I Do Not Understand

                                                                                        Light the Light ~ Philip Brent Harris

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I respect everyone’s right to believe whatever they choose…

Though I consider myself a spiritual person and the universe spiritually enlivened, I do not understand belief in god, any god. Personally, it seems a concept we use to explain what we cannot understand. We use such an imagined being or beings to grant blessings to our endeavors, no matter whether they are well-meaning and beneficial or crazy, harmful, indulgent or ludicrous. We use our so-called belief and the trappings and symbols associated with it to control those in our group who might question what we are doing and why we are doing it. This is also used to denigrate, separate and vilify any group or person we choose.

Those who use this as a reason for doing whatever they want, will say they are doing god’s will. If we say we are doing god’s will, then anything is not only acceptable, but also sanctioned. I believe that people who use the divine as a hallowed pass convince themselves they are the chosen agents to act on god’s behalf. Clearly, their deity is one that favors them above all others. Such incredible hubris is so inherent in this concept, it smacks of delusions of grandeur. I respect everyone’s right to believe whatever they choose, but I do not accept their right to impose their beliefs on me or anyone else.

When we pull our attention away from day-to-day concerns, our world and universe are both wondrous and mind-numbingly complex and incomprehensible. It is an amazing and sometimes frightening place. Are we still so afraid of the dark, the unknown that we must find someone to tell us what to think, what to believe. So many believe in a vain and vengeful god, who expects abject devotion and an eagerness and willingness to kill and to die. Personally, I cannot imagine any deity so insecure as to need our defense or perpetual worship or so capricious as to require war with anyone in order to prove our faith. To believe heinous murder is ever righteous or required, no matter the cause, is insane.

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Peace is Purpose, Nonviolence is Strength, Diversity is Unity, Empathy is Empowerment

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