This is the best way I can to explain my beliefs! And be prepared for a long read! This is long enough, well, to be a little tedious. Sorry.
GOD?
I’d like to imagine myself as a student, and as you have an inquisitive mind also, I thought you might be interested to read on what or who God is. This is not material that has any affiliation with any church. This is a blog post written by a former agnostic, includes commentary by former atheists & very generally sums up the reasons why I felt (throughout my 20s), there was a God. The reasons are still very valid. It is written with a slight bias to convince the reader, as a disclaimer. The only thing that I ask you to take away from it are my scientific reasons to believe in God.
Find that article here:
Did you know that Francis Frick, the co-discover of DNA (1953), actually believed that God exists? After the completion of his lifetime scientific studies on DNA, he then concluded that the chances of life occurring or being statistically possible were so small that life had to have a intentional creator. God, in my opinion, made the universe and everything else in it. God uses his own scientific design to control everything, as astonishing that is to contemplate in my life.
As you may know, I studied world religion in college, because I found it so dynamic! I was always fascinated as to how so many similarities could occur between so many diverse peoples & their geography. For example, there are so many creation stories that involve a garden, or ‘destroy the earth’ stories that include a flood. This was a little bit more of a coincidence to me. This peaked my interest. And as the years passed by, I felt strongly there was so much more to learn.
However, I never doubted the presence of a loving Creator of all existence and my life. I just didn’t know what category I felt best fit my understanding of that unnamed creator.
FAITH IS REALLY, well, REAL!
I have had health challenges literally my entire life. When I was born, the doctor told my parents to name me and prepare for my funeral. Born premature, three months early. 1 lb. 11 oz., 13 inches long; lived three months in an incubator before I could begin to be a healthy newborn. My life, even as an infant, wasn’t ever easy in this body. As I remember the story, most of the other preemies passed away, as my parents vigilantly hovered over my little body, watching the other parents grieving terribly. My entire life has had critical, possibly life-ending moments, over and over again.
I was raised in a very strict, Christian environment. Turns out my original, flawed understanding of Christianity, God and his love was mostly wrong. My understanding had absolutely nothing to do with Christ. It had everything to do with a woman suffering from undiagnosed mental health problems. True Christianity, the real Christ, (the best as I can understand), is very different than what I had experienced as a child at the hands of my mother. My upbringing provided me a basis of what the Bible taught on how to be a good person.
Then came the lupus diagnosis and subsequent years of the challenges that poses even to this day. I’m not sure if what I’m going to say will make sense. It boils down to this. It has to mean something more. If my life story isn’t going to be for a ultimately positive purpose, the point of my fighting for a day at a time is pointless. It has to go back to a higher purpose. These constant challenges have to be the crux or core reason I am here on this Earth. The only thing that keeps me sane is thinking that the end result will be worthwhile. That I’ll have answers to the mystery of my life’s trials, someday.
The psychological need for a reason to suffer from these inescapable bodily trials has literally existed since my birth. Perhaps it was inevitable that I would develop a faith in God & his blessings. My perspective of life developed from an early age, just like most other people. At least I’m objective enough to see this psychological motivation about myself.
Brain Fodder
Knowing that there is always more to learn, I was also sure that the absolute rules presented by the stagnant, traditional Christian viewpoint, were not fitted to my developing viewpoint! The constant finality of the Biblical text has never allowed for any variation or change, and this bothers me. (If you would like, on another occasion, I can tell you why the biblical text exists as it is today.)
Our understanding of the world changes & grows daily. This immobilized, established Christian hierarchy includes a 1700+ year-long status-quo failure to remotely consider or include the possibility of any additional information. How can the established Christian doctrine prove the geographical limits of Jesus’s ministry, just because there is only one commonly accepted written source record? As more fragile manuscripts are found in the future, possibly various other cherished stories about the ministry and atonement of Christ or the Israelites will be translated. These ancient documents are currently seen as academically interesting but not Christian gospel or cannon. These found stories likely will be in conflict with the accepted main teachings, and thus ignored by modern Christian churches and believers. This is happened in the 20th century already, twice. Just look at what happened to the Dead Sea Scrolls or the material found in the Egyptian desert.
And it was the same in the 19th century. Another people’s account of a concurrent experience with Jesus the savior in 33 AD was viewed, maybe, at best as a novelty, and at worst, heresy. The Book of Mormon followed this pattern of being found in the modern age.
The new scripture was published after translation for the worldwide distribution to the incredulous and unquestioning populace. It has never lost its reputation as a very contentious issue. And God-fearing Mormons have been viewed as the scum of Christianity for believing that the new scriptures are Gospel. Then and now, the non-questioning Christian would run screaming from the thought of any other scripture than the canonical Bible.
The Journey
By learning the growth & development of each major religion, I strongly feel that my studies in anthropology and my fascination with sociology has led me to accepting that God exists. My experience is that my faith is real although invisible. And this strange, newly discovered book is true. My studies slowly teach me how to become more like Christ every day. The lesson is simple, while its application in life not always as easy. Love, constantly, is the lesson. It’s kinda mind-blowing deep to consider doing that, loving anyone and everyone who is in our lives.
Each personal answer I received from the questions poised in my prayers add another layer of the story of my new faith. The original & continuing years-long interest in the Worlds religious practices allowed my open-mindedness to consider the possibility that Mormonism was true.
Sweetie Designs 