"The search for religious orientation has always been a matter of utmost importance. Every person who exists would have his or her ultimate concern™, a '˜god'™ that one worships and adores, simply because it satisfies. Or at least, appears to satisfy. Even for the young, the ones that are grappling for an identity as they grow, trying their best to create their own individuality- they too have their own religions: systems, concepts and people that they rely on, which shape their perspective of themselves and the world."

This was something I had wrote in the introduction to one of my letters appealing for support for ministry work (my PSS). About two years ago. As mature (hehe) as that writing sounds... the author behind it realises that such a concept wasn't properly understood at that point in time. (I mean, observe the axiomatic diction and tone of arrogance behind the assertion. lol.)

Such an error of youth - which should be disabled by maturtiy - actually ironically reveals much of what that concept implicitly invovles. When we discuss philosophy, and high and abstract ideas, there are broadly three ways to consider it.

First, to be remote. As I had impersonally commented on mankind's religious orientation - many too can look upon the human psychology, the societal moral decline and the problem of pain with such 'distant glasses'. It becomes a subject of discussion, not a concern to grapple with. It may appear interesting, but never something of personal significance. 

Second, to be distracted. The world's expectations and entertainment are enticing for us enough to just carry on with whatever we're doing and look forward to what we're about to do. It seems only natural that its about chasing the ultimate comfort while dabbling in altruristic boosters along the way to gain the aderanaline of 'meaningfulness'. As G.K. Chesterton said, "We all feel the riddle of the earth without anyone to point it out. The mystery of life is the plainest part of it."

Third - to enage in our humanness and see the questions of life as questions of Life. And accept the world view we evaluated as we should. If we are evolved beings, accept that fact fully and tell your wife that you love her only as a result of the chemical reactions that happen in your brain due to a scientific process of time plus matter plus chance. If life is void of any meaning at all, and simply for no reason, accept that fact fully and do ourselves the best favour by killing yourself. If we are to rid all our desires as that would end all suffering, accept that fact fully and convince a Jew that he should not feel any saddness of his ancestors at all because the pain of the holocaust was a mere illusion. If pain and suffering in this world is a problem big enough to be deemed as 'sin', and the concept of sacrifice close enough to define the meaning of 'grace' - accept that fully, and consider how exactly that is demonstrated in Christ. 

To rewrite what I wrote two years ago -

The search for what to do has always been a matter of utmost importance. We wake up, remember our agendas, do what needs to be done, and then update our agendas again. And perhaps sometimes, just before bed- we stare at our ceiling being unable to sleep, and ask ourselves - 'And why am I doing all this again?' Even when we're young, trying to figure out what we like and thinking about who we are- the question does sometimes return to us: Who exactly are we and why exactly are we here?

Maybe its something we can think about before going back to consider the next sixty years of our lives. 

Labels: Life

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