I don't know if you can avoid getting religion mixed up with this kind of question but for the sake of argument let's not close any doors or for that matter, minds. I am not a fan of organised religion. Everyone should know that about me from the get go. I do however believe in a god. My atheist friends will be raising an eyebrow now, but before you get yourself all twisted up know that I am pissing off some of my religious friends as well, so before attacking me with either pitchforks or the periodic table can I say everyone just chill out for a minute. Yes, I sit squarely in the middle of the great debate. I'm comfortable with that. and as long as you aren't trying to convert me we can get along.

I was making a comment on something once and my youngest said, but you don't believe in god. No, I never said that...I don't believe in religion and those are two different things. Seeing an opening I chose to voice my side of the story as I see it. Believing in a deity is about understanding that perhaps we do have a destiny. Not just an end game where we get to drink from the cool kids fountain but a general kind of thing as well. I was meant to be a father, how I got there and with who was free choice. I'm good at helping and serving people, my free will with some outside influence pushed me into what I do but my personal helping spirit is by free will. I choose to be a good guy instead of that ass-hole guy. While I was raised a Catholic my humanity is not defined solely by that fact, I'd be a good guy regardless of what religion I was forced into.

Religion is mans attempt to understand and explain the unexplained, which in the end turns to control and power. If absolute power corrupts absolutely then divine power derived from the gods is the ultimate power play in my book. That to me is what is most insidious about organised religion, yes they can do very good and important work but that work is over shadowed by corruption and malice that is no different then regular society but made worse by standing behind the shroud of holy writ.

I prefer to believe in people and myself. The simple fact that we have people trying to kill each other in the name of religion should be enough to dissuade people from joining any particular cult. Sadly, this is not the case and I'd be willing to bet all the money in my pockets that god is shaking his/her head at what is being done in his/her name...what the hell did I do? That wasn't what I wanted....hmmmmmm, maybe not so omnipotent after all.

Let me end thus.....

I don't have faith in faith
I don't believe in belief
You can call me faithless
I still cling to hope
And I believe in love
And that's faith enough for me

From my friends in Rush

Enough said

Ciao

D