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A while back, when riding the bus home one sunny afternoon, I overheard part of a conversation, and one particular comment struck me as so.. odd.. that I still remember it.
A youngish man was talking to a youngish woman about his religion, which from previous comments I assumed to be of a right-wing christian bent. No problems there. The comment that spun me?
"Our religion is all about faith."
*blink*
I had this asinine desire to turn around and stare at the guy like he'd grown three heads, but I was too busy mulling over the statement.
Ok, your religion is all about faith.
Isn't mine? Isn't that woman's whom you're trying to convert, (if she has one,)?
I don't know of too many religions that aren't tied to faith in some manner of speaking. Religion is faith. (I know, I looked up the definition.)
I don't know if it's occurred to anyone that perhaps faith is really at the bottom of how we operate.
Not necessarily faith in your god, or my gods, or her goddess, but faith in ourselves. Faith that things Are.
Is it possible to have faith in the basic principle that we can be honest, just, and fair?
I know people who hold onto variations on this type of faith with the tenacity of a badger. Their faith in the pursuit, not of lawfulness, but of right, is unwaivering.
But what of those who have none of this primal faith? Not those with the guilt-ridden mockery of faith, or those who possess the faith that only hatred can grant, but those who have no faith in themselves?
I have faith.
Faith that I will go to bed, and wake up tomorrow.
Faith that my parents will be there for me for a time, and that one day I will have to bury them.
Faith that Bleys will continue to be a charming, egotistical, eloquent ass. (And I mean it in the highest respect.)
Faith that I will persevere.
Faith that I will know and love others.
Faith that Cervantes will continue to let his heart lead him.
Faith that I will provide warmth, food and shelter to those friends who seek it.
Faith that should I really need, certain people will be at my side.
Faith that I will try and do my best to do right.
For a period of about 6 months, when I was about 10, I lost these fundamental faiths, (or such that were developed at 10.) I was going through that stage in life when the concept of mortality became blazingly clear. I feared going to sleep, not believing that there was anything stopping me from *not* waking up in the morning.
I don't know when or where I got that faith back, but it was probably out of necessity. I find lately that this weird fear has been resurfacing. Is my faith slipping? I don't know, it may be changing.
I know a person. Not well liked by many. Hated by others. What kind of faith must this one have, if any? What strange priorities lay within the carefully crafted net of half-truths? I used to have faith that no one was beyond redemption.
Ø started, and now with DS, they have made it abundantly clear that this is not the case.
(Wow, Ø; haven't given that a thought in a while. Strange night indeed.)
Mmm... simple ideas become such a strange concept given too much thought...
A youngish man was talking to a youngish woman about his religion, which from previous comments I assumed to be of a right-wing christian bent. No problems there. The comment that spun me?
"Our religion is all about faith."
*blink*
I had this asinine desire to turn around and stare at the guy like he'd grown three heads, but I was too busy mulling over the statement.
Ok, your religion is all about faith.
Isn't mine? Isn't that woman's whom you're trying to convert, (if she has one,)?
I don't know of too many religions that aren't tied to faith in some manner of speaking. Religion is faith. (I know, I looked up the definition.)
I don't know if it's occurred to anyone that perhaps faith is really at the bottom of how we operate.
Not necessarily faith in your god, or my gods, or her goddess, but faith in ourselves. Faith that things Are.
Is it possible to have faith in the basic principle that we can be honest, just, and fair?
I know people who hold onto variations on this type of faith with the tenacity of a badger. Their faith in the pursuit, not of lawfulness, but of right, is unwaivering.
But what of those who have none of this primal faith? Not those with the guilt-ridden mockery of faith, or those who possess the faith that only hatred can grant, but those who have no faith in themselves?
I have faith.
Faith that I will go to bed, and wake up tomorrow.
Faith that my parents will be there for me for a time, and that one day I will have to bury them.
Faith that Bleys will continue to be a charming, egotistical, eloquent ass. (And I mean it in the highest respect.)
Faith that I will persevere.
Faith that I will know and love others.
Faith that Cervantes will continue to let his heart lead him.
Faith that I will provide warmth, food and shelter to those friends who seek it.
Faith that should I really need, certain people will be at my side.
Faith that I will try and do my best to do right.
For a period of about 6 months, when I was about 10, I lost these fundamental faiths, (or such that were developed at 10.) I was going through that stage in life when the concept of mortality became blazingly clear. I feared going to sleep, not believing that there was anything stopping me from *not* waking up in the morning.
I don't know when or where I got that faith back, but it was probably out of necessity. I find lately that this weird fear has been resurfacing. Is my faith slipping? I don't know, it may be changing.
I know a person. Not well liked by many. Hated by others. What kind of faith must this one have, if any? What strange priorities lay within the carefully crafted net of half-truths? I used to have faith that no one was beyond redemption.
Ø started, and now with DS, they have made it abundantly clear that this is not the case.
(Wow, Ø; haven't given that a thought in a while. Strange night indeed.)
Mmm... simple ideas become such a strange concept given too much thought...
