My Religious Beliefs Mar 17, 2003
I was raised protestant, my mother is catholic so there was a great deal of religion in our house. I attended Sunday school every week and underwent confirmation. I was one of the few that reach the highest rank in boy scouts whose teachings included a reverence toward god. I have no problem with children being raised with knowledge of religion, but for me somewhere along the line I rebelled.
I meet large numbers of people who claim a belief in a god, and yet these same people cheat on their taxes, their spouses and are just unpleasant to work with or have as neighbors. I see countries ready to kill thousands in the name of their belief in a god. This is repeated through out history. I could continue with examples but I think you get my point.
I on the other hand, try to treat everyone as I want to be treated. I donate blood every 56 days so that people who need miracles can receive them with some small part due to me. I like to spend Sunday mornings in bed trying my hand at a little creation of my own. Instead of going to a church seeking to feel good, I spend the time walking my street and the surrounding forest preserve, picking up trash and caring for nature. I try to plant a few trees every year to help make up for man’s tendency to destroy everything in his path. I lend a hand to my neighbors whenever I can and expect nothing in return.
A true story:
During the winter of ’88 or ’89 I was driving north through the intersection of Butterfield and Naperville. This was back when the malls weren’t there and Naperville was still 2 lanes. I happened to notice a car parked on the west side of Naperville with the hood up. There were no occupants. It was bitterly cold. I continued north on Naperville and spotted a young couple walking on the side of the road. I watched as at least 9 cars drove within feet of this couple, turned onto Blanchard and into one of the church parking lots along Blanchard. By the time I stopped and picked the couple up, they had walked over a mile in the sub zero temperature. The girl was dressed in a short skirt, leather jacket and open shoes. It was Christmas Eve and those people were too rushed to get to church to stop and assist this couple. Who knows how many more did the same before I arrived. This was before cell phones, I picked them up and drove them the 3 remaining miles to one of their parent’s homes. Later their parents placed an ad in the paper with an offer of reward and their thanks. I never came forward to collect the reward.
While I can’t say that I truly believe there is a god, if there is one and I get to meet him after this life, I think he’ll say “thanks John for getting my true message.”
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