So does that mean you do or do not believe in the supernatural?
Hi Mike. That's a tough question. I'll answer it sincerely and truthfully.
I'm a science guy but I know that science hasn't explained everything yet and I'm leaving the door open to the possibility that there may be some things that science can't explain. I would like to believe that the spirit or soul of loved ones who have passed on, can act as guardian or guiding spirits.
I call myself spiritual because I believe in a god but that the nature of god is beyond our understanding. I guess that's agnosticism. This is why I cannot accept the certain and definitive religious teachings about god.
What I definitely do not believe is that there is a god that involves himself in the day to day happenings in our lives. There is too much pain, sorrow, and injustice in the world to believe that. The old saw that "god moves in mysterious ways", just doesn't cut it for me.
The bible and other religious texts, I believe may have been inspired by god, but man has butchered much of it along the way to suit their selfish purposes. "Unbelievers are doomed to eternal hell fire / this is the only way to heaven / this is the one true religion / being a good and righteous person isn't enough because of original sin / you need to feel guilty if you experience sexual thoughts; in my mind these are all examples of additions to the kernel of truth in most religions that have been added along the way to ensure that people are scared enough to come to church and give tithe to support the church, and to give superiority to one religious path over another.
Also, the bible and other religious texts where written using the existing knowledge base of the culture that they sprang from. Even if truly inspired by god, it wouldn't make any sense to them if concepts of physics were revealed to them that their culture had not yet learned about, like the nature of the universe with planets and stars and galaxies. Scientific knowledge grows, and when there was a conflict between what was taught in the bible and new scientific knowledge, the church attempted to stifle it. Those that continue to trust and believe in the bible are now out of step with scientific knowledge. Creationism vs evolution is a prime example.
Just as some people benefit from the highly structured military life, so do many people benefit from following a religious teaching without questioning. Both are mutually beneficial to the person and to the institution.
But there are many people, myself included, who don't need that institutional structure to live an orderly and righteous life.
Whew! Thanks for listening.
