Religion
While I'm not religious in the sense that most Americans define "religious" (I don't go to church and I'm not a Christian) I am spiritual and believe in a God that is all powerful. I believe in a God that is the cause of everything that we see and experience -- one who is good, just and forgiving. Even though I don't claim to be a Christian I have been told that my views of God are Christian-like. For instance, in 2004 I regularly met with a gentleman named Kevin Horak, an associate pastor at The Church in Aurora, to discuss religion and ethics. We investigated topics such as, "How should people treat one another?", "What relationship ought we have with a higher spiritual being?", and how to reconcile our own feelings/beliefs to form conclusions about faith. As a result of our talks I learned that my view of God was similar to many Christians. I also reaffirmed my long standing belief that a good person treats others as he would want to be treated himself (just as the golden rule has decreed throughout history). Furthermore, I came to trust the claim that justice will always prevail over injustice -- even if injustice is perpetrated without immediate response. Most of all I believe we should never stop evaluating our societal values, nor forget the objective virtues that help define a peaceful existence in this world.
Finally, I'd be remiss without mentioning my love affair with philosophy and critical-thought. While these themes weren't new to me before entering college, they weren't nurtured until I actually arrived. One professor in particular, Ken Alpern, was a driving influence in this respect. He pounded into each of our young minds (sometimes with great pain) the importance of applying a philosophical approach to our lives by critically evaluating ideas/issues, and then forming well-thought out opinions based on logic and supported argument. Furthermore, we honed our ability to express these thoughts using eloquence, brevity and an exact vocabulary. As a result, I believe a philosophical approach is not only appropriate, but necessary, when examining religion -- that is if one truly desires a fulfilling relationship with their faith. A person who blindly goes through the motions, abstains from questioning "why" when they simply concede, and then shuns an occasion for introspection, misses the point entirely. These people, while they will affirm their religious contentment and disregard the alternative, are the most devoid and sad beings on Earth, for they will never develop a deeper sense of purpose. It's true that we will never answer all the questions regarding religion (perhaps that was meant to be) but God has given each of us the capacity to ask questions back, to deepen our knowledge of self, and to examine how we ought to live a flourishing existence in this life and beyond. You can also check out religious postings on my blog.
