Alex and Paulie have had an ongoing discussion both on blogs and through email regarding the concepts of good and evil, religion, and Islam. All these have coalesced as this post at The Commons.
It is a long one, one in which Paulie attempted to put all of it into perspective. Last night I printed it out so I could read it at leisure and not on a monitor screen. That’s how we old guys have to do things as our eyesight deteriorates. I suggest it to you all, and Paulie is very interested in seeing the discussion continue in his comments.
I agree with the general concepts he presents. But I wanted to add my own thoughts both here and on his site.
I look back at a film series which has the essence of it all in three episodes: Star Wars. The most recent episodes have lost the flavor and are really nothing more than productions meant to fulfil the thirst of fans–both of Star Wars and computer generated visuals. The stories don’t have much to them. But the first three are extremely symbolic of the concepts of Good and Evil, God and Satan.
My personal religiosity fits well with the concepts in the trilogy. We humans are quick to think of God as something in human form with thought processes much like our own. Likewise for Satan. But my sense of the Almighty is very much like The Force. God is the synergism of Good. Likewise, Satan is a collective of the Dark Side, of evil people and their own energy. It matters not which religion they claim to follow, the Good or Evil they do is their adherence to a god.
For that reason, I see no organized religion which completely fits my view of God. I am a Christian. I view Jesus, as does Paulie, as an embodiment of Good in this world. But I do not align myself with any sect.
Now, as I say that, I understand there are people out there who will repeat the chant, “If we could all just get along.” Yes, that is what Jesus advocated. But there is another force working out there which refuses to “just get along” except on their very personal terms. Do you reconcile this conflict through appeasement? That is the only avenue they offer, and that only for long enough to become overpowering. Getting along is not their goal.
The United States has the power to be overwhelming, both economically and militarily. Yet we aren’t, because we choose not to be. Is there any doubt that given the same powers we have, those we are supposed to get along with would eliminate us from the face of the Earth?
So, which side works for Evil, and which side works for good, albeit imperfectly. Which will eventually prevail? It really comes down to what the people of this world view is best. Right now, there are a lot of folks both here and abroad who want the Evil side to win, even though they won’t say it aloud.
Someday I’m going to write my thoughts on some of this….thoughts that will surprise family and friends. But generally I always wonder how it is that every major religon has a “Christ” figure in other words an embodiment of God on earth. Really I know. Because humans as a whole have a hard time with the concept of a nebulous God, we need something that we can touch or see. I wish my college old testament professor at Trinity U. Dr. Guy Ransom was still around….he was the man with the answers.
Comment by Wallace-Midland, Texas — September 19, 2004 @ 7:25 pm
Wallace,
I’m not so sure that all religions have such an embodiment of God on earth. The pagans have many, that is true.
Judaism does not, and that is the major breaking point with Christianity. Similarly, neither does Islam. All three of these religions, though, have minor divine figures – though not deities – who visit the earth on occasion.
Buddha is not a divine figure, he is a historical figure, as is Confucius. The major remaining religion, then, is Hinduism, and I won’t pretend to know anything about it, except eight armed women and dudes with elephant heads.
So I don’t know which other religions have Jesus figures, totally human yet totally divine. The whole point of Jesus is that he was an historical figure that we could touch and see.
My family for the most part are irreligious. I am positive that my essay would surprise most, but not all, of them.
Bunker, by the way, totally rocks.
Paulie
Comment by Paulie at The Commons — September 19, 2004 @ 7:43 pm
I’ve studied many religions over the years. I can claim no expertise in any of them. Yet I think that’s precisely what makes a religion valid–trusting based on faith rather than fact.
I will be called a heretic, but I believe there have been many “Sons of God” on Earth. Again, that is based on recognition that the story of God is world-wide, from many disparate cultures. The story is universal, yet the details fit each culture.
Comment by Bunker — September 20, 2004 @ 5:39 am