Response to Carah #2

Dear Carah,

While I don’t deny that part of culture inculcation is to believe in the Unseen and Supernatural, we have to go back further and ask the question where the idea came from in the first place. Did someone just imagine it? It’s rather hard to entertain such idea when as I mentioned earlier anthropologists report similar finding regardless of geographical tribal location – the commonality of belief in the Invisible or Force/Spirit.

As a Christian, my reference is the Scriptures. The idea of a Supreme Being is “written” not just around us but within us. Psalm 19:1 states, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God. And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” Romans 1:19,20 says, “because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

So, as you can deduce, even a pagan has at least two sources on which to base this awareness – creation and conscience. Man has an intellectual and spiritual capacity to “read” the attributes, power and nature of this Supreme Being. There is enough information for him to go by if he sincerely desires to know this Being more deeply.

That’s the reason why we can infer that Paul in his letter to the Roman believers concludes that anyone has no excuse to say he or she doesn’t know anything about God. He or she may suppress or deny this awareness, of course, but the fact remains that he or she is spiritually aware. It is then incorrect to say that the “supernatural” is imagined and concocted by those who knew nothing better. It is indeed innate and exists within us.

Cheers,
Osteinz

P.S. My name is pronounced Os-tie-nz.

Letter from Carah #2

Dear Osteinz,

Thank you for your response to my letter. I must say I appreciate you finding time to write.

I find it interesting that you said, “Belief in God or Supreme Being is not taught but innate. In fact, one has to be “educated” to deny this awareness.” I always thought it was the other way around – when we gain awareness about the world around us, we are conditioned to believe and accept the mores of our society including superstition. So we grow up believing that there are spirits or forces greater than us mortals and that if we don’t do their bidding (worship and sacrifices?), they’ll do us harm.

Shouldn’t I be thankful then that I am being “educated” to be free from this superstition? As my professor confidently prophesied, “By the time you finish this course, you will have been liberated from the bondage you are in if you believe in anything supernatural.” Is it not correct to say that the “supernatural” is imagined and pure concoction by those who knew nothing better? As we advance in our knowledge, shouldn’t we strip ourselves of explanations of our world which are fictitious, irrational and unscientific?

Awaiting your response.

Carah Nee Won

P.S. How do you pronounce your name?

Response to Carah #1

Dear Carah Nee Won,

Allow me to address your postscript first. Like you, I hope so, too. Now to answer your question, do you know that Yahoo Search returns 43,100,000 links to a query similar to yours? That’s right – you are not alone.

I’m sure the question crossed your mind a few times before. Belief in God or Supreme Being is not taught but innate. In fact, one has to be “educated” to deny this awareness. One has yet to discover an atheistic tribe. Every tribe or community that has been discovered has some sort of belief in the Unseen or Invisible spirit.

That’s why you asked that question because within you is the knowledge or awareness of something or someone invisible. Someone said that there is a God-shaped vacuum within us that only God can fill. You also have a sense of right and wrong. I call that “Inner Witness” that God exists. Then take a look at the world around you – you see its beauty, complexity, immensity and grandeur. I refer to that as “External Witness” of a powerful Creator. So if it’s true that God exists, it’s not a “bother” getting to know Him but one of the wisest decisions you can make.

Regards,

Osteinz

P.S. Yes, I made a decision to be upbeat about things and to accentuate the positives because as you have observed, there’s already so much evil in the world. No, I don’t ignore evil at all and I hope I still see the “whole picture” as you put it. If you have read my blog parameters, you will see that I try to write within them.

Letter from Carah #1

I have recently received letters, one of which I want to reproduce here. I have permission and consent to do so.


Hi Osteinz,

I’ve read your blog. Funny, but I seem to regularly visit it now to check for anything new. You seem to be upbeat on things – no negatives, only positives. How could you? There’s so much evil around us that you seem to ignore. C’mon now. You won’t see the whole picture of the real world if you do.

Anyway, the reason why I write you.

You are a believer in God, I can tell from what I’ve read (from your blog, of course). Perhaps, you might want to answer a question for me? Osteinz, I’m young. Why would I even bother with the thought of God let alone believing in Him?

Carah Nee Won

P.S. I hope you post more often and regularly.