from Ben's mom
Saturday, it was particularly rainy out and having a need to find something to sell, Mike, Ben and I made our way to the giant book sale at the Unitarian Universalist Church. It was an interesting experience. The book tables held everything from C.S. Lewis to Hitler which epitomizes the beliefs the church holds. "They believe everything and nothing, " Mike said.
I heard one of the workers tell another one of the workers: "Adolph Hitler has been over this whole room. I found him in religion and philosophy and moved him to non-fiction and now he's back here (in religion) again. I don't like him here. We should have a section for evil dictators. I know he was a philosopher but his philosophy is sick." Then she paused, obviously troubled by her strong statement and went on: "But that's just what I feel. I guess that someone else might feel differently." It has to be horrible sometimes to not believe in absolutes. How limiting to not really be able to call Hitler, or Stalin, or Pol Pot, or Osama "evil."
On the way home (with a handful of books that I should be able to make a tiny-no, minute, profit on) we talked about why you go to church when you believe nothing. Personally the only thing that keeps me going is Jesus. We have a great church, but I don't go for social or entertainment reasons or because I get bored on Sundays. And I've never been able to figure out why people do. If Jesus isn't real--if he didn't live, die, and rise again and save me from my sins, what is the point? If I didn't believe this Truth, I would eat, drink, and be merry until I died. And you wouldn't find me in church.
2 comments:
For many people (unfortunately), church is a feel-good social club. As far as believing in “everything,” I’ve never understood how people can believe in contradictory things (i.e., relative morality). Either I’m right – Jesus is God – or the Jews are right – he’s not. But how can we both be right?
You said:
"It has to be horrible sometimes to not believe in absolutes."
So true. This sentiment is very reflective of college students today; especially some at PHC. Sad. Why don't they believe in absolutes?
Oh, a note to daddy: he might want to remove an old link "Smooth Jazz"; it has a horrible, wretched, evil picture that pops up after several lines haved scrolled. Surely you wouldn't want little Ben to see that. It's rather frigtening and leaves an image in the mind that is difficult to erase. Thanks.
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