For me, faith is a tough subject. I've tried Christianity, for a second time even though God has hurt me again and again. When things go bad, you are supposed to ask God for help, even though he does not answer. To put it in a matter of fact way, it's hard to talk to yourself when you are in need of help.
Therefore, in an attempt to not be hurt again, I plan to really turn to Buddhism. Buddhism has a lot of good things to it. For example, there is the issue of karma. When you do bad things, bad things will turn around to happen to you. It gives a person a sense of control over their lives. It is said in the Bible that God has his plan for his believers, but how come we never see this plan? Why is it that we need to just blindly believe? I don't necessarily just trust people based on a book, and this has to apply to the Bible.
Another thing with Christianity is the sin portion of humans. We sin as soon as we are born. We are never perfect enough to the Lord. We always have to beg for his forgiveness. That, to me, is now sort of ridiculous. What has a baby done to deserve the wrath of God? If everything that we do is sinful, why are we still alive? God is supposed to punish sinners, is he not?
And this vision of love. "God is supposed to love us because we are his children", you say. Then why are there children in Africa that can't even have a drink of water while people like Madonna (no offense I'm a fan) live in these huge mansions? Why do innocent people die of sickness? Why are there murderers and rapists? How come some of these people go scot-free while some are wrongfully put in jail? Why are there teenagers homeless, not knowing where they are going to sleep or why they are starving? These are all issues that God has apparently turned a blind eye towards. If we are God's children and He "loves" us, he should address these problems. Love is made through actions, not through words. If you say something but don't take any action towards it, that makes you a hypocrite. I'm sorry, but these are issues that this "almighty" person let happen.
Buddhism, I believe, is much safer. Buddhism is a way of life, not a belief system. Buddha is not a god, and such beliefs of how the world started is pretty much worthless. As Buddhists, when we say we love someone, we ACT upon it. We don't just say it. Karma may be tough, but at least you know you deserved it somehow.
The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
-- Buddha
I think there is a lot of good things in Buddhism and while I belong to no religion or belief system in particular, a lot of my beliefs, such as karma, are found in Buddhism.
ReplyDeleteMy ex-husband studied Buddhism for quite awhile and I used to call it the 'what's the point you're just gonna die anyway' religion. It really stresses letting go of all material things in your life, and I admit, I'm pretty attached to my stuff. The meditation part was way, way too hard and I couldn't do it. I love a lot of the teachings and sayings and the Dalai Lama but overall I don't think I could do it. I just don't have the calm personality for it at all. I wish you luck with your study of it! I agree it's way better than Christianity.
ReplyDeleteAs a Christian, it saddens me to hear about someone being hurt in the name of God. People often use God, and distort His word to fit their needs. Not everyone who uses His name is His, (Matthew 7:21). Such is the curse of living with our own free will. Even though you may have not seen it, Christians are supposed to love one another, (John 15:12), but man has a free will to obey Him or not.
ReplyDeleteI believe God gave us dominion over the earth. There is sin, death, despair, pain, in the world because God uses man to do His will. If man does not move, He does not move. Yet, when I look for God, I do see Him moving through men. Men like Capt. Sully in US Airways Flight 1549, or the two siblings freed from a pile of rubble in Haiti. Sadly, I also see evil moving in our world too.
I don't think faith is about being safe. I think it's about finding a loving God. I hope you find Him and know the love He has for you.
Buddhism is a great spiritual path. I understand your disappointments in Christianity. I've always been drawn to the philosophy of Buddhism myself. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry you've had a bad experience, but it often has to do with the way people interpret the Bible. God is not to blame for bad things. He does care. There is a reason for suffering that makes sense and God has not turned a blind eye. He sees everything, and he will make it right, but on His timetable, not ours. One day, I believe, the world will be as He intended. I hope you find the answers you're looking for.
ReplyDeleteI once read that a Sufi master said we are all born at different places at the base of a mountain, and where you're born or who you are can determine what path you must take up that mountain to God. In this respect, there's not any one right path, because if you've chosen to move upwards you'll still get there.
ReplyDeleteI've found that a belief in reincarnation helps to answer for me some spiritual questions, such as why some people are born in violence and suffering (this life around) and others have comfort and wealth (in this life, but not the next). We are all evolving and learning as spirits having a physical experience. Then again, nothing seems to answer the hard questions about why such suffering and injustice have to exist at all, and I sure as hell don't have the answers. BTW, belief in reincarnation was common among the early Christians and the Hebrews, but it was called metempsychosis or the migration or transmigration of souls. Buddhism teaches it too, as do the Sufis (of the Muslim faith).
I think you're very right about Karma, in that what we put out there in the world we'll get back in some form or other, right in our faces and sometimes overnight. I see it happen all the time -- and I experience it, for better or worse.
Good luck and good thoughts to you in your search.
I hope you find what you are searching for. Hopefully, your family and friends will help guide you along the way. Excellent quote at the end. Julie
ReplyDeleteI'm a Christian, but I firmly believe in the principle of karma - what you put out there, will come back to you; which is equivalent to the 'what you sow you shall reap' principle in Christianity.
ReplyDeleteRecently, I'm leaning more and more towards the belief that dogmatic "structured" religion, which is hierarchical, divides more than it unites people, since the human factor creeps in and it always seems to end in power struggles... BUT I do believe that God's ways and thoughts are not ours... everything in His time, not ours...
I hope and pray that you find what you are looking for.
I am fond of saying that Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophy. Look at Jesus, he was a perfect Buddhist. The too beliefs can coexist.
ReplyDeleteI think you are looking at Christianity wrong. It isn't really a punishment/reward system here on Earth. Bad things happen because of original sin. You don't have to beg forgiveness but only ask. You also have free will to choose your own path and decisions that you make can come back to haunt you (kind of like kharma). Being Christian does not prevent bad things from happening to you, but it should give you a guide and support system for living even when bad things happen to you. It sounds like you have experienced the catholic church. I would suggest reading the new testement on your own and seeing what it says to you personally.
I would also turn off the word capture verification. Blogger does an excellent job of weeding out spam and most people hate doing them.
Hope you find what you are looking for. I will be thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I appreciate your support! Alex always has good things to share. :)
I'm Jewish, and there's a lot of overlap between Judaism and Buddhism. Hence, there are many "Bu-Jews." Both incorporate beautiful teachings.
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
You've made some very valid points and I have often asked the same questions. Personally, I don't know what to tell you. All I can say is, we each have a piece of the answer to all those questions. The best thing we can do is do acts of kindness to one another.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate,
Shelly
I think the sinning as soon as we're born is a Catholic belief - as a Brit, we moved to Church of England/Anglican teaching which is a lot more forgiving.
ReplyDeleteI do pray sometimes, but usually to say thank you for good stuff that's happening. It seems such a selfish thing to keep asking for things. Eg - if I always asked you to bring me coffee, you'd probably get fed up with me, but if I thanked you for bringing me coffee you'd be more likely to offer next time. Does that make sense? Sometimes I wonder whether I'm merging several religions to make my own complete belief system.
If only more people would embrace the principles of Buddhism, we might have a chance for true peace. Thanks for a thought-provoking post.
ReplyDeleteI believe in Jesus as my savior, and I put my trust and hope in him. However, that doesn't mean he makes my life perfect, or that I even expect him too. I find courage and strength in Him and the Bible . . .although there are parts of the Bible that I have to pray over because I don't understand how God could allow some things to happen . . .I understand your concern and your pain. I've felt that too. However, I think that Christ is the only way. Buddhism offers works for peace. Christ offers forgiveness, free forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to offend . . .these are things I believe.
I'll keep you in my prayers . . .for your peace.
I wish you to find yourself...and keep asking, maybe you'll get your answers eventually :). Kisses.
ReplyDeleteBuddhism has a lot to do with compassion. And that is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteHey Gina,
ReplyDeleteNew follower here, but I have no answers, even though I am a Christian.
All I can offer - if you don't mind - is a prayer for your spiritual health - whereever it takes you.
Good luck :)
Hope you find what you're looking for, good luck :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gina! Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope and pray you find the answers you're seeking.
ReplyDeleteThe world has teeth. And we all bear chew marks on our spirits and bodies. Living a life of any faith is hard. The Lakota Sioux called God the Great Mystery, perhaps because what He was up to was a mystery to them.
ReplyDeleteNo one has to teach a child to be cruel. Look at children in the playground and how they treat a child who is different or weak in some way.
Our belief system is the rudder we use to steer our lives in often dark, rough seas.
Those who wrote the book of Psalms voiced the same questions you voiced. Asaph in Psalm 72 anguished over the success of the arrogant and those he considered wicked. He decided short-term gain does not make up for long-term hollowness inside apart from a friendship with God.
God created Abraham to be His friend. God talked to Moses as a man would talk to a friend. May you find friendship with He who thought the world would be less unless he put you in it. Take care, Roland
The tenet of Buddhism I connect to the most is that God exists inside of us. So inside each of us is virtue. We just need to look for it and believe it's there.
ReplyDeleteI love getting comments on my archived blogposts, so I thought I'd stop by. Food of Love, the book you commented on, is about a Baptist preacher who's questioning her faith. I agree with Helena's lovely Sufi saying above. There are as many paths to what we call "God" as their are souls. The problems come when you try to force somebody off their own path and onto yours. Personally, I call myself a Zen Druid. Desert religions don't work for me. My path is through a forest. I am a part of it and it is a part of me. And all we really have the power to do is be kind.
ReplyDeleteYou've raised some very good questions. I'm a Christian, and I think that we as a church (that to me means all denominations, the entire "body of Christ" as we are referred to in the New Testament have done a HORRIBLE job of showing God's love and forgiveness. Jesus taught compassion, to treat EVERYONE with love, and to love others AS HE LOVED US, which means unconditionally. I'm sad to hear that you are struggling, but know that there are others out there struggling, too. I have so many questions for God, and most of them have to do with why he lets bad things happen to good people, why he allows children to be abused and damaged beyond repair. But I have faith that in the end, I'll have my answers. I pray (if that's alright with you) that you find yours.
ReplyDeleteTina @ Life is Good
http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/
I've studied a lot of different philosophies and faith systems. I majored in philosophy in college, so it came with the territory. Buddhism strikes a cord with me as well. I agree that it's a way of living, and it's a pretty peaceful one at that. I can say that each person is different, so it makes sense that we don't all adhere to the same systems of belief or life paths. All we can do is find the way that works best for us and use it to make the best life we for ourselves that we can.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina, God is LOVE. It is the ultimate example of pure love.
ReplyDeleteNow that doesn't mean God is some hippie. God has wrath and judgement.
If a guy randomly shot two people on the street and was took to court, would a good judge say " You are not guilty" just because the judge "loves" him? No,a good judge would punish him because the judge wants him to learn and grow through his mistakes. God loves us and because he loves us he still must punish us for our mistakes.
Now for the poor and rich topic...
I have never quite fully understood this topic, but after reading this part of the bible I understood it a little better.
Revelation 2:9-11
"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you q the crown of life. 11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."
For the world rich means "Lots of money and a nice and big house".
The bible says that we are rich, if you follow God you truly rich. It also says that Christians will suffer and suffer, life will get harder before it gets better. The bible says that when Christians go to heaven there will be NO suffering or sin. It is perfect in heaven.
I hope this helps you Gina.
Love, Aili