Growing Up
Well since I was going to Peru, I knew I would need a book to read, so I picked up Angels & Demons (because my...partner, lover, our relationship is complicated) raved about the movie. I like books compared to movies, because there is usually a lot more to books than movies when movies are based on books. Now, mind you, I am not overtly religious, I do not practice a specific religious path...and I am certainly not a monotheist. So what has this to do with anything? Well I want to quote a section of the book. I hope this is not to long, because right now this computer is entirely in smpaish and I don't know hot to make it appear shorter. Sorry =/
Chartrand took a deep breath. "I don't understand this omnipotent-benevolent thing."
The camerlengo smiled. "You've been reading Scripture."
"I try."
"You are confused because the Bible describes God as an omnipotent and benevolent deity."
"Exactly."
"Omni-potent benevolent simply means that God is all power-ful and well meaning."
"I understand the concept. It's just..there seems to be a contradiction."
"Yes, THe contradiction is pain. Man's starvation, war sickness..."
"Exactly!" Chartrand knew the camerlengo would understand. "Teribble things happen in this world. Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all-powerful and well meaning. If He loves us and has the power to change our situation, He would prevent our pain, wouldn't He?"
The camerlengo frowned. "Wouldn't He?"
..."Well if GOd loves us, and He can protect us, He would have to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and powerless to help."
"Do you have children, Lieutenant?"
Chartrand flushed. "No, signore."
"Imagine you had an eight-year-old son...would you love him?"
"Of course."
"Would you do everything in your power to prevent pain in his life?"
"Of course.""Would you let him skateboard?"
Chartrand did a double take. The camerlengo always seemed oddly 'in touch' for a clergyman. "Yeah, I guess," Chartrand said. "Sure, I"d let him skateboard, but I'd tell him to be careful."
"So as this child's father, you would give him some basic, good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes?"
"I wouldn't run behind him and mollycoddle him if that's what you mean."
"But what if he fell and skinned his knee?"
"He would learn to be more careful."
The camerlengo smiled. "So althought you have the power to interfere and prevent your child's pain, you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons?"
"Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It's how we learn."
The camerlengo nodded. "Exactly."
Personally, I hold this as a Truth. We are like children, growing up. Human society in itself, is very very young. We have some enlightened individuals and intellects, but compared to the world population at large, there are not as many, and many of those are in power. People abuse said power like a child who realizes they have power over creatures and things smaller than them. As we learn, nothing does not stop affecting us; but we learn from our mistakes and triumphs. I see a reason to why God(s) won't interfere with our lives. We chose our own fates but of course, destiny won't be denied as well.
Yes, parents want to protect their children, but we see it in today's children, parents are over-parenting and trying to keep their children safe. Religion gives guidelines and lessons to learn from for life. We have our spirit guides too, etc. etc. Sometimes they'll give advice, but usually, I believe they let us walk on our own, to make choices on our own and face the consequences. We are responsible for our actions and for our own happiness. We touch a stove when we are young and say "ow" and learn not to touch the stove because it is hot. When I rode my bike and fell down, I got hurt and sure my parents were there to make me feel better, but eventually I learned to not fall while riding a bike.
When I think back to all the time I spent in the middle of a forest screaming to God, "why do I suffer so?" It's hard to believe I blamed all my suffering on him. I felt abandoned, even though I never was. I always had my spirit guides, the spirits of my ancestors and other beings constantly watching over me. I was never alone. I can't blame God or the Gods for my suffering. I understand why I suffer so much in this life now. I see things differently now. But that is a whole other story on my thoughts of Gods and such. But I learned from my suffering and all those painful lessons, I grew into the person that I am today. No one, not even God(s) want to see their children suffer, but it is the way of life, a way of existing, a way of learning.
Chartrand took a deep breath. "I don't understand this omnipotent-benevolent thing."
The camerlengo smiled. "You've been reading Scripture."
"I try."
"You are confused because the Bible describes God as an omnipotent and benevolent deity."
"Exactly."
"Omni-potent benevolent simply means that God is all power-ful and well meaning."
"I understand the concept. It's just..there seems to be a contradiction."
"Yes, THe contradiction is pain. Man's starvation, war sickness..."
"Exactly!" Chartrand knew the camerlengo would understand. "Teribble things happen in this world. Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all-powerful and well meaning. If He loves us and has the power to change our situation, He would prevent our pain, wouldn't He?"
The camerlengo frowned. "Wouldn't He?"
..."Well if GOd loves us, and He can protect us, He would have to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and powerless to help."
"Do you have children, Lieutenant?"
Chartrand flushed. "No, signore."
"Imagine you had an eight-year-old son...would you love him?"
"Of course."
"Would you do everything in your power to prevent pain in his life?"
"Of course.""Would you let him skateboard?"
Chartrand did a double take. The camerlengo always seemed oddly 'in touch' for a clergyman. "Yeah, I guess," Chartrand said. "Sure, I"d let him skateboard, but I'd tell him to be careful."
"So as this child's father, you would give him some basic, good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes?"
"I wouldn't run behind him and mollycoddle him if that's what you mean."
"But what if he fell and skinned his knee?"
"He would learn to be more careful."
The camerlengo smiled. "So althought you have the power to interfere and prevent your child's pain, you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons?"
"Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It's how we learn."
The camerlengo nodded. "Exactly."
Personally, I hold this as a Truth. We are like children, growing up. Human society in itself, is very very young. We have some enlightened individuals and intellects, but compared to the world population at large, there are not as many, and many of those are in power. People abuse said power like a child who realizes they have power over creatures and things smaller than them. As we learn, nothing does not stop affecting us; but we learn from our mistakes and triumphs. I see a reason to why God(s) won't interfere with our lives. We chose our own fates but of course, destiny won't be denied as well.
Yes, parents want to protect their children, but we see it in today's children, parents are over-parenting and trying to keep their children safe. Religion gives guidelines and lessons to learn from for life. We have our spirit guides too, etc. etc. Sometimes they'll give advice, but usually, I believe they let us walk on our own, to make choices on our own and face the consequences. We are responsible for our actions and for our own happiness. We touch a stove when we are young and say "ow" and learn not to touch the stove because it is hot. When I rode my bike and fell down, I got hurt and sure my parents were there to make me feel better, but eventually I learned to not fall while riding a bike.
When I think back to all the time I spent in the middle of a forest screaming to God, "why do I suffer so?" It's hard to believe I blamed all my suffering on him. I felt abandoned, even though I never was. I always had my spirit guides, the spirits of my ancestors and other beings constantly watching over me. I was never alone. I can't blame God or the Gods for my suffering. I understand why I suffer so much in this life now. I see things differently now. But that is a whole other story on my thoughts of Gods and such. But I learned from my suffering and all those painful lessons, I grew into the person that I am today. No one, not even God(s) want to see their children suffer, but it is the way of life, a way of existing, a way of learning.