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This topic of Religion is meant to help myself put my questions, thoughts, and ideas into actual writing. I write this to express my feelings, and receiving some answers or suggestions would be great. This is NOT about me choosing to leave the Church.
This is not meant to offend anyone.Thank you.
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I like to think of myself as a good, practicing Catholic. I go to mass every Sunday, I pray before meals, I've attended a Catholic elementary school and even University, I keep rosaries and symbols of my faith in my car, dorm, and wallet. Yet I wouldn't call myself devout. Odd?
Definition of devout:
1. Having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment.
2. Totally committed to a cause or belief.I do not believe I am entirely, 110% committed to the Catholic faith. This does not mean that I do not accept the religion anymore, simply that I just have so many questions about Catholicism. When I first realized this about myself, I was a bit troubled. How could I be raised in such Catholic upbringing all my life but still find myself unsure of things?
The religion, actually, all religions, relies on faith and faith entirely. I picture religion sometimes as some one being stranded on a completely unmapped island, just forcing himself to live out of pure faith that some one will save him. Yes, the movie Cast Away is a perfect example, but how many times out of 10 would that man be saved?
I loved going to Catholic school (St. John's the Evangelist, represent) and I love attending a Catholic university (La Salle University in Philadelphia). Catholicism has a great moral code that is taught to the children, something that I'm extremely grateful for since it really has shaped my own character. But since these same children are raised believing in the Holy Trinity and everything in the Bible, there isn't room to question these ideas. They are given to us as facts.
What I'm trying to say here, is that we've never had opportunities to question our own religion and explore others. Most religious families preserve their faith and raise and grow their family within that religion's boundaries and morals, which is fine by all means. There is nothing wrong with that.
But now, I am putting my questions, built up over the years, into words.
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Some topics (but not limited to) that I hope to cover in the upcoming days (in no particular order):
1) Catholic Flaws
2) Other Religious Alternatives
3) Guilty Conscience About Lack of Faith
I knew once I saw that this post was about religion...that your thoughts would be parallel to mine. I feel as if I'm responding to a peer in one of my discussion boards for class, being all proper and all but it is a serious topic especially because sometimes religion is what makes a person. (And for me...our catholic religion has made you the good hearted person you are right now). I'm not sure if this is a general post about anyone questioning their faith or if you too are included in this post about doubt.
ReplyDeleteYou already know this topic has come up a couple times before in our conversations/heart-to-hearts but religion is a tricky complex matter. You yourself has to define what religion means to you and that definition can be skewed because of catholic flaws, religious alternatives, and the guilty conscience about lack of faith.
Hey Erik! Having being born and raised into an heavily catholic family we can only but live the life they have set for us. But I do believe that God will present Himself to us only through divine revelation of who He is and it will be up to us to accept it or reject it. It's hard being the pretty much the only one in our family that is a born again Christian and to have different beliefs compared to Catholicism. It took studying through the bible and letting God show me things through His word to know what I know and what I truly believe. Yes, you're absolutly right, religion is solely through faith but I've learned over the years that it's also through love. It's that love that takes every Christian into another level of relationship with Jesus Christ. That love that can help us look past it as religion but understand it as simply our relationship with Him.
ReplyDeleteMuch love cousin!
-Michael
Nah, you right. I was raised Catholic, lived Catholic, and my family is still very religious. But as I grew up and began to think for myself, I couldn't help but wonder why different creeds always fought. If religion is supposed to promote peace, why are they constantly condemning others and their Gods? Are we not striving for the same ultimate goal, to live as good people and one day meet our maker?
ReplyDeleteMy relatives are many different forms of Christianity, and they're always trying to convert us from Catholicism and saying their way is the only way to salvation. So you're saying no matter how good of a person I may be, I'll go to hell if I don't believe in the same thing that you do?
Another good example is are people who go to church and are not very nice people outside of church. BAPTISTS. That's a terrible generalization, but for the most part the stereotype is fulfilled. It's okay, I have baptist friends. How do you tsismis while your IN church? A friend made this very funny observation. "So it's wrong for me to ask God for a bike, but I can steal a bike and go to church and all is forgiven?" Religious loopholes ftw.
So begs the question, is religion just a method of controlling the masses? Is it just another mask we wear as a part of our identity? Why do I have to be Catholic? Why can't I just be a good person? Not to downplay all the good it brings, but is it just a popularity contest to see whose God is better? I mean, look at the Spanish Inquisition; over 350 years of forcing people to follow Catholicism. Look at the influence that Catholicism has over the Philippines now. Same goes for the Crusades. 200 years of on and off military campaigns and engagements in the name of the Church.
Thus brings me to my point. It is human nature to take advantage of good things. People are inherently bad. It's much easier to be evil than it is to be good. So yes, religion has brought a sense of moral stability and hope to humanity. But behind the scenes, what's really going on? I say let people believe in what they want. If they're good ppls, then thank GOD.
Mae: True that it's up to the self to determine what religion is. I just have a problem with how people are so restricted and guarded from exploring different paths as they grow up.
ReplyDeleteMike: Hey Mike! Honestly, I've never taken the time to actually sit down and read the Bible. I understand that reading it could make a world of difference, so props to you for going out and trying to find answers yourself. I'm still gonna be looking for mine..probably for a long while.
Jaypee: Again, you give me an awesome, well thought, and really long reply. Thanks man. You bring up a lot of good points. I'm not sure what to think of the Baptist part, I really don't know a lot of them to judge for myself.
But I disagree that you think people are inherently bad. Personally, I find it easier to be good than evil, of course that changes under different circumstances. But for the most part, it's easy to be a good person.
In the end though, you're right. The differences of religions and their preferred faith or lore can be a plenty. But it all boils down to being a good person with positive morals. Who's to say there's something wrong with some one else's beliefs? As long as the religion focuses on improving a person's moral character, there is nothing wrong with it.
There are many people (I wouldn't say religions) that live a totally different life compared to what they may "preach" but don't let that construe the view of the importance of church. I am not the one to judge who will and will not go to heaven but the bible does state the plan for eternal salvation through Jesus' and his apostles' teachings.
ReplyDeleteWe can find in John 3:3 Jesus does state that we must be born again. Then two verses later He tells them to be born of "water and the spirit." And finally in Acts 2:38 it all comes together.
(Don't get me wrong I'm not imposing my beliefs at all but stating to what I've come to find and understand)
It's one thing to be a good person (because in this world we need more of them lol) but it's also another to follow what His word instructs. Granted that we believe everything in the bible is to be true and from God, I do try my best to follow.
Mike: I have no problem at all with anything that you are saying. I respect that you truly and firmly believe the bible, that's great.
ReplyDeleteI just can't find it in me to put my complete faith in a religion, at least not yet. I have too many questions about everything at this point.
Mike: I apologize if I came off as hostile, it was not my intention. None of my comments were directed towards you in any way, brother.
ReplyDeleteE: Nah, YOU'RE awesome haha. I would have nothing to respond to if you didn't write this entry.
I have titos and titas who are Born Again and Iglesia Ni Cristo and I've had the pleasure of attending their services over the years. My mom doesn't believe that we're 'betraying' our faith by practicing or sharing faith with another congregation or going to Bible study every now and then. I think it's actually great that we get to experience other forms of worship. All I ask is for a mutual understanding without any subtle undertones.
I say I'm blessed to have friends who are Buddhist, Muslim, etc. We get to ask each other questions and respectfully discuss similarities and differences, prompting me to satisfy my curiosity by reading more about their philosophies and ideals. If anything, it has opened my mind and enlightened about how I could be a better person.
I know some people who know almost everything there is to know about Catholicism and they choose not to follow because they don't fully support everything that is said. ie, Roman Catholic Dogma.
*tangent* Last Christmas we went to a Catholic Haitian Church in AC. One of the most enjoyable services I've ever had the privilege of attending :) */tangent*
As for the Baptist comment, it wasn't serious. It's just something my friend jokes about when he goes to church. "Niggas, man.." hehehe.
But I feel you, I can't blindly put my faith in something I don't wholeheartedly believe. I just take a little bit of everything and try to be a good person. YEAH. I MAKE MY OWN RULES hahaha :p
Oh, and thank you for such good dinner conversation <3
ReplyDeleteBoth times I responded I was eating hahaha :p
Erik: I completely understand what you mean. I still have several friends from college who are in the same situation and all I would them and offer to you is that if you have any questions at all just ask and I hope I can help any way possi le! Hope to see you guys soon! And tell your mom and dad I said Hi!
ReplyDeleteJaypsss: Nah I definitely didnt take your comment like that at all bro. I'm rather enjoying this conversation. And same as you I enjoy talking to all my friends who are of a different religion or denomination and simply discussing each others beliefs. I had a really good friend throughout college who jumped from religion to religion and finally he found one he could truly believe. I'm not going to say what he believes is wrong off the bat but I am going to respect his beliefs.