The Day I Lost God
Religion was cool enough; it came with lots of mysterious metaphor and in many cases, incredibly gorgeous artwork. The poetry, mathematics and art of religion enchanted me, and because I was willing to enlist the power of my imagination, I felt that, with enough faith in the path, I could actually unlock some of the mysteries that nagged at the human conscience. Mystical writings, rituals, congregation, contemplation -- all very illuminating. I loved it.
Until of course, I saw how destructive it's followers could be. Religion had turned out to be so much more than a path to God -- it had become a competition, and the game was called, "Mine Is Better Than Yours," which trickled down into "I'm Better Than You," and ended up as, "You Suck So I'm Gonna Kill You".
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Dori Hartley is a native New Yorker, a writer, illustrator, actor and musician. She started her writing career as a lyricist, penning tunes for Tears For Fears and The Goo Goo Dolls. Her lyrics inspired the writers of the HBO series, "The Sopranos," to...
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re: the day I lost God
I read the rest of your article at the Hufffington Post. I won't ever say 'Mine is better than yours' or 'Yours is better than mine so can I join your club?' but whether you're an atheist or just one waiting for an answer to all the events that had moved you, whether you believe it or not, what comes around goes around, maybe not in this life but in another. Neither the believer nor non believer can escape cause and effect , no matter what their god or godless they be.
I questioned the faith of those around me in my tender youth and could not embrace the faith that others so profess. So I rejected what was lain before me, I had to look harder, search and finally be shown the spiritual answers that I sought through personal encounters. I have no need for a preacher or personal coach to show me. I found it on my own, through my own free will and reasoning. When one looks hard enough, realisation comes.
I hope you will find every happiness and fulfilment in this life and dedicate some of that good fortune towards the betterment of others. Pay it forward and what goes around comes around. Doing good is not the sole preserve of those with religion.
Right on, Wong Li Ming!
Thank you for the well thought-out response.
And I wish the same happiness to you, too. My path is non-theistic and is paved with all of the right action that you mention in your last sentence. Doing good, paying it forward... What goes around comes around -- it's only logical. There's a balance here, even within chaos. Odd!
Good Stuff! Thank you.
As One Writing a Blog for "The Year of the Apocalypse," I Agree.
One would like to believe the sweet myths and pleasant stories of one's childhood, but as you say, looking at the horrendous massacres committed in the name of religion (and its ideological opposites), a wise person would have to conclude that all religion, organized religion, at least, is wish-fulfillment. We all have our soothing rationalizations to ease our pain and disappointments, but no one should force those rationalizations upon others.
May we move toward helping each other to our various ends.
[Macresarf1]
Personal Encounters
Hello Dori,
I also feel the same as Wong Li Ming and Alex. I do my very best to live, as you noted in Wong Li Ming's last sentence: "Doing good, paying it forward... What goes around comes around - " And it was as well through my personal encounters when realization dawned an understanding of religions. However, it is in the Scriptures that keeps me, because each of my past encounters has already been written in them. (And that I'm familiar with.) Even while, when realization dawned upon me, and for some mysterious reason, most every religious writing is clearer understood of their infinite value of "cause and effect."
As for my personal account, It's impossible for me not to think that Jesus Christ is Savior, ( after having a close encounter). And for doing good 'not' being the sole preserve of those with religion, as Wong Li Ming noted. Sadly, I see this happening all around me every day. It has been the main reason I sought years searching for more, as well. Although, I am not a radical with religion, I sometimes show a high-spirited passion with my personal encounters, an example in my blog, "Soulful Deed: 4:00 PM."
As Alex says, "May we move toward helping each other to our various ends." Amen.
Through your blog, may we be closer to a wish-fulfillment of balance through the chaos, for the betterment of others. :-)
Thank you very much for sharing and educating me further. May we keep in mind that loving is better than knowing.
Truly,
Catherine