atheist. filipino. buddhist. monkey. karaangtawo.multiply.com

Why was i not consulted first?

anti-theism, i think is more radical than atheism. one can be an atheist and that's the end of it: you just don't believe in god. but if you're an anti-theist, you can believe in that god, but still hate that god (sort of the position that Satan took)

i believe that the existence/non-existence of god is not an issue at all. the question of suffering to me is the most important: if god is good and he is capable of doing anything, then how come the world is in such a terrible state? I have just recently come upon this idea of anti-theism and so am trying to understand more about it.

 anti-theism i think is also compatible with buddhism, in that the question of suffering remains paramount. one can believe in a god but still hate that god to the depths of one's being, i think that's what anti-theism is about. when i entered high school, i identified myself as an atheist, but somehow in my later years, when i entered college, i started to read about buddhism and was fascinated by the similarities i found.

buddhism is one of the most compassionate and rational belief systems i know for it actually encourages people to doubt, doubt everything, doubt the traditions, doubt even the teachings of the masters, it teaches you to find out things for yourself and not simply to float around listening and believing mindlessly. unlike the great monotheistic religions where there is only one huge solid chunk of truth to be swallowed whole. but most importantly it teaches you to be aware of suffering.

my roommate, a very devout protestant who holds weekly bible readings, and i once had this intense conversation regarding belief in christ. he said that human beings are fallen and that the only way that we can connect with God once more is to have faith in Christ, for he serves as that bridge between God and man. Our First Parents sinned, and so Jesus Christ sacrificed himself that we may be saved, and that for us to be worthy of that salvation, all that we had to do is to believe in him. my objection against believing in Christ is that it is too simplistic. And also, if it was my sin which I inherited from my first parents, why can't I be responsible and atone for that Sin myself? Why did Christ suddenly show up and took it upon himself to save us all. Isn't it a little bit too presumptuous and self-righteous? Why did he not consult me first whether i want for him to carry my burden or not? And so now that he has done this (without prior consultation and approval), we are expected to be grateful and to believe in him?