Am I weird or deluded or what? Or just still a very naive Nebraska village kid? For some reason I yet think most humans I meet are--underneath their vocalized differences and doctrinal tags--basically of similar spiritual faith and inner devotion and ethical concern.
But again this weekend, I discover for the umpteenth time--It AIN'T So.
Years ago, I became of the Friend's persuasion, leaving Evangelical Christianity partially because so much of the latter represents that which is most abhorrent in religion.
And I am a Friend because I love the centrality and experience of open worship where God is present right now in deep biblical "knowing."
Yet more and more I am finding there are many Friends who don't think God is. I keep trying to understand their view (such as the dialogues I've had with the bloggers on Nontheist Friends.org and elsewhere).
But I admit Untheism baffles me. If the God whose essence is love (of the NT and Friends for 360 years)
ISN'T,
then why are we meeting for worship? Are we not truly deluded as Richard Dawkins claims?
And in my dialogue with Evangelical Christians again this week, I realize to an abyssed degree that not only do I disagree with their central beliefs, but I don't really have faith in the same God as them. We use many of the same biblical terms but mean very opposite values.
I do live in a totally different cosmos from such humans.
Where is there a window where I can go and scream...
And last night, I was invited over to a couple of my friends and we had a great talk fest for four hours! At least we are in the same cosmos:-) but their views also seem so contrary to everything I trust and think true.
So I am like the small pinball in one of those classic game machines that bounces from other worldview to other worldview, all so incredibly different from my own faith and wondering where all of this is leading.
I am too much of an intellectual doubter to think everyone else must be bonkers;-) and only my group--Theistic Friends--understands Reality. So I struggle.
On my more despairing days--for instance yesterday, the day for worship--I wonder if maybe Friends, and indeed all religion, is delusion.
Maybe only Existentialism is true.
Maybe this is an absurd world like Albert Camus said and where The Plague wrecks havoc and we are brief consciousnesses for no reason and then the abyss...
Thank God, today I have renewed hope. I may be hanging in emptiness or am pre-damned, etc.,
but today I experience God's love
and am
in God's
Presence.
2 comments:
Dear Friend,
As you and I go around and around in conversations that must leave you feeling frustrated at times, you are also leading me gently away from my own tendencies toward an intellectually driven despair. There is something about your faith- so thoughtful, loving, intelligent and kind that has been a great comfort to me. I have often felt that your words were a gift to me and that has made me feel much more that there must be One Who Gives such gifts.
Thanks Hystery.
Sometimes I think I make no difference and am of no help to others. I know Scripture encourages us to endure, but at times in life, the ocean of darkness so overwhelms.
Daniel
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