Today's Rant:

"Freddie gets Fingered", or "Another essay on this "god" person"


I once made the mistake of going to a certain Catholic high school. There, spent a lot of time doing nothing. Some of that nothing was listen to the (admittedly small amount of) indoctrination they attempted to subvert us to. One of these subverters continually emphasized the idea that one had to go to church to be saved or understand god/God/GOD. Let me briefly present his argument, then refute it.

Arguement: People like going in the woods because it makes them feel good. They often say "I like being in the woods because it makes me feel closer to god/God/GOD." These people are not fulfilling god/God/GOD's wish because they are making themselves feel good, not god/God/GOD's wishes. God/GOD wishes people to go to church so that they can learn about his teachings and will from a pastor and from each other, and worship in the way god/God/GOD intended. ÑNote this comes from a Catholic priestÑ

First, people should do what makes them feel closer to god/God/GOD. This is not unlike going drinking with your boss or having sex with your wife. Sure, it's not a structured, sanctioned, or exceptionally productive way to conduct a relationship, but it makes an individual more comfortable and accepting of the other person. If a person feels comfortable around god/God/GOD, they are more likely to follow god/God/GOD's true will and lead a holy life.

Second, the Bible is not terribly specific in what it defines as acceptable worship. There are some vague instructions about strength in small numbers, and conducting the sacraments of baptism and communion, but by and large, there's not a whole lot. If people want to pray in the woods, there does not seem to be a divine law against it.

Further, going to church might be a bad idea, churches tend push for an ideologically acceptable train of thought within it's members; for instance: Christians don't like people suggesting that the Holy Spirit is a joke, or that polygamy is the one true way to keep the church population up. The down side about this is that independent thought about god/God/GOD gets quashed, and in the end, the churches inevitably turn out to be something like 1984. (Especially when you think about all the people facing a primeval torture device and chanting in unison for 30-120 minutes, with a pause in the middle for some inspirational words from the Leader. It's like the 30 minute Hate.)

god/God/GOD's will for man is also pretty vague. Most religious scriptures have a lot about how to be good to other people, and how to avoid being evil, but usually the greater end of all this is the rather selfish idea of eternal bliss for ones soul. It does not take a church and a large group of people to figure these points out. Reading the christian scriptures, these points become blindingly clear in a matter of minutes. Yes. I know this is a half baked rant.




5/9/03