I am sure that the show "The Search
for Jesus" could've been more unbiased in their quest for
the "truth", but generally speaking the truth is
usually skewed by factual evidence portrayed by the people trying
to prove their own point of view. Therefore, only the
"evidence" to support their viewpoint will be chosen in
such a manner as to prove what they are trying to claim. This has
always been the forum used in the art of debate!
Christianity has many different levels of
belief and denomination. The interpretation and re-interpretation
of the Bible alone can be staggering to anyone not solidified in
their own belief. I believe in what people could call God,
however unconventional this statement may seem. Of course, you
may not believe that from what I've written (or will write).
I find it interesting that God's chosen
people are the Jews, and yet Judaism faith does not recognize
Christ as the Son of God. I find the level of hypocrisy amongst
the people of faith to be un-Christ-like as well as un-God-like.
For example, the person who falls asleep during a sermon or the
teenage boys in the back pew speaking in colorful metaphors of
the girl they scored with just the night before. Or how about
those who would judge others in religious persecution when even
Jesus supposedly said let the person who has not sinned cast the
first stone. Or the same religion who's God claims to love
everyone and yet families and Churches turn away members of the
congregation when children are born out of wedlock or aborted. Do
they really disserve excommunication? I don't believe a forgiving
God or even a God who loves all his / her children would agree with
such an act. I suppose these are extreme examples, but my point
is it is easy to find an example to support any particular
viewpoint.
Granted, the Christian Faith has many
denominational factions, but are all of them the one and only way
to God? Some would say no, that the only important common
denominator is that each one believes in the Christian God and
Christ as the Son of that God. Others would say yes. The Mormons
believe only a few will be allowed into Heaven (even if you are a
devote follower). Your passage would only be allowed based on
basically your number of conversions. How well they spread the
word. Mormons also believe that Christ came to America after
rising from the grave . . . yeah! What about the religious
faction that believes in the handling of snakes combined with the
divine intervention of God? Would you let your seven-year-old son
or daughter hold a poisonous reptile and dance with it? Would you
let them hold the snake in their face and sway with it? Even if
you believe that the only perception of religion should be
whether or not you believe in the Christian God, there are cases
such as the mass suicide at Jonestown in 1978. Because of the
extenuating circumstances surrounding the drug use of Jim Jones,
investigations into the activities of the People's Temple, and
the stigmatic paranoia as a general consensus of the group
leaders . . . a great and terrible tragedy was committed. Jim was
an ordained minister of Protestant Faith and was acting under the
authority of the Christian Church / Disciples of Christ. What about
Oral Roberts? In January 1987, Roberts told his television
audience that God had appeared to him in 1986 and told him that
he must raise eight million dollars in the next 12 months or die!
I won't even get into the Jehovah Witness faction. Oh well, isn't
the true breakdown of religion that of the Catholic Church verses
all the other wrong religions (Protestant).
The true question being, how strong is your
faith to handle such queries? Now, I realize anyone still reading
this just said to themselves or out loud something to the effect
that their faith is very strong, then why do you let such trivial
things as a difference of opinion bother you so? Is your faith
that shaky?
Why exactly was the Cross chosen to be the
embodiment of Christianity? I believe the Cross represents an
agonizing torture brought to that land by the Pagan conquerors of
Rome! Secondly, we as Humans tend to put tangible substance to
our understanding of the World . . . the cross is not
representative of his sacrifice . . . it represents his will to
allow this torture to happen. The concept is alive, not the
tangible cross. After all, aren't we simply supposed to believe
in God without a tangible proof? I think it would've made more
sense to show the resurrection of Jesus . . . if one needs
tangible proof. However, that would be difficult to represent
physically and it's also not the issue; most people need visuals
to believe in the abstract.
By the way, the concept of many Gods
(polytheism) is farther reaching in historical aspect than that
of the concept of only one God (monotheism). Christianity was
greatly persecuted against by not only the people of Egyptian
polytheism (Pharaohs weren't their only God), but that of Roman
polytheism as well. In fact, one might say that Christianity was
probably considered a cult or small desert, nomadic religion at
that time period. This is not to say that faith in only one God
was considered a cult or nomadic desert religion . . . just the
faith in Christ as the Son of God. A few more proclamations to
clear the air: Satanism would be considered monotheistic (there's
only one Satan . . . right?), and those who practice witchcraft
(Wicca) would be considered polytheistic. Satanism and witchcraft
are not synonymous no matter how ignorant the Christianity
community remains toward the existence of other faiths than their
own.
What about those people who survive an
airplane disaster. Seven hundred plus people have died and these
handful of survivors have the audacity to claim that God must've
had a higher purpose for them . . . yeah, right. What about the
other 700+ poor saps . . . you mean to tell me that God just
didn't need them anymore. And what would that higher purpose be
anyway? To go back to their mundane nine to five job so their fat
cat boss can line his / her pockets with more profit. To touch just
one more childs' life, because you know little Bobby would have
never become that serial killer if Mrs. Johnson never died in that
plane crash. Let us drink from the cup of reality for a moment, you
survived because you were in the right place at the right time.
Let's take this a step further even, you mean to tell me where
there's famine, war and disease God saw fit to save a small handful
of people from an otherwise agonizing death when there's so much
more than their suffering.
Oh, and what about the Right to Lifers who
attack and sometimes kill the very Doctors they claim are
murdering life. This would certainly be a redundant paradox if
I've ever heard of one before and not very Christ-like. The fact
remains that this religion which offers parables toward the
goodness of mankind, a religion which has suffered so much
persecution throughout history has not followed their own
teachings to the letter. Christians are one of the first people
to persecute in the name of their God; destroy nations and
empires because these peoples were deemed heathens; burn people
at the stake for their heresy (how about the Salem Witch Trials
-- if the person survived the lethal torture they must be a
Witch, if they died then the persecutors would be sending a
devout follower to the arms of God . . . what a choice); and at
different points in history they restricted higher education, ban
social interactions such as dancing or musical expression,
allowed annulments, limited the length of garments, and so on.
I am relatively sure that there are those
who would agree with this article and there are those who
countered every perspective with an argument. Perhaps there are
even those who are in between the extreme viewpoints and agree
with some of the material. This is precisely the point of view
this article began with: any argument is preceded with
information meant to actualize the individual or group
perspective. Facts are easily skewed to present those willing to
listen with a persuasive proclamation. There are always two sides
to every coin; the duality of misdirection.
I can only hope this did not offend anyone
too badly. But if it did, then you too struggle with your faith.
Notice, I said, "you too" . . . I struggle just as well
and I'm not afraid to admit that. Perhaps my convictions of faith
are too interdependent on the interpretations and / or the
imperfections of mankind.
One last thought for now, I believe that
Christianity must change . . . or die. The fact that Women used
to wear clothing from their necks to ankles is a prime example of
this. I would like to see the clocks of time turn back to that
era (yeah, right . . . not)! And I would almost bet that the
majority of Women wouldn't want to see that either!
