This weekend I caught an ad for Jesse Ventura's new show on the network formerly known as Court TV. It's new name is escaping me right now. I always liked Jesse and was glad he became Gov. of Minn. I was however a little disappointed with him a few years ago when he was quoted as saying "Christians use God as a crutch".
I can't be to hard on him tho, many others like Ted Turner have said the same thing.
What I'm about to say is not meant to be demeaning, and "if I was an atheist" I guess I'd feel this way too. But Atheists feel like they have gotten this far in life based solely on what they have done. I mean that makes sense, if there's no God, who else should get the credit? And I do believe whether you are a Atheist or Christian the choices you make put you in a position for failure or success. I just believe that God is in control of everything.
I guess what I'm saying is that I agree with these people. I admit I use God as a crutch. And I always will. He helps me through tough times and situations I get myself in. He answers my prayers and has blessed me with all kinds of wonderful things. I have a lot to look forward to in this life and a great future ahead of me in the next.
So I'm giving you guys some props here, because life can be difficult at times, and I don't know how someone gets through life with out using God as a crutch?
Peace Out, feeno
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Religion is the crutch, God is just the brand name.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, because it has always appeared to me that there are two very distinct groups of people in America who believe individuals deserve everything they get: one group is atheist and the other Christian (both tend to be Libertarians, or at least Republican). Both argue that taxes ought to be low because the people who have the money earned it and deserve to do with it as they see fit. I assume some (though not all) of the Christians believe God's will is done in making some people so wealthy that they (and their children and children's children) never have to work again. The atheists... I don't know what their excuse is. I'm assuming they don't even bother justifying their greed.
The fact is, no one anywhere does anything alone. Even if you go out into the woods by yourself and build a log cabin, you have taken from the Earth, who gives endlessly without restriction. I believe human beings have a responsibility to our fellow living things - and home.
The debt we owe to our parents, family, other caregivers, and to the society which protects the family unit is one which is incurred so long as we live. I find the lack of humility in those who feel they succeed independent of others to be disgusting. However, most successful people are intelligent enough to know they couldn't have done anything on their own.
I am really proud of you for posting this. Very thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI will say this, you are right. Everything that I do has to be something that I can live with. I have to be able to live with every word, action and intent that I give out. I do not have the luxury of being able to pray for forgiveness. Believe me, forgiving yourself is the hardest thing to do. In my experience, Christians, in particular, do awful things to other people, and are almost sociopathic towards others. Because, they can pray it away with little regard for the people in their paths. How many people have you seen on death row talk about how they are at peace with God.... What about having the nerve to allow your victims the right to have peace? Or, not hurting others to begin with?
Case in point- to bring my point further home. Two of the most offensive, rude and hostile people that I have ever seen online identify as Christians- JD and Makarios.
Sure, religion and God can be useful "crutches" in hard times. But that doesn't mean that atheists are alone and isolated when going through hard times. We rely on our friends and our family just as much as the Christian next door does when God feels "distant". We just tend to give the credit to real people rather than passing all the credit to someone who did nothing...well, maybe that's a bit harsh. But having a social support system is an important thing, and tough times are never so tough if you've got a shoulder to lean on. Whether that shoulder is real or imaginary, I suppose :P lol
ReplyDeleteBut how does an atheist/skeptic decide which advice is best? Based on what criteria?
ReplyDeleteGeenks
ReplyDeleteGood stuff as usual. But the things you mention like what the Earth gives and what our family and Parents provide are things I give the Lord thanks for. I still thank my Parents and friends etc, but feel God put them in my life.
Jeff
Even if you've read the "Footprints in the Sand" poem a thousand times... read it one more time for me. If you've never read it before, you'd be the first. But if so, just google "Footprints in the Sand" and read it if you get the chance.
Tink,
Thanks for the kind words, but I'm probably a lot worse than you think and Mak and JD are probably a lot better than you think?
It's hard to judge peoples intentions when your talking to them face to face, let alone on the internet.
It's true about what you say about forgiving yourself. There's a million things I've done that were "wrong" that I've gotten over, but there's 1 or 2 that have plagued me for many years. And although I know God has forgiven me for those things, I still struggle to forgive myself. My actions may have caused serious consequences for others?
Later, feen
Footprints in the sand, Ginx version:
ReplyDelete"I found myself dreaming of a beach.
I was with God, don’t ask how I recognized Him.
Footprints in the sand represented my life.
Oh God, you are so mysterious and vague.
There were mostly two sets: mine and God’s.
However, when I went through hard times,
When it seemed like my life couldn’t get worse,
I saw only one lonely set of footprints.
I asked God why this was, and he replied,
“I didn’t leave you during the rough times.
No, my dearest child, it was then that I
Jumped on your back and rode your ass!”
Based on all possible criteria, JD. Everything from past experience to the law to logic to common sense to codified moral systems, including religious ones. (Just because the authority figure behind an order or piece of advice may not exist doesn't automatically invalidate it.) Why use only one basis when a consensus between several independent ones can support one's decisions?
ReplyDeleteFeeno, your main question makes it sound like an atheist thinks there's nothing and nobody even potentially in the world except him/her and God. As Ginx said, it's other people who deserve much of the credit for our progress in life.
When people talk about God working through others, I feel indignant on others' behalf. Handing off responsibility for your own good works for the glory of God is one thing, but depriving others of independent credit so that God can have it all belittles many who are not so happily self-effacing. God costs doctors a lot of credit, for example, when even a recovery after intensive treatment is seen as a miracle.
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ReplyDeleteGod as a crutch? What a delightfully bizarre metaphor.
ReplyDeleteI shall use God as bug repellent!
And I'll let you read into that however which way you may.
Wish you may, wish you might, there will be less insects bugging you tonight! For this God-bug-repellent smites pesky insects for the low low cost of your undying devotions and loyalty (additional sales tax not included).
How does it work? All you have to do is have faith. Have faith that God is there for you, repelling those nasty critters, keeping them at bay.
I respectfully disagree Feeno.....
ReplyDeleteI think that you can get a pretty good idea of what people are about online.