What I Believe

So I started out with this blog with the idea that, through writing, I would be able to find myself. I would be able to figure out what it is I actually believe. This is where I am now. And yes, I realize what I'm about to talk about does not make for good dinner conversation, but I'm not at dinner so it's ok.

For starters, let's talk about God. I think that the idea of God and religion are good things. They give people hope and inspiration. It is the light in an otherwise dark world. But, like all things humans become involved with, religion has been molested. It has been the reason for uncountable wars since the idea of a God. But it's not religion's fault. Anything people become passionate about is bound to be used for a personal agenda.

So what do I think about God and religion? Well, I do believe that there is a God, and I believe he created the universe and everything in it. For me, the idea that everything just "came to be" by rapidly expanding as the Big Bang theory states still lacks something. Who created the matter that expanded? The universe is too complex for it to have just happened.

I believe that God is omnipotent, but I don't think that he chooses what happens to people specifically. I believe we are in control of what happens to us, and that the choices we make today will effect us thirty years from now. I believe that God could change things if he wanted, but what would be the point of that? The point of our hardships is to learn. I believe prayer is powerful, in the sense that it gives one hope. I do not think that our prayers will change what happens though. I believe we must face the consequences of actions in the past, and do so in order to learn and prepare ourselves for the future. I do not think that God chooses for things to happen to someone, bad or good, but he lets them happen.

Now this begs the question, what about children who are brought up in extreme poverty, children who die, children who have not even had the chance to do something wrong yet are faced with horrendous obstacles? Did God choose for that to happen? No, I don't think God chooses things to happen to anyone, regardless of age or innocence. I think God gave man the opportunity to do good or wrong, and then he let's us deal with the consequences. One life affects many, and so does the actions of that one life. So if a dictator decides to commence in the slaughter or thousands, thousands will suffer because of that one decision. Is that fair? Well, when has life ever been fair? I believe the justice of the innocent will come in the afterlife.

Yes, I believe in an afterlife. The creation of life and the being of God seems pointless without the idea of some form of afterlife. If one is morally good during their life, then they shall be rewarded in the afterlife. Obviously, the opposite for those who were morally bankrupt.

As for Jesus, do I believe in him? There is enough documents that we have discovered to prove his existence, but was he God's only son? I do not know. (After this, know that most of my information comes from either articles I've found on the internet or shows on the History Channel, or something of that sort. I realize the sources can be unreliable, this is merely my beliefs based on what I have found.) I know that the Gospels were written after his death, a hundred years give or take. I also know that there are several books that have been left out, and these tell different stories than we are used to. I also know that the Bible was put together by a council of men. I know that they left out some of these books, some simply because they did not have the economic means to publish everything. So, using their best judgment, they selected the best of the best, creating what we now know to be the Bible.

Now, I also know that whenever power is entertained by a host of men, good things often become tools for personal gain. Is it happenstance that the church for centuries was the most powerful entity? No. Man got involved and muddled with religion, and added politics to the power of God. But does this lack of faith in mankind make me not believe in Jesus?

I do believe in him, because I believe that sometimes it just takes faith. Sometimes, the most powerful medicine that a sick patient can have is the faith that they'll survive. Sometimes, all a suicidal person needs is the faith that their life is worth living and that someone cares. Sometimes, all I need to get me out of a rut is the idea of a higher power. So, yes, I believe in Jesus.

So I guess my views aren't that different from Christian teachings, but here's where I start to veer off. I do not think that homosexuality is the working of the devil. I do not think gay marriage will ruin the sanctity of marriage. If anything, I think that the willingness to fight the opposition of the masses and face discrimination every day for the rest of your life, all for the one you really love, deserves the sanctity of marriage.

Divorce is what's ruining the sanctity of marriage, not gay people. I overheard two women talking in line at Wal-Mart the other day. One had recently gotten divorced, and the other asked if she was okay. She replied that she was fine and, after all, he was a good first husband. A good first husband? That mentality is what's ruining marriage.

As for going to church, I think that it is up to the person. Personally, there has only been one church that I have really enjoyed, and that was the catholic church back home. The priests there understood their congregation, and I enjoyed hearing their sermons. Now I've moved, and I just haven't found a place that I like. And honestly, I don't think I will. I feel like I can pray to God in my bedroom and he can hear me just as well as he can if I was in a church. But if I was in a bad spot in my life, then I would seek council from a church. When I was at my old church, I liked hearing the sermons because I liked having the gospel explained to me. Now, however, I like to think that I am able to decipher it myself. Of course it's always better to have other ideas to contrast with your own, which is an important part of church. Honestly, I'm still not sure about what I believe here.

Whew, that was religion, now let's move onto the fun topic of politics! I will try to be more brief here, as brevity is the soul of wit. I come from a republican family, though I think myself more libertarian. I believe that the less government we have, the less chance government has to meddle with our lives. I do not think that the government should have too much control of our economy, because then they will just sway it to their good fortunes. I do not think the government should control abortion either. Though I think abortion is wrong, who am I to say someone else cannot do it? It is their life, their baby, and their choice. Yes it is a baby, otherwise you would have nothing to abort.

As with any large group of people with power, governments are prone to corruption. Therefore, the less government we have, the less there is to become corrupt. I have problems with the welfare system. It might have started out as a beneficial program for those who are truly in need of it, but now I think that it is so abused it is no longer helpful to the people who are on it. It seems like most of the people use it so they don't have to work. I almost feel that the practice of tough love is necessary with society, because without feeling the pains of poor decisions, what motivation is there to change and work harder? But what about the people who actually use welfare as a tool to pull themselves up, as it was intended? I don't think it needs to be taken away from them. Quite frankly, I don't know what we should do. I could go on with politics, but this is already getting long. Plus, we still have the third thing you're not supposed to mention at the dinner table: sex.

Ah sex, the cause of wars and troubles since the dawn of man. All I really want to say here is that people of all ages will have sex, whether it's premarital or not, and there's really nothing you can do to stop them. And honestly, it's not really your place to stop them. Now if your a parent, I think it's important to actually take the time to sit down and talk to your kids about sex.

Yes I'm giving advice to parents, because I'm unfortunately older than some parents are. And quite frankly, I'm more mature than some of the parents who are older than I. If you're a guy and have a kid, be a man and be there to help raise your child. There is no excuse for the pathetic men who impregnated someone and abandoned her. Secondly, when you have a child it's time to grow up. Again, I think we have to live by our mistakes, and that means if you're fourteen with a child, you just grew up very fast. But back to sex, parents should talk with their kids about sex, not as if they were five and using metaphors like the birds and the bees, but actually talk about it. What you will tell them will not be a shock to them, they've heard the words penis and vagina before, I guarantee it. Chances are, they already know more about it than you think, but it's important for them to hear it from you.

But no matter what, teenagers will have sex. It's inevitable. I personally think that sex is something that should remain between two people who love each other, not one night stands. There is a great article I read, though I cannot for the life of me remember the title or author (I do know it was in MIGHT Magazine if that helps), that compared AIDS to the dragons in the old knight's tales. He explained that when the knight was in search for the "fair maiden" he first had to get past the dragon. The dragon made sex something more than casual sex, it made it something worth fighting for. He then goes on to say that the 60s movement of free love was based on a time without dragons to stand in the way of casual sex. Because of this we had the AIDS epidemic as well as many other sexually transmitted diseases. He said that AIDS is actually beneficial, because it is the dragon guarding casual sex for our generation. Though he knows that there will always be casual sex, we now have something that will help people weigh the consequences of casual sex. And I agree with him, sex is something that should not be casual.

These are some of the things I believe based on my life, the things I have read, and the observations I have made. I am thoroughly convinced that I do not, nor never will, know all of the correct answers to religion, politics, sex, or anything else. If your opinion differs for mine by all means share it with me. It is never a bad thing when two people can compare their beliefs striving to learn more. So if you ever want to talk, just let me know.

-Beast