Here I will dicuss my philosophies about life in general, my faith as a Christian, and how faith plays a role in my life and in all our lives. I finally finished this page. However, I remember when I was still working on this page, and all it was was an "under construction" sign. Well, there was one person (a Catholic priest, in fact) who told me that he liked the "Under Construction" thing. He said that our philosophies should always be "under construction," and I must say that I agree. So, with that being said...This page is, and ever shall be, under construction.
My first philosophy is that we are each entitled to our own opinion. Therefore, I am not trying to force you to agree with everything I say. I'm simply expressing how I feel about certain topics. If there is anything here that you don't agree with, then you have a right to disagree. We are each entitled to our opinions and there is no way I can change yours. All I ask is that you listen to what I have to say. These philosophy pages are here mainly to make you think. Who knows, maybe you'll even learn something.
This page ended up longer than I expected, so you may not want to take it in all at once. Click to go directly to a certain topic: God | Jesus | salvation | religion | love | suffering | hope | life
First of all, I feel that God is the most important aspect of life, mainly because He is the main reason we are here on this earth in the first place. I feel that God loves all of us, otherwise He wouldn't have created us. No matter what happens, no matter how deep into sin we find ourselves, one thing never changes: God will always love us and is always looking over us, hoping that we will follow Him and experience His love, hoping that when we leave this world, we will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Unfortunately, many people do not believe in God, and I feel that these people are making a very big mistake. I feel that without God there is no hope, because without God, who do we turn to when there is no one else? Without God, who do we go to when no one on earth seems care about us or love us? Without God, where do we go for strength to carry on in times of despair and hopelessness? Without God we are nothing, and I feel that if you would just believe in Him, and have faith in Him, you will find that He does care. One of my favorite quotes is: if God seems distant, guess who moved? God never turns His back on anyone; if you feel that He has then it's probably because you have turned your back on Him.
Sure, nobody can prove that God exists, but we can't prove that He doesn't exist either. But if you need convincing, consider this: how do you think this complex world came together? Was the Washington Monument built by someone just blowing up a pile of bricks and "voila"? Of course not. So how can you say that this world is just the result of some random scientific event (like the Big Bang)? There must have been some intelligent force behind it to mold it perfectly into the world as we know it. The same applies for human beings: just look at how complex your body is. If you've ever taken a human physiology course then you know how complex your body is. Even each individual cell that makes up your body is complex in itself, and yet every cell in your body works together to keep you alive. Then consider the amount of intelligence we have. Do you really think that we were just formed by a bunch of atoms randomly coming together? I feel that there must be some intelligent force behind it, i.e. God.
Still not convinced? Then I suggest you try to find someone who has endured a lot of suffering in his life and yet still remains hopeful. Maybe someone who lived through several tragedies such as death of a loved one, or becoming suddenly pennyless or homeless. If that person is still smiling, ask him why. I'm willing to bet you that it is because of a strong faith in God. Those who don't believe in God will probably be without hope, even suicidal. Basically, you will see that a strong faith in God makes people stronger inside, and no faith makes a person weak.
Basically, belief in God does not rely on proof but on faith. We believe in God not because we have seen proof, but because we have strong evidence which supports our beliefs. It's not enough to believe in God just because our parents (or someone else) told us. We need to really experience His love and creations to have a strong faith.
As human beings, we are all sinful by nature. There's no way we can escape it; we were born with original sin. Because of it, we are separated from God because God is all good. And because of this separation, we cannot experience His love and His kingdom.
Does this mean we're doomed? Of course not. Even though we are sinful, God was graceful enough to send His son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for us so that we could make our way to God. See, Jesus lived a life that was free from sin. When He died on the cross and rose from the dead, He cleared a way for us to go directly to God through Him. In other words, Jesus bridged the gap between us and God. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we can go directly to God through Christ so that when He looks at us, He sees His son. This belief is what makes us Christians.
All too often, I hear that infamous question from other Christians: "Have you been saved?" Other times I hear people talk about how they were "saved" back when they were 17 years old, or that they were "saved" at a retreat or revival. I usually cringe when I hear that, because it makes it sound like being saved is a one-time deal. Sure, we all have that one pivotal point in our lives that turns us toward Jesus and where we accept Him as our Savior and start living for Him. But are we ever really "saved"?
Many Christians, I feel, have the wrong idea about salvation. They think that once you accept Jesus as your Savior, you're "saved", and then you can go on with your life as you did before, thinking that all your sins will be forgiven because you've accepted Jesus. But I think common sense should tell you that this is not so. If we accept Jesus into our lives at one point, and then betray Him by our actions later, then are we really expressing to God that we love Him? I believe that salvation is an ongoing process which we must work on until the day we die. We must accept Jesus as Savior every day, and try to make a daily effort to live a Christ-like life. As Rich Mullins once said, "faith without works is about as useless as a screen door on a submarine" -- it just doesn't cut it. We have to make a daily effort for the rest of our lives to live a Christ-like life before we can truly be saved.
However, we also need to remember that God is a loving and forgiving God, and that we need Him to give us the strength and grace we need to avoid sin. Many people think that being saved is about not sinning; about being this perfect person who always does what is right and never what is wrong. But no matter how hard we try, we are still prone to sin by our human nature. Being a Christian isn't about not sinning. It's about realizing that you are a sinner, and asking the Lord to strengthen you and help you to overcome your weaknesses. And it is through a relationship with Jesus Christ that we can find this oasis of grace and strength from our Lord, Who wants to see us saved so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven. One very important part of maintaining your salvation is asking yourself the famous question, what would Jesus do? If we are to have a relationship with Christ and be as much like Him as possible, we need to get to know Him. The best way to get to know him is to read the Gospel, which tells us all about Jesus' life and ministry. It's a good way to learn what kind of person Jesus was. Also, in order to have a relationship with someone, you need to talk to that person daily and become friends with him. Think of Jesus as a friend, someone you can talk to about anything, and talk to Him daily.
One last thing to remember is that part of our salvation is already complete! When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, he broke Satan's grasp on mankind and gave us the chance to be saved. So when someone asks you if you've been saved, your answer should be, "Yes, I have been saved by the love and resurrection of Christ, and now I am constantly working to maintain my salvation through the grace of God." (Okay, so it doesn't have to be in those exact words, but you get the picture.) And just remember the ultimate price He paid for us. He suffered and died on the cross simply because He loved us. He's done so much for you, now what are you going to do for Him?
Many of you are probably reading this and thinking, "Man, this is a really religious guy!" Well, I guess that depends on your definition of religion. Actually, I have to admit that I'm not that religious. I try to be as religious as I can, but I feel that being a Christian is not about following a religion but about loving God and living for Christ. I am a Catholic, and I do love the Catholic Church very much, but I consider myself a Christian first. I don't feel that it's any good to be a Catholic without being a Christian, because the Catholic Church is all about Christ. No matter what denomination you belong to, whether it be Catholic or Baptist or Methodist or whatever, just remember that you are a Christian first. Don't let the traditions of the Church distract you from God, but instead try to see how they will help you focus on God more.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not slamming religion. Religion can be very useful in helping us to understand God and who He created us to be. However, we shouldn't fall into the trap of believing that following a bunch of rules and regulations will get us saved. I know so many Christians who sweat over making sure all their i's are dotted and t's crossed, but don't really know God at all. Sure, they look very devout and spiritual on the outside, but on the inside is nothing but emptiness. They feel that as long as they follow the rules, they'll be okay. I used to think this way, but now I realize that that's not spirituality; that's legalism, and legalism sucks all the joy out of being a Christian. Religion doesn't save people; Jesus does. I see religion as a set of guidelines for living a Christian life, not a replacement for it. Yes, works are important, but without a relationship with Christ, they are meaningless.
One more thing: As a Catholic, I often get criticized by Christians of other religions who simply don't understand what the Catholic Church teaches. I've even had one guy tell me that I wasn't even a Christian because I was Catholic, which really ticked me off because I love Christ with all my heart and resent the insinuation that I am not Christian. When it comes to rumors about my religion, I've heard just about every single one, like how we worship statues and believe in salvation through works rather than faith and how we hold Mary as being equal to Jesus...yada, yada, yada. Just about every one of them is based on lies, misconceptions, and half-truths, and the people who spread them are usually too narrow-minded or ignorant to understand the truth. But the point I'm trying to make here is that I can't stand when Christians attack other Christians over these kinds of things. I think it's sad when we let denominational lines separate us, because we are supposed to be one body in Christ. I don't think Jesus likes seeing His church separated, and yet this is exactly what we have let happen. I may not always agree with Christians of other religions, but I refuse to let these things divide us as brothers and sisters in Christ. I think we should all focus on what unites us as Christians, rather than bickering over petty little details. And most importantly, don't criticize something you don't understand.
When you hear the word "love", what's the first picture that comes to your mind? A young man and woman kissing each other passionately while holding each other in their arms? A mother holding her newborn child for the first time? A friend helping you out in a time of despair when no one else will? Love can definately conjure up a number of images.
I remember a while back, when I was taking Philosophy 101 in college, our philosophy professor gave us his philosophy on love, which shocked us all. He claimed that there is no such thing as love...it doesn't exist. "Love is too vague a concept to pin down," he said (and I'm paraphrasing here). "Love is just a name that we give to a combination of other feelings...affection, caring, commitment, attraction, passion, devotion...and for different people, love means something totally different. There is no one definition. Love just doesn't exist."
My response to that is: What does he know? Sure, his explanation does sound very logical, but it is wrong. Love does exist. Going back to that first question: What's the first image that comes to your mind when you hear the word love? To me, that image is Jesus dying on the cross. That is love! The fact that He was willing to give up his entire life to save a world of sinners...that is simply the epitome of love. Nowhere else in the history of mankind will you find a greater example; it is simply the ultimate act of love.
Here on earth, we are called to love one another, the way that Jesus loves us. This doesn't mean that we have to suffer and die like He did, but we should follow His example as much as we can in the way we treat others. If you read the Gospel, you see that Jesus never discriminated against anyone; he never looked down on anyone or judged them. Even those who were sinners. Jesus associated with the lepers and the beggars and the tax collectors and the prostitutes, not because he condoned their actions (which He didn't) but because they needed Him more than anyone. He taught us to let the One without sin cast the first stone. Also, He was very humble and didn't ask for a single thing in return. And in the end, He even forgave those who persecuted Him and put Him to death. These are examples of love. And we as human beings are called to love one another, not judge one another, and to treat each other equally. We are called to give of ourselves and not to be jealous or self-serving. We are called to be humble and not arrogant. We are called to forgive our enemies and not to seek revenge against them. Most importantly, we are called to be this way toward everyone, not just those who we think deserve our love. Even the most lowly sinners of society need love. We all need love to survive, because without love, we have nothing.
Oh yes, love does exist. And yes, it does have a specific definition, unlike what my professor said. That definition doesn't appear in the dictionary, but in the Bible: "Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
A common question I hear people ask is, "If God loves us, then why does He allow us to suffer?" That's not an easy question to answer. Why does He allow pain and suffering in the world? Why does He let tragic things happen to us? Why does He let evil into the world, and why does He let bad people do bad things to good people? And why doesn't He just make it all go away and let us live happy lives? Wouldn't an all-loving, all-powerful God do that?
Questions like these aren't easy to answer. Pain and suffering are simply a part of life. We can't get rid of it, and we can't expect God to make it all stop. Surely He could if He wanted to, but He doesn't. No matter what, life is full of ups and downs. But one thing we must remember is that through it all, God is there for us. He is there to give us the strength we need to endure difficult times. Sometimes it's hard to understand exactly what He is trying to do in our lives, but we need to be able to trust Him. We may not know all the answers, but God does, and if we trust in Him and ask Him for strength to endure the hard times, then you will find that God has ways of taking our pain and suffering and turning it into something beautiful.
So why does God allow us to suffer? I have my theories. Personally, I believe that a little suffering is healthy. Think about it: if our lives became too perfect and too happy, we might become overly complacent and forget that we need God. I mean, if my life is perfect, then what do I need God for? So maybe He allows suffering into the world to make us stronger or wiser. Maybe He does it to keep us humble and make us realize that we are not as strong or as wise as we think we are, and that we need His guidance...that way we grow closer to Him. Maybe He does it to bring us closer together, and to realize how much we need each other here on earth. Whatever the reasons, we can be sure that God will help us through it all. So my advice to anyone who is going through a lot of pain and suffering would be to offer it all up to God. He's big enough to handle things that we alone may not be able to. You've probably heard the saying, "God will never give you more than you can handle." Well, I prefer to say that He will never give you more than anything you and God can handle together. The way I see it, suffering allows us to focus on the Lord for strength and guidance to carry on in life, and to seek a better, stronger relationship with God.
"Why let your shoulders bend underneath this burden when my back is sturdy and strong?" -- 10,000 Maniacs
It's sad to see so many people without hope these days. So many people are living like they have nothing to live for; they constantly whine and complain that their lives are totally messed up and that they can never be happy, as if happiness and satisfaction are myths. It's even sadder to see so many people giving up on life altogether and committing suicide.
I never thought I would have to deal with a friend or loved one committing suicide until one of my online friends, who was tired of being alone and unable to find love, told me he was planning to kill himself. It made me feel a lot of pain and anguish for him, not because he might die soon, but because he was so unhappy that he was actually considering taking his own life.
I never believed in suicide as a way out, but I can definitely understand why some people would want to go through with it. Life can get tough; sometimes you don't know if things will ever get better or if there is any point to living. All I do know is that God loves each and every one of us, and He doesn't want to see us in this situation. Instead He wants us to turn to Him for the love and strength that we need to survive. More importantly, He wants us to know that He has a wonderful plan for our lives that will make us happier than we can ever imagine. It's up to us whether or not we want to find out what that plan is, but so many people choose the easy way out. But if we end our lives before God has a chance to reveal this plan to us, just think of what we'd miss out on!
Basically, I just feel that there is no situation that is without hope, no matter how hopeless it may seem. God is just waiting for the right time to reveal His plan to us, and hoping that we will be open to receive it.
Basically, I think life should be lived to the fullest. We are only here for a short time so we might as well make the most of it. I feel that God wants us to live life abundantly; the Bible tells us that. But at the same time, I think we need to remember to keep things in moderation. The Bible also tells us that the Lord hates drunkenness and orgies and such, yet the majority of our society still turns to sex, drugs, and other such vices for its thrills. The problem with these things is that the high you get is artificial and temporary. They don't really do anything to make your life better. But the natural highs -- taking a ride on a wild roller coaster, watching the sun set over the horizon of a beautiful lake, lying in the grass in the springtime and smelling the warm aroma of flowers, holding the hand of your girlfriend (or boyfriend) in front of a fireplace on a cold winter day, tasting the latest flavor of Ben & Jerry's for the first time, reading a thrilling and suspensful novel, exiting off the interstate and driving the scenic back roads that are usually not taken -- these are a hundred times more satisfying than any artificial high. (Not to mention a lot safer.) Sure it may sound cheesy at first, but once you give it a try you won't feel the same way. There are so many ways that we can enjoy life without acting irresponsibly. God wants us to enjoy ourselves, but more importantly, He wants us to be responsible so that we can enjoy ourselves even more. So go out and have a good time. Seize the day! Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Keep yourself open to the many challenges and opportunities that God brings you. Do these things, and life will be so much more satisfying.