Religion & Philosophy

Billion Dollar Questions

Big Bang Theory – two colossal bodies colliding in space forming what we now know as the universe. Consider the following:

1. ORIGIN of these massive bodies

What caused this two things to exist? How were they formed?

2. backdrop, SPACE for the collision

What provided the space? Where did space came from?

3. FORCE then ENERGY, or perhaps, ENERGY then FORCE

What moved these bodies? What made them spin into universe after colliding? What are forces that governed the aftermath universe and the life in it? Why is energy consistent, never lost but is transformed?

It isn’t plausible that nothing comes from nothing, nothing doesn’t exist, because there is there is. I can’t fathom a universe so vast, complex yet systematic and self-sustaining without an OMNIPOTENT ENERGY if not FORCE behind it. Flawed this argument maybe but despite contention that we can never know for sure, I am drawn to believe that there is GOD and perhaps in the context of Science (which is again flawed inter-relating it with Theology), God is the covalent and ionic bond, the static-kinetic energy; the inertia, the momentum, the speed, the direction; the centrifugal force vis-a-vis gravity; the rhythm and the beat; and ultimately, time and space.

HUMOR Me, Darling

Dysfunction is “the normal” for most families according to survey. Think of staggering divorce rates. I’ve never been married though so I could not write out of marital experience. But I am from a dysfunctional family. My parents are separated, they now have their respective partners. I have half siblings from more than two other women. And we normally bicker when we are together. Despite these, HUMOR always save the day. We have learned to laugh at our mediocrities.

Dysfunction though is not confined to the context of the family, it is much broader in the context of society, say corruption, war, racism, gender inequality, drug mulling among other things. Significantly, we have learned to use mostly SATIRE if not PARODY in dealing with these social problems. Though comical, satire and parody among other comedy genres are able to facilitate the depiction, discussion and thereby, hinting possible resolutions to these adherents. Take the movie “You Don’t Mess With The Zohan” as an example – personal aspirations of LOVE, growth and development transcends differences in religious and political orientation. The nominal just want to make both ends meet and be with their love ones.

On a lighter note, a quote says “two prisoners look outside a cellar, the former sees the mud while the latter sees the stars.”

Make a choice, focus on the mud or marvel at the stars?

I Am SYNCRETIC

Why would I believe in a God proclaimed by conquistadors killing people if they wouldn’t convert? Why would I believe in a religion that is mainly use to usurp cultures, people and lands?

These were the questions I asked at third grade which made me atheist.

2008 – SUICIDAL thoughts led me to finally ask much more imperative questions:(1) why must there be life if I could take it away just like that? (2) Is there a purpose to life? (3) Is there more to life?

Then I thought THERE MUST BE A PURPOSE TO LIFE.

Contrary to my atheistic assumption, as I study further, I could no longer fathom a universe, if not multiverse, that is so vast but harmonious without a supernatural behind it. I could not consolidate with the atheistic view that everything is random and by chance. Take blood for instance: it is composed of RBC, WBC, platelet, coagulating factors among others just so one human body can subsist. I argue to atheists friends that civilization didn’t precede life, that philosophy and science didn’t either, that the human body alone is too complex and is still full of mystery despite the millennia of study of the human body for it to be just been out of serendipity.

Despite these, I couldn’t find a suitable religion.

I find myself reading different philosophy and various religions. I’m still essentially Christian by culture, in fact, I’ve grown to appreciate the concept of a loving God sending his own son to redeem the world, more so loving other people as you love yourself and FELLOWSHIP with the believers. But I’m too pragmatic to believe a demi-god and an original sin. Hinduism though says that God manifests himself in different human persona, and in case of Christianity, thru Jesus Christ. And so, I resolve to give Jesus the benefit of the doubt.

There are still too many things that I could not fully comprehend, say all religions aspiring to be a universal religion amidst diversity, murder of non-coverts, the pain of women in child bearing, women genital mutilation, psychosis among others. It is written that we could not fully understand the ways of the Lord, despite this, we need to obey, hence, the biblical recommendations of what we should do (good) and not do (evil).

Dichotomy is labeled as good and evil in religion, but NATURE and NURTURE in Science – that is, we are naturally animals and our greatest moral preconditioning is based on SURVIVAL but we become more adept to survival if we work as a group and hence, the creation of tribes and communities and the concept of TEAMWORK among other values.

And here comes Buddhism’s prescription of MODERATION, that to be able to lessen the suffering, one should opt for the middle path. Perhaps, Buddha recognizes that humans are both good and evil and thereby, we should strike a balance between these two through moderation, say drinking – drinking has benefits if done in moderation but these would be out weighed if done excessively.

Having said all these, I’ve become a proponent of LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL, that it still best experienced than contemplated, that the philosophical stand that life is an illusion is rubbish. As Paulo Coehlo says, “it is better to be a fountain that flows than a cistern that merely contains.”

If life requires you to jump, then by all means, JUMP then SCREAM out loud!