Starting Point

Everyone believes in something, regardless of what background we each come from. Some of our beliefs are wholly unique to ourselves. I believe, for example, that water chestnuts are flavorless pieces of styrofoam and unsuitable for general consumption; I believe this because my personal appetite holds more preference to taste than texture. Some of our beliefs depend on cultural factors built up over hundreds or even thousands of years' worth of study, testing, and experimentation; political systems, governments, and social codes demonstrate a collective knowledge of the moral standards of specific groups. Above it all, however, we all have a basic presumption that there is a moral standard of some kind.

Where did we get this idea? Why is it unique to the human race alone? What aliens or supernatural forces could have given us this knowledge and taught us how it worked? Because, if we're being blatantly honest, this idea of a moral code is anything but natural. In fact, just by looking at nature itself, we could almost say some parts of morality go directly against nature. What force has the capability of allowing us to oppose that? And, more to the point, what does that power want with us? What could it do to us if we don't do what it says?

That big, all-seeing something-or-other hanging over us that makes us paranoid when we do things has been given a name by us humans; we often call it "God." Many people think He left, or maybe He just doesn't care; if He did, He wouldn't have let evil things come near us in the first place. Whatever the initial impression, it seems that most people would rather He left us to our own affairs.

Unfortunately (or perhaps very fortunately), He doesn't always leave us alone. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Maybe it's time to find out.

#lifelessons #God #spirituality