Christian individualism

Christianity -- as most religions -- is a social expression of love and worship to the Godhead. Nonetheless, at times, we don't want to be surrounded by other humans and/or other creatures for that matter. Hence we remain as individuals -- away from society, away from others with our faith in one hand and doubting pains in the other. As odd as this concept (personal point of view) may seem, I've done the latter several, especially as I was looking for my faith (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2008/12/confused-no-news-there.html). In this personal search, I've found God several times especially sharing my faith and lack of with friends I've made in church (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-church-friends-unexpected-fellowship.html) and others in and outside the Church environment. Considering this last statement, I wonder if I'd feel as much faith as I've got right now (so immensely little, broken & in doubt) if I were going to another church. I honestly think it could be much less (if any spiritual change if any at all) going somewhere else. Hence I thank the fellows at FAPC for giving me a chance to grow spiritually (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/open-letter-to-my-friends-86-weeks.html), not merely intellectually knowing facts about Christianity (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/11/denominational-non-denominational.html) and its comparison to other faith systems (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/07/without-spirit.html & http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/08/quarreling-siblings.html).

Three Faiths

New York Public Library (http://www.nypl.org/) has an exhibition titled Three Faiths (http://exhibitions.nypl.org/threefaiths/) from 10/22/2010 to 02/27/2011. It's weird that the local government's decided to use tax-payers money on an exhibition on the three religions of Abraham, but I'm glad for this exhibition.

hacking the source code of faith

In a perfect world or rather in a perfect religion, the perfect faith should have the complete and correct understanding who God (whatever name) truly is. In my sole opinion, all religions have this concept partially right and fairly wrong.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam teach us that there's only ONE GOD. At the same time, Christianity also teaches us that God has three persons or rather interpretations (Trinity) -- not three gods in one.

Krishna (my favorite religion or set of beliefs to read about) teaches us that all creatures on earth have some specific purpose to comply with the will of the Godhead. It also gives us the belief of cleansing of the soul by correcting our previous mistakes (repentance, atonement of sins).

Pagan beliefs also tell us that God is in nature as an undeniable a part of nature. This is the same belief of Lectio Divina, in which all creation's an extension of God.

What'd the perfect faith be like? It'd teach us (1) that there's ONE GOD all around us, all knowing, all mighty, (2) that all of his creation or lack of in the cosmos is an extension of God and (3) that this creation works together for a greater good or purpose. We could even see creation as an object in the palm of God's hand. Hence we're one with God and in God.

quarreling siblings, just what I had proposed last week

just what I had proposed last week...

"What would be interesting is having a religious complex with a mosque, a synagogue and a church in the same building."
http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/08/quarreling-siblings.html

now on Fox News, the same idea (really cool)...

NYC community board head wants interfaith center to be part of proposed mosque project
"NEW YORK -- The chairwoman of the community board that voted for a proposal to put a mosque near ground zero says an interfaith center should be added."
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/08/30/nyc-community-board-head-wants-interfaith-center-proposed-mosque-project/

quarreling siblings, revisited again

Maybe the opinion of the Mayor of NYC makes sense after all. By the way, I voted for him.

quarreling siblings, revisited

By the way, in response to my previous entry (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/08/quarreling-siblings.html), The Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour (http://www.axisofevilcomedy.com/) is one of the best favorite comedy shows that I've watched in a long time.

quarreling siblings

The whole religious stance of Jews and Christians against Muslims -- at the same time Muslims against the world -- is stupid. After all, these three faiths come from Abraham (a common beginning).

Jews and Christians have gotten along as these two groups have much in common. As a matter of fact Christianity is based on Judaism. Surprisingly Jews and Muslims have not although Judaism is the faith on which Islam is also based. It's basically like three siblings fighting each other or actually two against one -- as if my two sisters, my brother and I quarreled and get in groups to quarrel the other(s).

The problem in all three groups is the fundamentalist idiots who hate and kill using the name of religion as a shield of sorts. As the saying goes, a bad apple spoils the whole bunch. The view of one of these groups becomes negative in the eyes of the others especially since fundamentalists are loud enough to cause the most damage. Abraham would or could be fuming in anger at this point.

"When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world." - CS Lewis
8:38 AM Aug 23rd via web
https://twitter.com/CSLewisDaily/status/21910343402

Said all this, should a mosque be built near the World Trade Center (WTC) in NYC? Yes, a temple (not a complex) would be a good idea. As a matter of fact, a synagogue and a church should also be in the area. What would be interesting is having a religious complex with a mosque, a synagogue and a church in the same building. Of course, at that point the question and fight would be which temple takes the first floor or the area of the first floor each could take. As most siblings, there's a degree of jealousy and stupidity pulling them apart and close at the same time even in a city like New York.



Has anyone really stopped to think what God thinks of this whole quarrel?

too much for my own good

Maybe I analyze religion, its beliefs and practices too much for my own good (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/06/nietzsche-vs-gott.html). Maybe my faith is based on the philosophy and sociology of Christianity more than just what my grandmother taught me as a child (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/remembering-my-grandmother.html). In the past almost two years that I've gone to church non-stop (08/2008 to now), I've been reading many more papers on Christianity much more than how much I used to (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2009/01/beginning-before-experiment-circa-2006.html). It makes me wonder if I'm a "real" Christian or merely a reader of theology or simple fool lying to myself. Well only time would tell.

Nietzsche vs Gott (God)

As much as I like Kant and Huxley, I'm deeply fascinated with Friedrich Nietzsche. His criticism on Christianity was and still is dangerous as in the quote below.

"The Christian is simply a Jew of the 'reformed' confession."
- Friedrich Nietzsche, The Antichrist (1888)
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/19322

Maybe this is a reason or the only reason why his writings and ideology are highly recommended for anyone interested in theology and/or philosophy. In both, the philosopher was clearly trying understand and explain the social phenomenon that we know as religion (especially Judaism, Christianity & Islam) while pointing out the errors and lies in religious practices and/or beliefs.

In the quote above, he pointed out that Christianity has its roots in Judaism (same as Islam). In other words, Christianity is a mix of Judaism and the teachings that Jesus left us.

Said the latter, the differences between the three religions of Abraham (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) are similar. What he didn't explain is why followers of one religion sometimes fight with members of the others. Maybe it's mere sibling rivalry.

Anyway philosophy (especially that of Nietzsche) is exciting and fun even when it offends us or simply makes fun of us. It forces us to think and reevaluate our core beliefs and principles, which is important if we're to dare calling ourselves "real" Christians. In conclusion, Nietzsche, the biggest critic and enemy of religion, is perhaps the best professor of religion.

my life

Listening to The Ramones, I remember a better part of my life, when life itself was easier. About this same time, I had very little need for church and at times even the Godhead.

Being away from church for about 13 years doesn't mean that I didn't think about the Godhead. I took time to read and study about different religions and faiths -- my favorites being Krishna and Islam. In 2008, I returned to the Church, but first I needed to know what church and/or congregation (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2008/12/confused-no-news-there.html) would be the best option for me.

As much as I want to be a good Christian properly speaking, there's still a deep and dark side of my soul with violence and anger. At the same time, as much as I want to be a good person, I know that I have to take medications for the chemical imbalance in the brain to simply bear the pressure of life itself. In all, I'm merely willing and confused soul in a broken body.

Ironically I question myself for the purpose of this blog. Is this a constant rant (most likely), a waste of time (highly likely), a way to help others (most likely not), a way to brag about myself (definitely not), a way to be close to God (maybe), an on-line church (no way) or perhaps a form of ministry (highly doubtful)? I don't have a real answer. I wish it was all were true except for bragging, of course.

At the same time, there are many aspects in my life that I try to achieve or hold on to -- other than computer science (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/being-geek-and-christian.html).

1. I'm interested in photography as an artistic medium. I shoot photos whenever I have a good excuse to do so -- currently for FAPC (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-york-concerns-new-york.html).

2. I've also done my share of poetry, prose and music. I'm fairly happy with what I've accomplished specially in poetry. At the same time, I've been my own worse critic on my prose for the past thirty years or so. Nonetheless I always find an excuse to write -- like this blog for example.

3. Learning languages (for example, German; http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/gott-ist-nein-tot.html), societies and other human behaviors. As a matter of fact, I drive some of my friends crazy with my interpretations of the human animal behavior (especially Leia, sorry kiddo).

4. One area that I'm fairly bad at is being a father. Aside from providing and protecting them, I do fail in the social interaction. Maybe I'm too much of a geek narrowing my socialization to computers, television, arts and church. I know I must improve in this field. On a much more positive note, with my three boys (ages 18, 8 and 2), I guess that I've finally learned to think that my life hasn't been a total waste of time.

After all this long log entry, I must accept that at times I'm a godless Christian and that I must really find Christ in order to live my broken life peacefully with myself.

church as a social club & the Christian poser

in response to http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/22680

A church -- regardless of the religious background -- can be seen as a social club where different peoples can share their personal and unique as well as common "journey of faith" (an expression commonly used by Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston from FAPC; http://www.fapc.org/). Therefore the individuals who go to a specific church building or who are part of a specific congregation and/or religious group practice a common religious and/or denominational background and traditions hence knowing what to do and expect in such environment.

In comparison to a social club, a church building should house individuals both searching for God's grace and trying to emulate God helping those in need. The problem comes when individuals act like Christians in church, but continue being everything but in their daily lives. Going to church and/or posing as a Christian for others to contemplate and/or simply bragging to be a Christian doesn't make a given individual a Christian.

I can't say that I'm not in the latter category. I've fallen in it many times and continuously ask myself if I'm a real Christian or a mere poser. Maybe I'm just excessively curious about human behavior and how it's affected by religious beliefs (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Krishna, Buddhism, etc). Am I poser?

what I think about religion

I guess that religion will remain a strange factor in my life. I do enjoy pornography and other improper non-Christian behaviors, which I've been trying to avoid.

In the past several months, I've tried to avoid Catholicism. Surprisingly I went to an Episcopal church, All Saints, this past Sunday. Episcopalism is merely an extension of Catholicism and I found this past Sunday's service fairly uptight (just like a Catholic mass) without the freedom that Presbyterianism gives me.

I guess I'd become a member of the FAPC congregation after all. Maybe this why tomorrow I'll go to a group at FAPC on technology at 7pm. I'm so eager to do something at this church (like helping with the website). Perhaps I might merely be looking for some level of acceptance from my "peers." Perhaps I'm just getting "old" and I need some assurance that my life has had some meaning. Either way, I'd never felt this way for any church of any denomination. Does this mean that I'm a reformed Protestant now of some sort?

Living in NYC, one has as many faiths to chose from. Well I don't know what to think at this point. Yes, this was an experiment to find God in different ways (roads), but which is the right one for me? Should I also try Islam and Krishna in search of God regardless of the human name given to him (Jehovah, Allah, Krishna, Buddha, etc)? By the way, how can we be so sure that God is a man? I can't respond so many questions right now, but could I ever?

during those 13 years away from church

I learned or at least read about Islam, Judaism and even Krishna (http://www.krishna.com/). I've even supported different religions and groups like International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON (http://www.iskcon.com/). Well my friends and kin are of every possible religion and/or faith. For example, my mother follows teachings of guru Sai Baba (http://www.sathyasai.org/). My oldest son (a hardcore Catholic since a little boy) freaks out every time my mother makes a comment about this guru.