Re: Ramblings of Religion
Erin McLaughlin (erinseyes@hotmail.com)
Sat, 17 Oct 1998 21:34:07 -0700 (PDT)
Emily wrote:
"I get kind of irritated when people say that they have accomplished
something great because of God. If you have created something beautiful
or accomplished something tremendous don't be modest and say that you
owe it all to God. People need to understand that they are responsible
for what they create."
I see what you're saying here, but God and religion and all these
questions aren't necessarily tied up in an AA 12-step-like program are
they? I believe in God, that much I know. But I hold myself responsible.
It's the idea of free will. I don't think I'm controlled by God, but I
do believe that the idea of a "God" is, in fact, a source of strength
that doesn't necessarily detract from a person's autonomy. It also
doesn't facilitate a lack of inner-strength or belief in one's self. I
believe in myself as much as I believe in God. I am responsible for my
shortcomings and, as for taking all the credits for my triumphs, well, I
honestly don't know how this would serve my self-interest, anyway. Don't
be irritated if I thank God for my accomplishments, it's not really a
matter of denying myself any amount of pride or joy, but a way of
appreciating the fact that I had the opportunity, and that I am who I
am, that I am here, and that I can have the pleasure of seeing what I
have done. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Sure,
religion can be a crutch you use when your balance seems off, or it can
be a check for you to use when you think you've got the balance down.
And it can be a lot of other things, too. So, what do we know?
"As if you could kill time without injuring eternity." --H.D. Thoreau
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