I've taken sort of a one month sabbatical from going to church. I wouldn't say that I fell off the face of Christianity or became unreligious in anyway. I would say that this was a much needed break.I originally started this in Facebook around June 17th and I vaguely remember why I want to write this. It was about religion in general, mainly what I have learned (or have not learned) in this one month break.
I sort of have this view how humans made their appearance around the world after Babel. I believe God created the world, all the natural resources, and life (animals and people). I believe He did it in 6 days (where he rest on the 7th). Then, as you may read through the first book of the Bible, Genesis, God scattered the people of the world after the Tower of Babel was built because the people tried to get as close to God as they can...
So, these people are scattered about earth. And they carried with them a little bit of the DNA of the belief of one God. As time pass, I believe people lost sight of the one God and created other things to believe in... or nothing at all. But I believe that these people to this day carry this little piece of DNA and that someday, possibly, they will hear the Truth again.
Sounds kind of bizarre, right? I mean, this is all me thinking outloud, so this by no means is taken from any other text or religious work. Do people really carry this little piece of "God" within, hoping that it will bud into the belief that there is the Almighty One?
A quote from Romans 2:
"14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life."
Briefly, Paul is teaching the Romans that they themselves are subject to the judgement of God when they mistreat others because they (Romans) think they (other Gentiles) are doing wrong. And how would anybody else around such Gentiles know that these Gentiles are obeying God when even the authorities may not know God's law?
I have a point here but I want to read a few more religious pieces of work before I say anything.
Speaking of reading, I have checked out a Catholic Bible and started to read The Book of Tobit. Fascinating, in an objective way. I'm determining whether it flows through the rest of the Bible and make an opinion about its placement in the Catholic Bible. Tobit is quite a good book, and I've only read 4 chapters so far.
Reading the "missing books" in the Catholic Bible is only one part of my religious studies. My next book will be the Book of Mormons, maybe follow by reading a few bits of the Qu'ran... I'm not sure what other religious books are out there.
I guess I'm trying to achieve a few things.
1. I want to broaden my spiritual view. Don't worry, I won't fall away from God. But this is actually an example I'm taking from work. Lately, I have been doing market research, why did we win, and why did we lose. Well, in doing this research, I need to find out our competitor's information before I make a case about it. I believe some people in the Christian world are equip to do so, learn about other religions to build a case for Christ. I mean, why would a standardize protocol for bioassay applying to discharge WW be better than our competitor's so-called "fecal" bioassay, where God knows what they really did? Why is being a Christian better than being a Muslim? Simply saying, "The Bible told me so..." for a while, hasn't even cut it for me! It's a good start, to read the Bible, but I want more education on the other religions before proclaiming something I'm believing, you know? It's not wrong to read other religions as long as you know what you personally believe (and maybe you don't really believe and you are just curious) and that you read into other religious books objectively.
2. What the heck is the Book of Mormon (which was "the point" I want to make later but I'll say something about it now). Well, from the little I know, it is the account of the people from the Old World coming to the New World and after a while, Jesus came to visit them before the ascension. That, to me, simply doesn't address the rest of the world, like Asia or Africa. Would Jesus do the same thing and visit them as well? Or wouldn't God send prophets to take care of these people before the visitation of Jesus. I dunno. I have heard that Lao Tze was actually a so-called prophet and have told the Chinese of a Savior, but I would have to look into that too. I would need to read the Book of Mormon to get a better opinion.
3. I'm bored. :) No, really, I don't have much going on when I go home. I mean, I have to cook and clean around, but there's some free time for me to either surf the internet or read a book.
4. I think with all these religions, it all has to point and tie into God. The people of this earth have came from people of Babel and there has to be some evidence that we all carry a little part of God's love and law in our mind and hearts. And through our activities, rules, laws, books, school, there's got to be some evidence that God plays a role in all of these, even if the "Gentiles" do not realize it.
Well, I'm off my soapbox. Peace!
