state of the world

If your government told you to go fight in a war and kill people, would you? Even if you believed the "cause" was not morally justified?

Is there ever a just cause? What would constitute a just cause to kill someone whom one has never met?

Why are we so eager to be told what to do? Why do we insist on being ruled by people that we have never met? Why will we follow orders, even when we believe those orders to be morally or ethically wrong? Is it simply that we don't want the responsibility for the inevitable consequences of our actions? Does our rationale of "I was just following orders", help us justify wrong behavior intellectually? Or is there a deeper, more spiritual explanation behind our willingness to blindly follow anyone who calls themselves an authority?

Mankind has an inherit, almost instinctive belief in a creator of the earth and heavens. From all corners of the globe and every culture, there is a belief system in place which reveres a supernatural, powerful god or gods. While one can argue the points and merits of a culture’s religious system, the fact that each culture has a system is the point at hand. For whatever reason, we as a species generally believe in a god or gods. I believe that this is a part of our genetic makeup; that we are created in the likeness of our creator and have a "tie" to him that is always there.

As with a child to a parent, we long for love, affection, and admiration from our god, as we would from an earthly parent; we also long for those signs of love from our parent: our creator.

This longing is what allows humanity to let it be manipulated by those striving for power. This supplementing of obedience and longing for an authority figure has been used throughout history to manipulate the masses into accomplishing the goals of the ruling class.

Now many Christians will say that the Bible states that all authority is of God, and that we must "submit" to it. This is not the blanket statement that many proclaim it to be; but a misrepresentation (most likely purposely) from the translation into English under the authority of a ruler (the Catholic King James at the time). Would it be a stretch to believe that a ruler would try and interpret the word to make his servants more loyal and obedient; making them believe it is their moral obligation to buy into his "Divine Right of Kings"?

If this obedience was a command from God, then why does the Word state to follow God rather than man? Does it not say numerous times that God is a jealous god? Would a jealous god want an inferior being to take his place of authority; along with the ensuing loyalty, praise, and offerings to be given to someone other than himself?

My next question to those who believe that everyone must submit to authority is this: What constitutes an authority? Is it whatever warlord or military faction kills more people than the other side? Is it those who murder any opposition to keep physical control over any given area? If so, is this the kind of person or people that God wants us to follow and obey? This idea seems preposterous. People who crave power, are by the fact that they crave this power, not consistent with the type of life and morality advocated by Jesus (or other "messianic" figures for that matter). Therefore, since we "cannot serve two masters", we cannot serve them; since their morality, which their laws will be based on, are at odds with our faith. We ought to obey God rather than man.

If Christians follow the examples of Jesus, then they will see that he did not obey all of either the religious interpretations of the Mosaic Law, or the Roman law imposed by the conquerors of Judea at that time.

The gospels state that Yahweh wants us to look at him as a father. Does a father want to rule over his children, or have them ruled by a stranger? With a choice, a father would prefer to have his children live in peace and harmony with one another, and not to be under anyone's rule (even his own). A good parent doesn't want to rule over his children, only guide them and then let them succeed on their own and create their own life.

Why is it so hard for us to see the simplistic examples given to us on how we should conduct ourselves? Why can't we just be willing to take responsibility for our actions and live accordingly? Why must be continue to promote and support this evil, power-hungry beast?

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 9:03 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.