100 | 100
Cuarenta y cinco: All I know is that I don’t know nothin’
The holidays are upon us. I’m doing low key, i.e. nonexistent, i.e. parents are out of work and commercialism sucks anyway. This means spending Christmas Eve (and Christmas, probably) in the movie theater.
Today’s fact (and really, this is never going to be done in anywhere close to one hundred days) is inspired by the fact that I’m sure someone stumbling along will ask, “Why don’t you celebrate this holiday as was intended: as a joyous occasion, as the birthday of Christ?” It’s because I can be best described as an agnostic.
I was baptized Catholic, but since I was born out of wedlock, my mother had to fight for it to happen. She was pretty much done with the church after that, so I never was confirmed and I never received communion. My grandparents both went to church, took me a few times, and tried to convince my mother (and myself, when I was older) to start going again. The few times I’ve been to church, I’ve considered it peaceful, but I in no way felt fulfilled or touched by a Holy Spirit.
I’ve read the Bible (although I plan on reading it again), and I don’t disbelieve that Jesus Christ existed. But I certainly don’t believe that the Bible is literal. I don’t believe that Christmas just happens to fall at the end of the fiscal year. I don’t agree with the stance of anti-birth control, anti-homosexuality, anti-other stuff.
“But, Diz,” you say. “Christianity is bigger than Catholicism. You don’t have to be Catholic. You can be any other facet of Christianity. They’re different.” Sure, but so is Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Why should one of them be right, and the rest be wrong?
I am fascinated by faith, but I tend to think that organized religion tears us apart, which should be the complete opposite of its goal of bringing us together. I am going to read about three religions as one of my 101 in 1001 starting in 2008. (Think you have a religion for me? Lemme know.)
I don’t know what exactly I believe, who I believe in, or why I should. But I don’t believe that there isn’t some sort of cosmic, higher power responsible for our existence. I am pretty sure, however, that Jesus is okay with us wishing each other Season’s Greetings and a Peaceful New Year on the day we have designated as his birthday. Someone once asked me how I would feel if they took my name off of my birthday cake, as they have on so many holiday cards. I say, Jesus doesn’t care because he’s not eating the cake. And really, you shouldn’t either. You’ve put on twenty pounds this holiday season. But Merry Christmas!
Discussion
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How times have changed. Kyle and Pat were born out of wedlock and both were baptized Catholic. Pat now attends a Catholic school. Next year he will do first communion. I think that’s what it is.
The Catholic church has many flaws. I’m happy that Pat is attending a private school. It’s teaching him a sense of community, respect for others, respect for himself. I could do without all the burning in hell crap but he is receiving a perspective that the public schools are not teaching. (Hence the school shootings!) I believe if kids were taught some of those values in public schools society would get a little better.
After Kyle died I questioned whether there is a God. I questioned whether he went to heaven like every one claimed. I still do. I think intelligent beings question what is in front of them. Ignorant people just follow like lost sheep and claim they have faith. (Then they invade countries on false pretenses.)
The problems begin when one faith believes they should force feed themselves on other faiths. The idea of “God” is that “he” comes in many forms. So why bother flying a plane into a building because you are Muslim and you perceive “us” as Christians? It is pointless. All that does is confirm in the Christian’s minds that “God” will protect them. This religion war has been going on forever. We have seen it throughout history. Nothing comes from it.
The idea of faith should be that, faith. I have seen amazing things happen that can only be explained away by a higher entity. Kyle being on of those events. I have yet to meet a more angelic being. I have yet to meet an individual that could cause a wave of peace for so many people.
I have faith and I believe in a higher entity. I don’t want to be force fed other’s religions. I also don’t want to live in a world where there isn’t faith. To me that would be scary.
Religion has a purpose in our world. Right now, we are seeing the bad side of religion. We are seeing what happens when God is distorted. Christmas has lost it’s meaning. I try to teach to my children that Christmas is about family and togetherness. It’s about the birth of Jesus. What that meant to the world. In a world that is so corrupt with greed it is difficult to teach. (sorry to ramble)
The idea of organized religion is one of detrimental results for those who use its principles as a rulebook instead of a basis of guidelines. I consider myself agnostic also…I can neither prove or disprove the existence of a higher being; but Christianity as a whole seems a bit silly to me. Not to mention all the contradictions and errors that are abundant in the “Holy Scriptures”. There’s simply no meaning behind Christmas (even a false one) anymore. The feeling of unity and charity has evaporated into nothing more than a tingle on the sole of my feet. All that’s left is the urgency to awe and impress with expensive and insincere gifts.