Running On Faith

im going out on a limb here... but Ken's latest post, and more specifically the comments that followed, have compelled me to go out on this limb i now find myself... out on. the following is my own personal opinion, and as such cannot be disputed.... since it is just that, my opinion and not meant as a statement of fact or anything. ive actually been meaning to write about this for some time. anyways, here goes.....

i was raised in a somewhat traditional, very catholic mexican family. my mom and dad both grew up in very religios homes, and as a result have done somewhat the same for me. i have been taken to church darn near every sunday for as long as i can remember. with a few exceptions being made when we are on a trip somewhere or we have company or something like that, and even then we've somehow found the time and energy to go. anyways, these last several sundays ive been thinking about this whole god thing. partly because ive always been curious and partly because it has come up in conversation alot lately. ive also been reascently visited by the wonderful folks from the Church of JC&LDS (i really dont feel like spelling it all out.... theyre mormons) and also we just finished a huge section on renaissance art in art history so.. all this biblical stuff has been rattling around in my head for some time now.

it seems to me that the whole concept of a benevolent god was to give humans something optimistic to look forward to, as opposed to a one-way trip down The River Styx and an eternity hanging out with the one guy that got kicked off Mount Olympus. (sorry if i am not accurate with my stab at Greek Mythology..... which makes me wonder... how long does it take for religion to become mythology? the romans went through them like we go through fassion). anyways, by telling themselves that they would be rewarded in the afterlife for doing good to eachother now, it seems to me that this christianity thing was a great way to get the masses to be nice. not to mention by promising an eternity of paradise it probably wasnt hard to gain followers. but in all its rteousness, the catholic church has done some pretty shaky things in its relatively short history. as have many other denominations of suposed riteous and benevolent religions. (not to mention the not so riteous ones).

anyways, as for me, though i have been taught all my life the ways of the Catholic church, i have long questioned it. some of it seems logical enough... some not so much. i guess thats why they call it faith. but.. unfortunately, i just dont have it. not in that. i must say, they did all they could, but theres just no restraining my inquisitive mind. and for me, the whole evolution from a protist is just too logical to pass up. im sorry if i dont buy into the whole *POOF* "I have created man!" theory. now, like ken, just because i have chosen not to personally asociate myself with a particular denomination doesnt mean i dont have faith. on the contrary, i have great faith. i have faith in myself, as well as you people. i have faith that i will do what i think is right and that others will do the same. strange as it may sound that i would put faith in this world, with these people, i have. i really do believe that the vast majority of people really do want to do "good." granted, the definition of "good" can have enormously varrying interpretations. however, with this blog as my example, people DO care, and DO want to help and ARE willing to do something to help eachother. God, Allah, Buddha, whoever.... whatever works, whatever compells you to do good for your fellow human being and the earth as a whole, thats what i have faith in. the ability for you people to find one good reason to do something good.