I figured that since I took on the Pope in my last blog post that I would pull my post about god and religion and god out of the draft folder.
I've always wrestled with the concept of god. I didn't grow up in a religious family. I've never really been religious as an adult. I married a man who isn't religious. I haven't stepped foot in a church for purposes other than a wedding or a funeral in over a decade. I have a difficult time wrapping my head around things like prayer and the whole 'relationship with Jesus' thing that evangelicals preach. The idea of a higher power that as control over my life is just something that I can't believe.
My teenage years were where I really started to question the idea of god. This was the first time I asked the "why do bad things happen to good people?' question. I concluded then that there couldn't possibly be a god, or at least if there was he had no bearing on or control over what things happened to people. Infertility only strengthened my belief that there is no god.
So that brings me to those people who say that the fact that we weren't able to have children is god's will or it happens in god's time or whatever. It implies that I'm not good enough or worthy enough to have a child. Using that logic those addicted to drugs, teenagers, and those with five kids by five different men are more worthy than I am. No. Those people were all just lucky enough to have their biological functions work properly.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I might not believe in god or participate in organized religion, but I try to be a good person. I try to do the right things. I'm a good person because it's the right thing to do, not because some god or religion wants me to be.
I agree with everything you have written!
ReplyDeleteI knew already when I was a little girl, aged five or something that there is something strange with the concept of God.
Both grannies were very very religious and they were explaining me about their Gods already when I was very little.
None of my grannies approved the fact that my parents agreed that they are not attending any religious services.
One granny is Catholic.
One granny is Muslim.
So already as a little child I was confused. Which granny was right? Which granny was wrong? I remember thinking a lot about it. Not many children have luck to think about God (which granny's God is real and which not) when they are 5 :)
wishing you a beautiful weekend!
xo,
You and I have both been considering this question for a long, long time! Even as a little kid I didn't understand the concept of god.
DeleteI read an article that said that people who don't believe in a higher power are more intelligent than people who do. I think this is accurate. ;) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2390774/Those-higher-intelligence-likely-believe-God-claims-new-review-63-scientific-studies-stretching-decades.html
Agree with you 100%. I, like you, grew up in a non religious family, and I am happy it was that way because I have not paid attention to religion ever... For me there is simply no God and only good intentions, and good people as there is bad, of course. Infertility has also reassured my perception of a nonexistent God and make me question the same items you describe above. It is impossible a God could let good people suffer and endure horrible things as it happens every day in this World. I am glad I find so much normalcy and things to relate to in your posts. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWelcome! It's so funny that my experience mirrors yours! I've had a few versions of this post in my draft folder for months but hesitated to post it because oftentimes people are very passionate when it comes to religion, and I don't want to get into an argument with anyone (or have them try to change my mind).
DeleteI don't think you have to believe in God to be a good person. I can tell that you have a good heart. To me, that's what is most important.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I don't care what (if any) religious beliefs that a person has, I just want them to be genuine and to have a good heart. Thanks for saying that you can tell that I have a good heart. Sometimes I feel like I come across as whiny and superficial. :)
DeleteSooner or later, and especially later when we are to approach the end of our life, we start searching for the meaning of life and try to understand our place in it. Religion provides the ready answer as well as comfort and no need to sweat about what, why, what's next since all the answers are in the Book. People who are not religious will need to do a lot of work to sort things out on their own so I do believe they would need to possess some intelligence :)
ReplyDeleteReligion does provide an easy answer to many questions. I guess that I've never done anything the easy way. :)
Delete