I was reading one of Mitch Albom's book last two days. There this one chapter of his I kept reading and reading all over again. So I feel like I want to post it here.. (I skipped some of the paragraphs and lines, though.)
The Greatest Question of All
In any conversation, I was thought, there are at least three parties: you, the other person, and the Lord.
I recalled that lesson on a summer day in the small office when both the Reb and I wore shorts.
The Reb was looking for a letter. He lifted a pad, then an envelope, then a newspaper. I knew he'd never find it. I think the mess in his office was almost a way of life now, a game that kept the world interesting. As I waited, I glanced at the file on the lower shelf, the one marked "God". We still hadn't opened it.
"Ach", he said, giving up.
can I ask you something?
"Ask away, young scholar," he crowed.
How do you know God exists?
He stopped. A smile crept across his face.
"An excellent question."
He pressed his fingers into his chin.
And the answer? I said.
"First, make the case against Him."
Okay, I said, taking his challenge. How about this? We live in a world where your genes can be mapped, where your cells can be copied, where your face can be altered. Heck, with surgery, you can go from being a man to being a woman. We have science to tell us of the earth's creation; rocket probes explore the universe. The sun is no longer a mystery. And the moon-which people used to worship? We brought some of it home in a pouch, right?
"Go on," he said.
So why, in such a place, where the once-great mysteries have been solved, does anyone still believe in God or Jesus or Allah or a Supreme Being of any kind? haven't we outgrown it? Isn't it like Pinocchio, the puppet? when he found he could move without strings, did he look the same way at Geppetto?
The Reb tapped his fingers together.
"That's some speech."
You said make a case.
"Ah."
He leaned in. "Now. My turn. Look, if you say that science will eventually prove there is no God, on that I must differ. No matter how small they take it back, to a tadpole, to an atom, there is always something they can't explain, something that created it all at the end of the search."
"And no matter how far they try to go the other way-to extend life, play around with the genes, clone this, clone that, live to one hundred and fifty-at some point, life is over. And what happens? when life comes to an end?"
I shrugged.
"You see?"
He leaned back. He smiled.
"When you come to the end, that's where God begins."
to be continued...
wau.. menarik.. sa mau copy... ^_^.v..
ReplyDeletecopy aja! love this too..
ReplyDeleteSo, the next question is...
ReplyDeletehow many God are there actually? Why so many religion? And, how do you know that urs are the real one? Every follower of certain religion will said that their religion is the real one & all other are fake and will be thrown to hell. Do we need to study all the religion, their sutra, bible, koran or what not before compare it to find the absolute truth or we should just stick with what our family believe and follow it whole heartily, rejecting all others... ?
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ReplyDeletehi pinkysuper..
ReplyDeleteOf course there are many gods..but certainly there is only one GOD.
Many tries to solve the riddle of religions..but in my personal opinion..studying each religion/ belief is better than rejecting them. Of course, it's a tough decision to learn ALL..but you will receive the answer when you open up your heart to study and pray for guidance (regardless of what religion u r into now...). Even we born into the family 0f 'this' religion..the door is always open to ensure that what we believe is the truth. If i believe what i hold on now is true (of course by studying and personal experience with God...and feeling His words living in me), then i will keep on living with this faith.
One should not say that all outside "my religion" will be thrown to hell because the judgement belongs to the Lord (AND EACH HUMAN BEING IN THIS WORLD IS THE CANDIDATE FOR CITIZENSHIP OF KINGDOM OF HEAVEN).BUT..God gave commandments, if we love God..we will follow His commandments. This is the basic of my faith.
However, this again will not qualify me to go to Heaven :) because we all are saved by grace. But because God has loved me first, i am qualified to love Him more and following His words day by day... God bless all :) - WhyWhy
hiya ^_^!
ReplyDeletethanks for replying to me...
May I ask more question? Thanks :D
1. How many religion have you studied?
2. Did you just study the basic of it or, from tail to toe?
3. You sure there's only 1 God? From my study, most of the religions got more than 1 God except pbuh's religion.
thanks for helping me, I lost my soul for sooo many years and still didnt found it back.. I study so many religion but didnt found any that suite me..
Hi again pinkysuper.. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't study all religions in depth (mb if compared to you?)..but i did read a compilation about those in a book written by Mark Finley. From here, i attended few seminars discussing the Bible and God's chosen people...i always agree to the fact that when we would like to know the truth...we don't study the church...we study the Bible, instead.
I believe in the Bible as the Living Words..thus, i decided to study the Bible and compare to what i hold on to now. And yes, i always believe (by faith in Jesus Christ)..that there is only one God, the Almighty and the Creator. Even so...i still respect some of --for example--my Buddhist and Hindu friends who offer their prayers to several gods..because they have different gods for different blessings/ 'curses'.
I have learnt that in every religion/ belief or church..there are God's people..but God has a visible church in this world to bring those people together. It's a serious topic, though :)..may be i can share to you something that might answer some of your questions that bottled inside you..
SOMEHOW, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE..but i believe someone who is earnestly searching for truth will find the TRUTH.. :)
Here goes:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8106334104935976825#
God bless all.. :)