Letter... from a friend.
This was a letter a new friend a of mine once gave to a preacher outside of Wells Hall.
Dear Sidewalk Preachers,
What are you trying to prove? Do you think that the more people you yell at, the more God will love you?
Let me tell you about myself. I try every day to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. I avoid confrontation and violence and try rather to step in others’ shoes and talk out problems when they arise. I do my best not to insult anyone, and when I do hurt people, I always feel guilty and apologize. I barely lie, and when I do it tears me up until I admit it to whomever I lied to. I work hard at my studies so that I can become a doctor and save lives. I love myself and everyone around me and help anyone who needs a hand, or anyone who just wants some help. I do this because I like helping people, because of my conscience, because I believe it is good. I do not believe in God. I am agnostic. You tell me I’m going to Hell. That annoys me, so I wanted to explain to you why it bothers me. As I said before, I try to step in others’ shoes, and I’m trying to help you step in mine.
Here’s what I perceive from you. God gives you a reason to wake up in the morning. He loves you, He gives you hope, He takes away your fear. I know the feeling; I used to have it but no longer need it. God gives you a feeling like love, only infinitely better. God gives you a reason to live. He gives you a reason to live a good life. He is your conscience. You know that if you’re good, you will be rewarded, and if you sin and don’t repent, you will be punished. This is the concept of Heaven and Hell. You preach for two reasons: you feel sorry for all those lost souls who don’t have God; and, you want to prove to God and everyone else that you’re His. The first reason is noble, although somewhat misguided. The second is selfish and desperate. The reason you preach fire and brimstone is that fear is effective. If you scare someone enough, they will listen to you. That’s how terrorism works. That is my first qualm with you. You are ideological terrorists.
I know Christianity exists; everyone knows. Let the sheep find their shepherd. If you force them to Him, they will despise Him. Live a good life, set an example, and those you’re trying to lasso with your shouting will come to you of their own accord and ask what fills your life with joy. Then they will sincerely believe. Fire and Brimstone breeds doubt, as if God were a dictator and his sheep were obedient, but loathing, subjects.
Here’s my second qualm with you: I think I am a good person, as are other agnostics, and Muslims, Buddhists, Jewish people, etc.. What is wrong with us? We have the same morals for different reasons, so please don’t tell us we’re going to burn for eternity because we live good lives for different reasons. It’s that very mindset that made me turn away from God. I’m not some blind fool; I made a choice. And I remember some of the Bible; for instance, the part in which it says that only God can judge. So please, stop judging me. If I am going to Hell because I lived a good life without God, I don’t want to be in Heaven with such a selfish and jealous God anyway. If there is a God, I have to believe He’s not the vengeful zealot you make him out to be. No matter what He is, let Him do the judging and please, please stop yelling at everyone.
Sincerely,
Good Sans God
I can respect that and have thought many of the same thoughts. That is all.
Dear Sidewalk Preachers,
What are you trying to prove? Do you think that the more people you yell at, the more God will love you?
Let me tell you about myself. I try every day to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. I avoid confrontation and violence and try rather to step in others’ shoes and talk out problems when they arise. I do my best not to insult anyone, and when I do hurt people, I always feel guilty and apologize. I barely lie, and when I do it tears me up until I admit it to whomever I lied to. I work hard at my studies so that I can become a doctor and save lives. I love myself and everyone around me and help anyone who needs a hand, or anyone who just wants some help. I do this because I like helping people, because of my conscience, because I believe it is good. I do not believe in God. I am agnostic. You tell me I’m going to Hell. That annoys me, so I wanted to explain to you why it bothers me. As I said before, I try to step in others’ shoes, and I’m trying to help you step in mine.
Here’s what I perceive from you. God gives you a reason to wake up in the morning. He loves you, He gives you hope, He takes away your fear. I know the feeling; I used to have it but no longer need it. God gives you a feeling like love, only infinitely better. God gives you a reason to live. He gives you a reason to live a good life. He is your conscience. You know that if you’re good, you will be rewarded, and if you sin and don’t repent, you will be punished. This is the concept of Heaven and Hell. You preach for two reasons: you feel sorry for all those lost souls who don’t have God; and, you want to prove to God and everyone else that you’re His. The first reason is noble, although somewhat misguided. The second is selfish and desperate. The reason you preach fire and brimstone is that fear is effective. If you scare someone enough, they will listen to you. That’s how terrorism works. That is my first qualm with you. You are ideological terrorists.
I know Christianity exists; everyone knows. Let the sheep find their shepherd. If you force them to Him, they will despise Him. Live a good life, set an example, and those you’re trying to lasso with your shouting will come to you of their own accord and ask what fills your life with joy. Then they will sincerely believe. Fire and Brimstone breeds doubt, as if God were a dictator and his sheep were obedient, but loathing, subjects.
Here’s my second qualm with you: I think I am a good person, as are other agnostics, and Muslims, Buddhists, Jewish people, etc.. What is wrong with us? We have the same morals for different reasons, so please don’t tell us we’re going to burn for eternity because we live good lives for different reasons. It’s that very mindset that made me turn away from God. I’m not some blind fool; I made a choice. And I remember some of the Bible; for instance, the part in which it says that only God can judge. So please, stop judging me. If I am going to Hell because I lived a good life without God, I don’t want to be in Heaven with such a selfish and jealous God anyway. If there is a God, I have to believe He’s not the vengeful zealot you make him out to be. No matter what He is, let Him do the judging and please, please stop yelling at everyone.
Sincerely,
Good Sans God
I can respect that and have thought many of the same thoughts. That is all.