My husband said something a few weeks ago that has had me thinking. I don't really remember what we were taliking about, just that he said essentially, people believe in God because it's comfortable. My first reaction was EXCUSE ME?? which is usually my reaction when he says anything that questions my view of things. Well, I told him I disagreed with him, especially when it came to me and my beliefs and we left it at that.
Well, I didn't really leave it at that. Over the following days, I thought about it off and on. You see, ever since he came out of the closet so to speak as an atheist, I've been actually re-evaluating and examining my own beliefs. I really think everyone needs to do this and though he probably doesn't know it, he's been a wonderful and frustrating inspiration for me to do just that.
Anyway, back to his above comment. I can see how belief in God can become a comfortable habit. People generally don't think about it or live it but if anyone asks, they reply "Of course I believe". And it's so easy to fall into that trap. Early on, we are taught the doctrine of a particular faith. We take the word of whoever is doing the teaching. We believe our priests, rabbi's, ministers etc.. Why, because they have the training and education. They supposedly enjoy a closer relationship with God. But where do they get their answers from?? Sacred text's, personal reflection, their teachers...But for the most part, it doesn't matter really because though those answers, on reflection, may be right for them, that doesn't necessarily hold true for anyone else.
Thanks to my husband, my belief isn't comfortable. Knowing that God is, is a comfort to me; but considering that that is all I know, it is far from comfortable. My belief hasn't answered any questions, it has only created more. For me that is a blessing, because it is only by asking those questions and searching for the answers that can I achieve that closer relationship with God that I want.
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2 comments:
"he's been a wonderful and frustrating inspiration for me..."
Glad I could return the favor, Princess. ;-)
I've used that phrase as well. As an ex-Catholic, I hope you don't mind if I explain why I feel the same as your husband.
When I was a child, one of the first things I was told about God (aside from "You're lucky to have been born Catholic because God doesn't like the Protestant babies...they go to limbo!) was that we were supposed to seek comfort through Him and the Blessed Virgin. In all the years I was a Catholic, and with all that CCD, I don't ever, EVER recall being told that happiness was within me or that I could find comfort without praying for it from God. As an atheist, that sounds ridiculous to me.
When I lost twin boys (second trimester), I did seek solace in God. It comforted me to believe that my boys were in some sort of warm, loving heavenly place...as opposed to in a biohazard bag that got carted off to an insinerator (so much for Catholic hospitals valuing life, eh'?). When I thought of what really happened to them after I lost them, I almost HAD TO believe in God so that I could also believe in heaven. It comforted me to think that I might see them again. So, when I use the phrase "People want to believe because it's comfortable", I don't see that as a slight. It is what it is. And, it's okay to seek comfort in a religion if that's the only thing you have to take comfort in. My concern is that, as with what happened with me and what I've seen, the comfort one takes from believing in ultimate justice and heaven or hell is that it delays dealing with the reality. At least, it did for me. When I became an atheist, there was a sudden "thud", emotionally, because I had to admit that my twins were gone and I would never see them again and I actually grieved the loss again. But, I have to say that it was a much healthier grief the second time around. I didn't attempt to make deals, as I'd done the first time ("God! If you'll just let them live, I promise I'll do...."). I accepted the loss as a true loss and not a delayed meeting. I realized that miscarriages, while sad, are natural and happen quite frequently - which was something I *knew*, but I assigned a spiritual meaning to it when I was a believer. As an atheist, I was able to look at the situation for what it was and not what I wanted it to be. Does that make sense?
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