The reason I believe that our country is not better off becoming more secular, is that more and more are missing out on an exciting, deeply meaningful and intended connection with God. I believe there is a loving God who is able and desires to intimately connect with each of us, and who is able to transform each individual from the inside out to be the best we can be. If that were to happen to all of us, we'd have a world where we'd be looking out for the best interest of others and not just ourselves. We'd all have a greater sense of security, because our hope would not be based on things that can't be counted on such as favorable circumstances, on how much cash and stuff we store away, even relationships or on anything that can this world can offer that can be taken away in an instant. I could go on and on, why. I'm not saying all these things don't have their value, but ones world can come crashing down if that's what we put our hope in.
Now I don't expect you or anyone to that matter to agree with my perspective. I'm sure there are some here that believe as I do. I hope that if there are some who feel there is something missing in their lives that they would explore if there is something to this concept of connecting with God. If you know someone who's living their life like KO, go ask them why the believe as they do. For those who are happy with their lives or not, and don't see any value or even prospects of connecting with God in a personal way, I'm fine with that. Faith is a personal choice that shouldn't be forced on anyone and I respect others' beliefs.
I grew up in a Jewish family and was an atheist throughout much of my early years. I thought those who believed in God were simply minded and just needed a crutch, or just blindly accepting what they grew up with. While in high school I happened to be around a bunch of friends who believed in this close relationship with Jesus and for years didn't want to hear anything about it. Being Jewish meant at a minimum not believing in who was a wall that I was unwilling to climb and take a peek.
One particular summer there were a few of circumstances that opened the door for me to take the opportunity to find out what this was all about. I was always impressed with these friends who were among the nicest I had known and who accepted me as I was regardless if I believed and lived my life differently than they did. During that summer, we talked a lot about these things, I asked them questions and explored what the Bible had to say about God. I found out that I had so many misconceptions about what I thought these people believed and what the Bible said who Jesus was. I weighed this information in respect to my beliefs and experience, and decided to go all in with my faith in Jesus.
I've never regretted that since. Over the years I've found that many have similar misconceptions, as I did. Many think they understand what this is all about and are rejecting something they really don't understand. There are some who have a solid understanding of this, but either simply don't believe it to be true, or are afraid of the impact if they were to take that step of faith (i.e. aren't willing to pay the cost, sometimes a real and understood one, sometimes a misunderstood one). There is so much more to be gained than given up, but that's a whole other topic. I've found many who because of some negative representations (TV evangelists who turned out to be terrible people, pushy-shove-it-down-your-throat friends or acquaintances who's lives sometimes don't reflect the message they try to pedal, people who's lifestyle isn't attractive for whatever reason, etc.) and don't want to have anything to do with God or play the faith-is-a-personal-thing card that they claim to be dealing with on their own, but in many cases aren't really dealing with it at all.
There are some, but in the minority here in New England, that are pursuing various spiritual alternatives that are based on eastern religious ideas. They might think they are new cutting edge pursuits, but are simply repackaged ideas that have been around for a long time. My opinion is that they are trying to fill a spiritual or self-awareness void that is meant to be filled by the loving God that created them.
There are some, though seems to be in decreasing numbers, that are going back to their roots of faith that were carried down to them from their parents and those before them. Some do it out of obligation. Others simply feel it's the right thing to do for their children. Some, like the above, sense a similar void in their lives and going back to what they grew up with feels like the right thing to do or at least a good start. I respect those who are doing this (as well as those who pursue the spiritual ideas I mentioned above), but have always found it strange for those who are simply going through the motions, don't really believe much if any of what they're hearing on Sundays or Saturdays, but keep on going. I might not agree with beliefs of some, but I do respect the right for each of us to pursue or not pursue the spiritual in any manner desired.
The funny thing about faith is that by its nature it often takes an opposing position no matter what you might think. Even the person who's not sure if God exists, and if he does can be connected to, has an opposing thought to the one who believes God clearly exists and can be connected with. The idea that all spiritual concepts can be true, including the one where there is no spiritual, simply is illogical. For example the person who believes that there is no personal type God, but instead we're all part of some spiritual force conflicts with the Biblical paradigm (both old and new testaments) that there is a personal God who interacts with his creation.
I could go on, but I'm sure I've either lost or offended some of you, which was not my intention. I, and I assume KO, believe strongly in a personal God. We believe to understand in part the truth about our connection to the spiritual, but that doesn't mean we're right. That's the wonderful thing about faith, it is based on some body of information that we embrace to be true. The fact is, truth stands on its own and is not based on those who believe it to be true. Many who live on this spinning globe of ours will live and die believing things that are not true. Others, on what is true. I simply came to a point in my life where I decided it was important to explore what that truth might be and came to a conclusion that I found it, at least in part. I continue to seek to understand it in full and have a life time and eternity to do so. I see myself as a fellow seeker along with all who walk this planet. I'm not better than anyone and am always open to learning.
Please don't take all this that I, and others who believe strongly in our faith and aren't afraid to let others know about it, believe we are anything special or better than anyone else. It's never about us. It's never a belief that we are deserving more than anyone else or are even deserving period. We believe we've taken hold of the hand that God himself has extended to all of us even though we didn't deserve it, and simply do not want anyone to miss out on this exciting, intended and deeply meaningful connection with God.
