So, are you a believer? That’s quite a question, isn’t it? That could mean a lot of different things. That question is often used by evangelical or conservative Christian people to confront others to establish where they stand in the religious realm. More specifically, they are asking if you believe in whatever they believe in. If they are Christian, they are usually asking if you believe in God and in Jesus as God’s son. If not a Christian, they are asking if you believe in the Divine, God or gods or spirits or whatever.
I would say that most people would say that they believe in something. Maybe there are some people who don’t believe in anything, but I think most of us are believers in something. I even think “so-called” atheists have beliefs that would fall in the realm of the “spiritual” category. I believe “agnostic” is the category most atheists fit into. I mean, perhaps most people would fall into that category. Anyone can see that this thing called life and this thing called the universe is truly amazing. What is it? What is life? We’re not here, then we’re here, then we’re gone. What is this? What’s happening?
So, because it’s such a mystery, humanity developed belief systems. Of course they did. And they developed many, many belief systems. Hence, we have the plethora of religions that we have. So, pick one. Join up. Just believe whatever system you find that suits you. Gotta believe in something, right?
Well, I know it’s a lot more complicated than that and perhaps I’m being a smart ass about all of this. But the mystery is so huge, life is really unbelievable and so uncomprehensible, what do we do? I’m in favor of letting the mystery be. Explore, investigate, contemplate, meditate. Pray about it if you can. Be open in your exploration. That’s my suggestion. Work at it, explore, educate yourself. Just don’t sell your heart and soul to whatever, whoever comes along and grabs you, begins controlling you and manipulating you.
So, my point in all of this? I’m one for thinking this through, rather than just joining up with some group that tells you what the “truth” is and agreeing completely with them and their religion. How do they know? They are just guessing at a lot of this “theological” stuff called “belief.” Question anyone of whatever religious belief system they claim to be a part of, and you’ll find there are some things they disagree with in their system, even if they are a very strong believer in most of the religion they are in. “Yes, I’m a very devout Catholic (or Jehovah, Witness, or Mormon, or Baptist or Scientologist or whatever), but I have a problem with that particular thing,” they’ll often say.
So, when it comes to jumping into a group because they say, “just believe,” I say wait a minute. Have you really thought this over? I’m not so big on belief. I am big on having faith and I see that as very different than just “belief.” Have faith is what I advise. Have faith in, well, whatever you can really have faith in. I have faith. Faith in the “whatever.” I use the term God. Others may use Spirit, energy, whatever. I have faith in a Creator, God, in Christ Consciousness, Jesus’s teachings, the goodness of life. But to believe specifically this and this and this and that because someone says so, give me a break! As Jesus reportedly said, “the Father and I are One, and He is greater.” I say, “I am one with God (and all creation). Yet, God is greater.” Yeah, I’ll leave it at that.
Wally