So I have a friend who says she is an atheist. Now I was nominally raised as a Catholic, and have described myself as being that, or agnostic, or once or twice as a comic book Rosicrucian. I admit to fit none of these categories presently. But, I do believe there is something bigger out there--something beyond our ken which orders our existence.
I have no actual argument against one being any religion or non-religion. If you say you are an atheist, I might argue that the beautiful things in this world must have some orderly way of coming together that is unexplained. If you argue for atheism, I ask you to stand up for the "godliness" of humans. Think out your point. Explain it. To dismiss God/god without explaining how the world comes to such beauty is a cop out. If you give me as your deity mother nature, Zoroaster, pagan gods, or witchcraft, please give it some thought.
This is my beef with atheists who say God/god does not exist. It is entirely too easy. I can no more prove to you that God does exist than you can prove that he does not. So, I believe in some force. Call me a superstitious idiot if you choose. It doesn't bother me, especially if you have a poor response to why I am so dumb.
I have heard good reasons people don't believe. That is all I ask. Then we are friends. Ah, heck, we will be friends anyway, but I want to be persuaded that you aren't just angry because the God that so many people seem to worship has let you down.
Look, I am actually starting to believe that there are something like ghostly spirits. My proof? I admit, it is largely anecdotal. Also, ghosts are talked about throughout the world and throughout the religions.
You don't have to believe in ghosts. I really dislike the shows when people go into some creepy place and turn on a bunch of infrared lights and claim they "feel" a presence. I'm not buying it. You tell me I that you have seen a ghost, let's talk. But please, if you strike me as crazy as an UFO investigator claiming you have been abducted, I don't believe it. Sorry. I know, nearly infinite worlds and stars--then why did they take you and not Einstein. Sorry, perhaps that is mean.
Order and reason is perhaps why I believe in some higher power. Yes, I see many things I can attribute to a cruel deity. I see school children dying, mass suffering, and evil. I'm not blind. I can't give my god or supreme force a name or even a face, I can give you examples of art so beautiful it makes some people cry; of music that thrills, heals, or changes lives; I have read books that take the imagination to other worlds with words that touch the soul (if I have one.) And maybe, just maybe, our God or gods have a mean streak. Maybe it is too much to keep track of all this goodness and evil. People die--in horrible manners. How can one conclude that God could not exist in such a world of such suffering, if to die is to end the suffering? If there is nothing beyond, then expect no quarter in our duel with random events.
No, I haven't an answer to satisfy believers or non-believers. I can't quote Jesus, Allah, or anyone else to give comfort. I offer only belief in whatever seems persuasive at the time. Yes, call me wishy-washy on a matter of such importance. I agree. I may just be one monkey typing on one computer in an infinite universe full of computers and monkeys. If so, I wish I had come up with the Bible, the Koran, or Shakespeare's collected works.
Peace and happy new year.
No, I haven't an answer to satisfy believers or non-believers. I can't quote Jesus, Allah, or anyone else to give comfort. I offer only belief in whatever seems persuasive at the time. Yes, call me wishy-washy on a matter of such importance. I agree. I may just be one monkey typing on one computer in an infinite universe full of computers and monkeys. If so, I wish I had come up with the Bible, the Koran, or Shakespeare's collected works.
Peace and happy new year.
