“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the Earth while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job, 38, 4 and 7
Over two thousand years has Christianity spread its teaching among both the rich and the poor parts of human society. It became the main idea of life and the source of factual and spiritual wisdom. It became the embodiment of law and justice. People looked up to their creator and accepted his word with dignity and grace as if these words came from their own mouths and hearts. Like sheep follow their shepherd, so did people follow the highest church dignitaries in order to please the almighty God, master of the universe.
But the fact is that the church was not only the source of order and peace, but, also a strictly political institution. It became an easy way to control masses of people. It became a way to conquer cities, countries and nations as well as a way to gain wealth and power. It was not so long ago (compared to the age of the Earth) when the world was illuminated by thousands of bonfires. The flames swallowed everybody dangerous from witches to heretics. Nothing could escape the Christian doctrine, which was more a political than a religious dogma in those times.
However, it was not always thus. The main purpose of religion lies elsewhere. Religion, especially the Christian one, is supposed to guide us and help us find a way to tackle with everyday problems. It is supposed to be a way to put our souls, minds and bodies into a counterbalance and to actually find the main purpose and the reason of our lives.
It once used to be a way to explain things in nature people could not understand, such as lightning and thunder, or just the way of nature itself. However, nowadays, it is no longer possible to explain the way of nature according to the Old Testament. The research as well as the society progressed. We know how lightning and thunder works. We know the way living beings are created and born. But, what about religion? Is it still convenient to believe in God today? Is there really a higher being, watching us and guiding us throughout our life? Then:
“Why doesn’t God all-powerful listen and answer? If God has something against me, let him speak up or put it in writing. Then I would wear his charges on my clothes and forehead and with my head held high I would tell him everything I have ever done.” Job,31, 35-37
There are many disasters happening in the world. Nations are being oppressed, people are being enslaved, children are born with handicaps. Where are you, God, when we are calling for you? Do you hear our whispers? Do you hear our screams? Does it please you to see us all suffering? I say:
“God has turned brutal, stirring up a windstorm to toss me about. Soon he will send me home to the world of the dead where we all must go” Job 30, 21-23
Then why shall we worship you? Why shall we praise you? Is that how you repay us for our devotion? With death and suffering? Oh, how many times we thought you and your angels slept.
“Go and attack the Amalekites! Destroy them and all their possessions. Don’t have any pity. Kill their men, women, children and even their babies. Slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys.” 1 Samuel, 15, 3
You said you love us. You said you would teach us everything. Where are your promises?
“Anyone who believes me and is baptised will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me ,will be condemned.” Mark, 16, 16
We try to do what is right. We follow the rules written in that old book you gave us. Yes, the thick one with soft pages and with a big headline “Holy Bible” on it. Surely you must remember that one, for you alone gave it to us. So we read it every day before going to sleep and every morning during breakfast. On Sunday we go to church and on Wednesday we have Chapel. It is all like a slightly annoying routine. But where is the purpose? Of all wonders I have read about in the Bible I haven’t seen any. Of all the times I prayed none of my prayers were answered.
“I am desperate because God all-powerful refuses to do what is right” Job, 27, 2
I must confess it is much easier for me to accept the fact that we are all only organisms with only one single purpose, which is the reproduction of our DNA. It is much easier to accept the fact that after I die there would be nothing left of me but the genes I passed on my offspring. Can you imagine that? The whole world is turning around letters C, A, G, T....T, A, C, G.....T, C, G, A.....adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine....guanine, adenine, cytosine....... It is all wonderful and scary in some way because it means that all my thoughts and all my ideas are just electrical impulses passing through my neurons. Only this and nothing more.
“You were made of soil and you will once again turn into soil” Genesis, 3, 19
Then everything I do and everything I care for will once turn into dust. All my memories will be gone as well. I will be gone too. The whole mankind will be gone. But all of it means nothing compared to the great vast universe.
“Nothing makes sense! Everything is nonsense. I have seen it all-nothing makes sense.” Ecclesiastes, 1, 2
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