Happiness and God?
I had a friend who recently blogged about the seemingly inherent nature of man to take for granted what he has, only looking towards God in his hour of need. She compared God to a doctor who she believed is someone that we all need regardless of whether we are well and healthy, or sick and dying. In a funny twist, she somehow also came to the conclusion that her God (she's Christian) is the one true divine doctor, unlike other 'gods' (this is a quote of what she had on her blog).I posted up a comment on her blog regarding this as it inflamed me to think that there is another narrow-minded person that I know who has both blind faith, and intolerance for other religions. I am now posting my comment up on my blog. Perhaps it will open up someone else's eyes to the dangers of spouting religious fanaticism and possibly starting future religious wars. It is my belief that we should learn to be tolerant of each other, to compromise and understand, not to dictate and impose so that we may all learn from each other.
You're right - and you did agree with yourself there - who does need a doctor when they're well and healthy? Are you concluding then that we shouldn't take our health and doctors for granted in the good times? Should we see the doctor when there's nothing wrong? I think not - realistically, you would only be taking precious time away from someone who really needs to see the doctor because there is something wrong.
Since you agreed that no one needs a doctor when they're well and healthy, and since you have been referring to God as the one true divine doctor, doesnt this mean that you yourself don't need God when things are going ok? That you only go back to him when you feel like you need divine intervention in your life?
Since you believe in only the one God and believe that you only need the one God, does it then follow that you believe you only need the one doctor. If so, would you choose your GP, an eye specialist, or a neurosurgeon? In reality, these different kinds of doctors work together to make a person healthy again. There are some times when you need an eye specialist more, and there are times when you need something totally different, like an ob-gyno. All the different doctors perform a function, each essential in its own way and important. So for you to only name one true divine doctor is unbelievable.
It would be funny to read how you came to the conclusion that there is only one true divine doctor or God. I'm sure the religious fanatics in the world who kill for their religion have arguments that are the same as yours. Will you be thinking the same way if you were reincarnated as an ant in your next life? You will never know until you actually go through the experience, and funnily enough, no one's ever really come back to tell the tale. And so it remains unknown territory.
Jesus once said in the Bible that thou should love and treat thy neighbour the way you yourself wish to be treated. If you want your own religion to be respected and accepted, you should learn to do the same for the other religions. Your comment is the kind of behaviour that fosters narrow-minded thinking rather than the understanding and compromise Jesus himself tries to instill in his followers. I think this message gets lost in all the hype. But it is clear that Jesus was looking for people to be more considerate and tolerant. Question is: are you?
Unfortunately, calling their religions' head as 'god' and calling your own God as 'God' is the first step in the wrong direction. It breeds intolerance rather than understanding, narrow-minds rather than open minds.
posted by chronicblogger @ 1:54 AM
11 Comments:
"True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness."
"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." --A. Einstein
irene,
Care to explain the quotes (in relation to this post)?
I think you should stop pulling quotes out of nowhere.
Hey Irene - d00d - How many cones do you smoke d00d?? I'm looking for a smoking buddy and I think you and I would get along perfectly d00d!! whoaaa... mega outrageous d00d... I'm, like, soooo into you!!! I have, like, no idea what the hell you're on about.. but I DO know what you're ON!!! You go girl!!
Just to clarify - I didn't not in a funny twist come to that conclusion, you drew it for me! The funny twist only ended with the question "how do we know who the one true God is", but there was no answer to that... until you drew the conclusion and I went on from there :P
I just want to say that we should act responsibily even if GOD never exist. Then which one you believe is the true god becomes insignificant. The thing I really don't understand is what good does it do for people to goto mass every week and pray every day. Does that mean they need to listen to bible's teaching to gain happiness and comfort? Are they still learning how to live life? It is like people that follows Dr. Phil, Oprah etc? Then where does Dr. Phil or Oprah go to gain happiness everyweek? They get it from helping other people. I think everyone should spend more than helping each other out, volunteering, give their time for others. And not spend the time for themselves and god for whatever reason. What do you think your god would like you to be rather doing?
How do you think mother Theresa help other people? not by praying I guess.
The world today is lacking selflessness. Do more and think less - works better sometimes.
(PS. I better write something to clarify I'm not anonymous)
What I am saying is that, I left my blog as an open-ended question, and for Chronicblogger to jump into the conclusion for me because she knew I was a Christian does not really do it justice. I asked "who", but I didn't give an answer.
Would my conclusion be different? *Mine* wouldn't be, because that is what I believe. Am I asking everyone to come to the same conclusion? No I am not. It was a question for people for find the answer for themselves. As I have said in my last comment, it's a choice that you and I ultimately have to make. A person from another religion would have answered the same question by saying they think their God is the true one. Would people have disputed that?
Rex is right, we have to act responsibly. And he is right in saying that, if people just go to mass/church/mosque every week and pray every day and not do anything to help other people, it's useless. And it's a behaviour that the Bible discourages. The book of James is a good example that talks about just that.
In the end, it doesn't matter who's got the better points. I am responsible for my choice, and you are responsible for yours.
and by the way... I didn't mean to start a debate. I was looking for comments, yes, and I'm glad people have poured out their views :)
This sort of debate has been going on for centuries... Personally I didn't want to start a debate at all, because I knew it'd be never ending. Now that you know what I think, I'll leave it right here. :)
I don't know how you can think that I drew the conclusion for you and you simply followed. You didn't really go on from there. You had the same conclusion already. You did hint at it already and all I did was bring it out prematurely hahaahaa
"Quotes without reasoning is lame, reasoning without quotes is blind." -- R. Chung
You did leave it as an open-ended question, I merely answered for you what you were planning on answering anyway. If you didnt think it would do you justice, why didnt you finish the post altogether
Yes I know you asked who and didn't give an answer, because you were going to give one in the next post. I just beat you to it - and not deliberately - by leaving a comment and I don't think that's unfair.
See my next post on your blog and this blog for my replies.
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