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To make the scientific claim that one will “go where the evidence leads,” and yet consider such utterly unsupported hypotheses as multiple Universes, alien seeding (which, of course, still leaves the questions of where the aliens came from), mind memes (a total fantasy) and lightening strikes animated primordial chemical soup to create life (which has never been scientifically reproduced), while not even considering the obvious possibility of a deliberate Creator, is to be intellectually dishonest at best. What are the reasons for this irrational, and often very nasty, refusal by some to even consider the existence of a Creator as a viable hypothesis? I offer several possibilities:
A Childish Concept of God
For many, the belief in a Creator is rooted in a personal, direct encounter, in God experience, others often is pure consciousness, pure creation, endless love, animating energy of everything, or the Ultimate Reality. For those who experienced God Presence God concept is sophisticated not childish, based on immaturity, knowledge and innate gifts. Jehovah God is a man seated on throne in white cloak, long beard who made the world according to Isaiah in the Bible.” Richard Dawkins, for example, said, “We are all atheists about most of the gods societies have ever believed in; some of us just go one god further,” he showed a childish image of God. And he showed a lack of any experience in the spiritual realm. If he had any direct experience he would have known that all these societies were attempting to describe the mystery of Spirit in human archaic terms and idea of competing gods is a literalistic and immature one. Jehovah is the Most High God Above all gods made by man so must humbly recognize theology is an activity for which, frankly, he has little talent or understanding. Such a childish view of God is not limited to atheists but applies to religious folks who place dogma over personal experience, and for whom any digression from dogma is punished.
Tyranny of the Mind
The human mind is a powerful tool, but can also be a cruel tyrant. While it is skilled at storing and analyzing data, it cannot feel, and so there is much such as art, music, compassion, love, sex or Spirit that it cannot truly know. The mind, though, insists on analyzing these things, and tries to convince us that its analysis is the only way of knowing. It does this because it has little trust or no respect for anything not measurable and linear, and consequently it resists recognizing the other essential human facilities: needs of the body, the wisdom of emotions, and most especially, the guidance of Spirit. For those who have developed strong connections to body, emotions and Spirit, the mind can be managed and used properly. There are those who for a variety of reasons, have weak connections to body, emotions and Spirit. Their mind has free reign, dominating their lives and seeking to eliminate anything it cannot rationally comprehend. Then the mind eliminates anything that challenges its supremacy. For such a tyrannical mind, concept of a Creator God Ultimate Superior Being of intelligence that dwarfs theirs own is completely intolerable.
An Ego Strategy
As I’ve written in several previous blogs, the ego is the software implanted in us to ensure survival. Its job is to scan for threats and devise strategies to avoid pain and death. The ego knows only fear, and it will fiercely fight anything that threatens its survival. And nothing is more frightening to the ego than sharing or ceding control with another, because this feels like death. So the ego’s favorite strategy for protecting itself is the refusal to surrender to anything or anyone. It will even go so far as refusing to acknowledge a mistake, to apologize, to recognize superior abilities in others, to admit a weakness and, most pathetically, to ever express gratitude. I recently heard a man state that he “does not believe in gratitude,” but instead prefers the word “appreciation”: “I appreciate a delicious meal or a beautiful sunset, but I feel no need to say ‘thank you,’” he proudly proclaimed. This is the voice of ego. And to make the claim, as did the late Christopher Hitchens (who I deeply respect for his exposure of injustice), that there is no Creator/Designer because Hitchens did not approve of the way that eyes are designed, is also the pathetic voice of ego; it is the refusal to say “thank you” for the gift of life and miracle of sight. This is sad. Clearly one does not need to believe in God or follow religion to be wonderful, happy, caring, human being. What matters most is how we treat each other. But the refusal to even consider that a Creator may exist often accompanied by the adamant desire to “prove” otherwise and to ridicule those who do especially in the face of much blatant evidence, is an indication that a psychological mechanism is at work. Perhaps what is needed for such irrational position may not be more intellectual investigation, but psychoanalysis.
In the centre of Buenos Aires, there is a theme park named Tierra Santa (Holy Land) that claims to be the first religious theme park in the world.
Tierra Santa attempts to replicate the streets of Jerusalem during Jesus’ time.
Visitors walk around the narrow streets that are full of plastic palm trees, statues and actors recreating crucial scenes from Jesus’ life.
Long queues of families, tourists and young couples stand at the entrance.
Many of them are come from all over Argentina, but it is not uncommon to spot foreigners.
The park is almost a pilgrimage site for some visitors, with its unique mix of religious reverence and kitschy entertainment.
The main attraction of the amusement park is a 60ft (18m) high mechanical statue of Jesus that rises up once an hour from a plaster replica of the Golgotha mountaintop.
The event is accompanied by a loud chorus from Handel’s Messiah.
When the giant Jesus has completed his ascent, he swivels, closes his eyes and rotates the palms of his hands, provoking great emotion in the visitors at the bottom of the mountain.
The staff of the park are all dressed in costume inspired by Jesus’ era.
Visitors can take pictures next to security guards dressed as ancient Romans or buy a waffle from a Middle Eastern inspired cafe.
The only reminders of modern life come from above: the park is situated right next to Jorge Newbery Airport, and a plane flies over the plastic palm trees every few minutes.
All photographs by Erica Canepa.
The core Christian doctrines that says American slave masters passed on to black slaves in the 17th through 19th centuries were shaped in large part by whites. African Christians nearly 2,000 years before know God before doctrines of the colour, race, nature of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the nature of the Trinity were formally codified at Church Council of Nicaea. Nicaea and other Christian councils included bishops from all over the Christianized world. And Nicaea had members from East including Africa and the West. It was culturally and ethnically diverse group of bishops not whites who translated teachings of Scripture to the creedal statements that these councils produced and all orthodox Christians follow. So the creedal statement was influenced by writings and the teachings of African theologians like Augustine, Alexander, Athanasius, Cyril and others.
Hence whoever identifies misconstrues Christianity as ‘a white man’s religion’ must understand it is not true. Faith in God belongs to all nations under heaven not exclusively as a white religion but is a universal belief. So cannot be made white as Jesus’ bleached image makes Him whiter by overlooking exceedingly important role of blacks, Africans in the Bible in living church history. Original true Christianity comes from finished work of Jesus CHRIST not whites. Jesus “gave himself for all to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify His people as His own Titus 2:14. So all individuals of every tribe, language and people and nation belong to God says Revelation 5:9 as citizens of heavens. As James 1:13-14 says, let no one say when tempted to be evil say “I am tempted by God for God cannot be tempted with evil and so God tempts no one. Each person tempted to do evil is lured and enticed by his own evil desires. People cannot reject God then blame and accuse God for being a white racist by their wicked actions. And salvation is a personal decision required into the kingdom of God through Christ alone so whites are not the gatekeepers of heaven. Bitterness and anger against those who do evil in the name of God is fully recorded in Book of Life by God who takes full notice. During Judgement Day God will throw them in hell if they do not repent. You do not want to be their neighbours in hell so it is important not blame others especially God if not living right within the will of God. And humble yourself, repent to be saved in Christ not to miss heaven because of being misled to think Christianity belongs to whites. All have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God as sinners whether black, white, yellow or red. God loves all people so does not want anyone to reject Christ perish. Accept the key to entering God Almighty’s Kingdom through Christ for Christians as the only way of salvation in Christ alone not whites. Above all, God is not a white racist supremacist so LOVES all people who love and honour HIM in Christ. God created all people, provides life, food, sunshine, rain, shelter for all including HIS enemies. God wants all saved in Christ so stop divisive use of the Christian Gospel to preach hatred and divisions in the name of Father God in Christ Jesus Name.