A friend of mine asked me to read Who Needs God. I started it a few months ago, but failed to make it past the first few chapters. I decided that I am going to try to read it this week. Since I started so long ago, I decided to start over from the beginning.
Chapter one is titled "Does God Really Make a Difference?". In the last few paragraphs, Kushner, a Rabbi, writes about a conversation he had with a young congregate, Paul. Paul tells Kushner that while he does not believe in religion, he does believe in God. Here Kushner recounts his response:
I asked him what he meant by that, and he told me that when he contemplates the beauty and intricacy of the world, he has to believe that God exists. That's very nice I told him, and I'm sure God appreciates your vote of confidence. But for the religious mind and soul, the issue has never been the existence of God but the importance of God, the difference that God makes in the way we live. ... A God who exists but does not matter, who does not make a difference in the way you live, might as well not exist.I guess this is profound to me because it's something I had never thought of. What's the point of believing in God if God is just a "benevolent figurehead trotted out for ceremonial occasions and beloved by everyone because he never does anything"?
Have you ever had a conversation like this?
posted by Shannon Smith @ 6/23/2008
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Yes i have had that conversation before. Many times. In James the writer says that even the demons believe there is one God - and shudder before Him. In light of that I really don't think we get "credit" for simply believing. That last statement will likely lead someone to question my thoughts about faith and deeds. To put it simply (very simply), I believe that your faith is displayed by the manner in which you live your life.
I agree wholeheartedly with you Shannon, what is the point of believing in God if it doesn't affect your life? If it doesn't transform you?
I think that Patrick has cleared up a problem that I had with the understanding how God can make a difference in our lives.
I believe in free will, completely free, and that I can do whatever I want next without God stopping me. So, when I hear Shannon say "beloved by everyone because he never does anything". I think, "well, what can he do?". He could send another son, I guess, but I don't see God regularly interacting with the physical world.
I read Patrick's comment, and it made me reconsider. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong, and correct me if I am, but what I'm hearing is that people should adjust the way they live their lives because of what God has created/given for us. In that respect, God does have influence over the world, through the chosen actions of others who are displaying their faith through action.
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