I have often been struck by the presumptuousness of preachers who say, in the course of their sermons, something like this:
"G-d told me to tell you"
For example, Martin Luther KIng gave a famous speech, in March or
April of 1967 at a Church in NYC known as, if I recall correctly, "St. John the Divine," in which he talks at length about the Vietnam War and why he was opposed to it. (I largely agree with his denunciation of the Vietnam War).
Before he discusses the history of the Vietnam War and our involvement in it, he says, if my recollection is correct, that other people, such as the forces in power, don't want him to discuss the "truth" about Vietnam. Then he discusses Vietnam because, as he put it, "G-d told me to tell you."
The crowd who listened to that famous speech were the elites of the White Protestant world, Park Avenue, polished, setting pretty atop the rest of America.
I would bet that most of them didn't say things like "G-d told me to tell you."
However, because MLK was black, and because he was ideologically in sync with them, they did not criticize his assertion that he got a special directive from G-d to talk about Vietnam.
If a preacher -- or a Rabbi or an Imman or anybody else -- were to try to buttress their points by saying "G-d told me to tell you," I think we would be well within our rights to question that person.
With due respect to Thomas Aquinas, perhaps the greatest apologist for rational faith, faith is a belief that never can be rationally proved. So why do so many continue to believe? There are far too many books on the theories why belief continues to exist, but most come down to this: knowing we'll all die, many can't make sense of life without believing that there is something beyond death, The purely existential view of life is too lonely for many to accept. Well written piece, my friend.
Really enjoyed this. Trying to explain the sheer lunacy of believing in God - much less a God that speaks to any specific individual - has been the source of far too much thought in my education career. Batshit crazy. Sums it up perfectly.
I try to be empathetic to the belief because I deluded myself for years. It is far too easy to get caught up in a cultural bubble that allows one to disband with normal rationality that they apply in other areas of life.
But I do grow weary of hearing phrases like, "There are no facts that will ever make me change my mind on this." Whether politics, religion, or science, this may be the most telling comment one could make.
This is a wonderful essay. Your acumen ia piercing, potent and ulitmiately liberating. I appreciate your references to scripture and religious practices (put your finger on any place in the bible at random) to substantiate your contentions.)
I think war is the greatest example of the havoc, misery and desolation caused by people proclaiming to know what G-d beleives and has heard him speak.
Christopher Hitchens said that Christendom, that vast collection of kingdoms comprising the continent of Europe , endured for centuries and came to an ignominious end with the flames of World War One. All of Europe proclaimed to be Christian, which means believing in Jesus Christ, and Jesus was supposedly the prince of peace. And during world war one, millions of people perished in the name of Jesus Christ. Each and every natoin believed that they had G-d on their side.
Consider the Austro-Hungairian empire (Really the austrian empire but that's a whole "nother" essay). Austria considered itself "the first daughter" of the Roman Catholic Church. (She periodically fought France for this status) . In World War One, Austria introducded poison gas as a weapon. For the "prince of peace," they suffocated, scarred and lacerated the lungs of their enemies with poison gas.
Consider the Crimean War, one of the biggest examples of stupidity in the annals of human history:
Jerusalem had been under the control of the Islamic Ottoman Empire (based in Turkey). The Ottomans customarily appointed a gentile European nation to be designated, "The Defender of Christians in Jerusalem." (If a Christian was arrested in Islamic-ruled Jerusalem, this "Defender of Christians" would be his go-between with the Ottoman Sultan, or King).
Immediately before the Crimean War began, the Ottomans selected Russia to be the "Defender of Christians." Western Europe was aghast, and Austria, France and Britain went to war against Russia. That was the "glorious" Crimean War which gave the English Language its most ardent pro War poem: "Ours is not to reason why/ Ours is to Do and Die."
Consider the Sheer Lunacy: Christians proceeded to kill fellow Christians because they each wanted to be annointed the "Defender of the Christians."
Bob Dylan said it best in his song, "With G-d on Our Side."
I have often been struck by the presumptuousness of preachers who say, in the course of their sermons, something like this:
"G-d told me to tell you"
For example, Martin Luther KIng gave a famous speech, in March or
April of 1967 at a Church in NYC known as, if I recall correctly, "St. John the Divine," in which he talks at length about the Vietnam War and why he was opposed to it. (I largely agree with his denunciation of the Vietnam War).
Before he discusses the history of the Vietnam War and our involvement in it, he says, if my recollection is correct, that other people, such as the forces in power, don't want him to discuss the "truth" about Vietnam. Then he discusses Vietnam because, as he put it, "G-d told me to tell you."
The crowd who listened to that famous speech were the elites of the White Protestant world, Park Avenue, polished, setting pretty atop the rest of America.
I would bet that most of them didn't say things like "G-d told me to tell you."
However, because MLK was black, and because he was ideologically in sync with them, they did not criticize his assertion that he got a special directive from G-d to talk about Vietnam.
If a preacher -- or a Rabbi or an Imman or anybody else -- were to try to buttress their points by saying "G-d told me to tell you," I think we would be well within our rights to question that person.
When did G-d tell you.
How did he tell you
Why did he tell you
Did he want to hear what you had to say, etc.
With due respect to Thomas Aquinas, perhaps the greatest apologist for rational faith, faith is a belief that never can be rationally proved. So why do so many continue to believe? There are far too many books on the theories why belief continues to exist, but most come down to this: knowing we'll all die, many can't make sense of life without believing that there is something beyond death, The purely existential view of life is too lonely for many to accept. Well written piece, my friend.
J
Really enjoyed this. Trying to explain the sheer lunacy of believing in God - much less a God that speaks to any specific individual - has been the source of far too much thought in my education career. Batshit crazy. Sums it up perfectly.
Thanks Bryan.
I try to be empathetic to the belief because I deluded myself for years. It is far too easy to get caught up in a cultural bubble that allows one to disband with normal rationality that they apply in other areas of life.
But I do grow weary of hearing phrases like, "There are no facts that will ever make me change my mind on this." Whether politics, religion, or science, this may be the most telling comment one could make.
With the ironic words from Captain James T Kirk, while speaking with "god". "Why does god need a starship?"
I had to look up the scene. Precisely.
This is a wonderful essay. Your acumen ia piercing, potent and ulitmiately liberating. I appreciate your references to scripture and religious practices (put your finger on any place in the bible at random) to substantiate your contentions.)
I think war is the greatest example of the havoc, misery and desolation caused by people proclaiming to know what G-d beleives and has heard him speak.
Christopher Hitchens said that Christendom, that vast collection of kingdoms comprising the continent of Europe , endured for centuries and came to an ignominious end with the flames of World War One. All of Europe proclaimed to be Christian, which means believing in Jesus Christ, and Jesus was supposedly the prince of peace. And during world war one, millions of people perished in the name of Jesus Christ. Each and every natoin believed that they had G-d on their side.
Consider the Austro-Hungairian empire (Really the austrian empire but that's a whole "nother" essay). Austria considered itself "the first daughter" of the Roman Catholic Church. (She periodically fought France for this status) . In World War One, Austria introducded poison gas as a weapon. For the "prince of peace," they suffocated, scarred and lacerated the lungs of their enemies with poison gas.
Consider the Crimean War, one of the biggest examples of stupidity in the annals of human history:
Jerusalem had been under the control of the Islamic Ottoman Empire (based in Turkey). The Ottomans customarily appointed a gentile European nation to be designated, "The Defender of Christians in Jerusalem." (If a Christian was arrested in Islamic-ruled Jerusalem, this "Defender of Christians" would be his go-between with the Ottoman Sultan, or King).
Immediately before the Crimean War began, the Ottomans selected Russia to be the "Defender of Christians." Western Europe was aghast, and Austria, France and Britain went to war against Russia. That was the "glorious" Crimean War which gave the English Language its most ardent pro War poem: "Ours is not to reason why/ Ours is to Do and Die."
Consider the Sheer Lunacy: Christians proceeded to kill fellow Christians because they each wanted to be annointed the "Defender of the Christians."
Bob Dylan said it best in his song, "With G-d on Our Side."