Saturday, February 7, 2009

Are we the best God can do? and other incredulous musings

How can God be perfect and still have made us? Would it have killed God to wire us not to publicly opine about or privately obsess over, say, Jessica Simpson's freshly acquired beef? Or was God shooting for silly in addition to rashly irrational? Who knows: Maybe the point of evolution was simply to bring us from baboon to buffoon. If so, mission accomplished. We are one sorry-ass collection of illogical, stubbornly (in some cases proudly) ignorant, and largely unable to meaningfully prioritize (e.g., beef-beefing) idiots.

Also ...

How come God needs to be worshiped, not to mention feared? Do you demand to be worshiped by your children? Do you boast about your dad-fearing or your mom-fearing, as the case may be, kids? Isn't God supposed to be the ultimate parent, not the ultimate pathologically insecure, stroke me, stroke me, stroke me, tyrant?

And how come so many Christians seem to place more stock in what's in the Old Testament than what's in the New? Didn't Christ redefine the definitive point of view (rhyme intentional)?

  • Love thy neighbor as thyself (gotta love gays then, y'all).
  • Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
  • Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.
  • Easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, et cetera.

I guess what it comes down to is, the New Testament just does not provide the comfy foundation of scriptural say-so for all the bigotry, intolerance, money-grubbing, backbiting, and back stabbing that are so woefully prevalent in so many self-described Christian lives.

So ...

Forget the faith, methinks. Just gimme the begorrah.

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22 comments:

  1. Also, I always thought Jesus would go down better were he, say, a Cheez-It or one of those eclairs with custard in the middle. Not entirely related, but somethin' to think about.

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  2. You'd at least have something to really sink your teeth into in that case.

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  3. Here's another thought: What of those people who prematurely resign themselves to a fate of hellfire so as to shrug off their misdeeds? "Look, I already know I'm going to Hell, so I'll just go ahead and continue on to Adulteration Station." They carry on committing what they've convinced themselves are sins, but, at the same time, they carry on calling themselves Christians... whilst committing themselves to Hell... in spite of their supposed belief in God and goodness and yada, yada, yada. What's UP with that self-loathing lifestyle? Like, for reals.

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  4. your musings are too insanely sane to make sense to our broadly "Christian" based nation - which we (not me) always like to remind ourselves of while we continue to do our best to do our worst. I may just print and frame your observations...maybe I'll cross-stitch them!

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  5. I was hoping this posting would foster some dialogue. Yee-haw!

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  6. I love you but, I don't have to like what you do... and yes, that includes Gays and serial killers alike.
    Love the sinner hate the sin... not easy but do-able... even politicians
    The word fear in translation, essentially means respect. My children respect me.
    Worship is a choice, we are asked to "have a personal relationship with Christ" (even Catholics believe that). I don't know about you, but I have that with my children and at times, it seems they do worship me (unworthy as I am).
    The most beautiful aspect is that God did not make perfectly obedient "robots", I am sure he could have,(glad He didn't) instead he gave us free will and hoped that we would choose him. There, is the failure, it's us, all we need is to CHOOSE him if we don't... oh well... it was our choice, He gave us that freedom.
    No doubt there are people who are as you decribe but, I for one choose the see the glass half full, (pardon the cliche) half full of Holy Water and yes there are some "floaties" but after all we are human...
    The Peace of Christ be with you.

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  7. You don't drink holy water. Or maybe *you* do... and perhaps same should be laid-off of.

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  8. How come "Gays" is capitalized and not "serial killers"? Nice having them lumped together. I dare not comment, lest I be smote.

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  9. Wow, a life full of bible lessons summed up into one blog comment. I'M SAVED!

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  10. Sorry that it appears gays and serial killers were "lumped together" I actually intended it to be more of a "one end of the spectrum to the other" I assume too much because most of my gay friends and acquainances are Catholic. If I have offended any serial killers in our midst, I apoligize.
    I am disappointed to see that the only comments to my post were, pointing out the improper use of a capital letter (thought if I capitalized Catholic I should afford gays the same respect, I will try not to make that misake again), a glint of sarcasm and one personal shot at my use of holy water... I am disappointed...
    No "Koolaid" comments? No "opiate of the masses" remarks? C'mon R.J. I know my punctuation and spelling sucks, maybe someone could point that out.
    I guess I underestimated the followers of Ricks Crap.
    Vivat Jesu

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  11. I didn't like the juxtaposition of gays and serial killers, Compost. As far as grammar and punctuation go, I have zero expectations in those areas except where professional writers and people who fancy themselves writers are concerned. It's all about communicating, and that's why I appreciate your patronage of and participation in this blog and hope you won't abandon me. I can't afford to lose a valued "follower." Thanks!

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  12. You bet Rick! In retrospect I can see how it would look like a comparison, but rest assured the opposite was indeed my intent.
    I find that the meat of your post was more pleasurable to chew than the tallow laden responses to my comments, lacking protien so to speak.
    I would have expected a "leaner" response from your fan base at large. But, from my experience, that is what happens to meat when the steer's diet is not properly balanced. But what do I know? Just a Gratiot County Plowboy...
    Thanks you... this is far more interesting than than any sack race at the family reunion!-BS

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  13. Oh, and tb... It's not nearly as cute as you think it is, sorry. My expectations of you were much higher, I don't know why, they just were.

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  14. TB will probably want to cut you for that, and I'm hoping she won't do it here (for my sake).

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  15. Whelp, Compost, you continue to both meet and exceed my expectations of you. Chew on that for a bit.

    TB

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  16. I just call 'em like I see 'em. You don't ever have to guess what I'm thinking... i'll consider myself warned. Peace above all but not at all cost.

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  17. Thank you tb, coming from you that really means something. Indeed something to chew on, eventhough it is a bit starchy.

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  19. do I detect arrows thwaaaaping through the air?

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  20. Arrows with poison tips.

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