Hi there! It's not long before my last post, but what the heck I'll post it anyway! :D You see, today I was.. hm. How do I put this in english. I was in a routine sort-of-discussion/sharing about my religion with a mentor and some of my friends. And boy it was enlightening.
Now, I doubt this will come up in google if any people search for something related to the concept of faith and lack there of, so here I go.
I don't know how to put this, but I guess, for me, it's started with this question:
Do you need a reason to have a faith? To believe, or in this case, to be a theist?
To have faith, I don't think people need a reason. Well, you could; go ahead, no one's stopping. But maybe sometimes
you don't have to know what it is. Now, just let that question aside, because as a matter of fact, I don't know the reason I'm a theist in the first place other than I was born in the family of a theist (like most people), but
I do have a reason why I keep the faith until now.
Now to elaborate that... Hm where do I start, huh?
I think the first reason why I keep the faith is because, as much as I know from living until now; as much as I understand one or two things I learnt, it happened to be explained in our Holy Book already. Or.. rather than 'explained', let just say that what I think is right or not through knowledge is not contrary to what I got from the religion.
So yeah. So far, with the knowledge I have until now, I never met one that is contrary to what it says. To put it simply, my knowledge don't give me a reason to why I should not keep the faith.
I don't take one or two parts of the Holy Book and then try to proof whether it's true or not, because; aren't you too proud to think that you have enough knowledge to do so? Of course, I'm sure that there's a time where you can proof it, the time when you really do have enough knowledge to do so, but it's not always right now.
So, what I do is: see and do what I think is right, and see if it matches with what it says in the Book.
So far, it does.
It makes sense.
To hell things I read in the Book and didn't get, because I only care and know that much. And the fact that I don't get them doesn't make it definitely WRONG or NOT SCIENTIFIC. Because logic and ratio evolve throughout the years, just like no one will believe that people will fly with a giant metal if you say so in 1200.
But for things that I know IS true. Nothing is contradictory. So far. Because if it's so, I probably has written it on my blog.
The second reason is... less logic and more sentimental... because I'm happy! Having a religion makes me happy! I mean, there's a lot of things to be happy about, but I'm happy to have a God, I guess. Mmm maybe the exact reason is, religion gave me purpose. A purpose beyond what's stated and crossed people's minds. A purpose that, as I believe, that came from a Holy Existence. And I'm happy. I have a religion and I'm happy so why shouldn't I have a religion?
Weird right, but as you see, it is pretty unexplainable, you know. The feeling.
I just realized this after a friend mentioned it, but here goes: at times when I do something that is required in my religion, or things I suppose to do according to my religion... it makes me.. calm, uh. Happy. Like! Like a feeling when you're doing a good thing! That heartwarming sort of feeling. And that happens vice versa, if I neglected them or do things that is forbidden in my religion, I feel a weight or guilt and etc.
I mean, I understand that happens because of inner suggestion or an awareness because we 'believe' of the consequence, but... I don't know. Maybe it is! But hey, I'm comfortable and happy with that, so why not?
And.. another reason is... huh well. Because it's scary,
to not believe. Because I believe of a.. Force, an Existence that is so great you can't see it, so kind you're alive and happy; I'm not worried. I don't get scared. I'm happy. I'm content. Because I believe that living will be worth it, I believe everything happens for the best because there's this perfect Existence organize every single thing. And there you go.
Believing is a wonderful thing for me. Of course there are things in my religion that I think... honestly, is a nuisance, SOMETIMES. But as I said, I believe, therefore I also believe it'll be worth it and it's the best to do so. Maybe as I understand more, it will also be a wonderful thing ever happened rather than a nuisance.
But well. I guess in short, I think the reason I keep the religion is because I don't have the reason not to. If you have one; one that can not be objected, I might as well consider to not believe, I guess.
On the side note, I have no problem with atheists; as much as I have a choice to believe, they have a choice to not to, I guess.
But for me, proof of the existence or (lack there of, whatever) of God can not be compare with unicorn or any mythical being.
p.s. not very proud of this. But It'll do. For now. Oh, and here's a pic: