Why Not Simplify the Belief?
Posted on Sunday, 29 June 2014
Why
Not Simplify the Belief?
By Apolinario Villalobos
(Caution: read this with an open mind.)
A basic knowledge about God is that He has
no image, no face and all-knowing. The Islamic faith ardently maintains this
which firmly supports its monotheistic belief. Other religions have so many
gods, in contrast to Christianity that also maintains this fealty. The only
problem with Christianity, particularly the Roman Catholic Church is the many
“titles” or names of the venerated Mother and Jesus. There is no problem with
God, because what are attributed to Him are one word definitions such as
Benevolent, Omnipotent, Merciful, etc.
With Jesus, even his misrepresented image
as a child is venerated – the Sto. Niῆo. This prompted my niece one time to ask me
if Jesus has not grown old. What will I answer to that?
As a grown- up, Jesus is also tagged with
so many aliases or a.k.a’s…Black Nazarene, Holy Face, etc. The same is true
with the Virgin Mother who is also tagged with so many titles…Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Immaculate Conception, etc…with each title assuming a different image. When I
asked a friend about this, he told me that the title depends on where the
Mother manifested herself. I asked him what title will the church give the
Mother if she appeared on the door of a toilet. I asked this, because people
claim appearances on leaves, walls, tree trunks, etc. I was honest in my
question. There is the Our Lady of Guadalupe because she appeared in that
place, somewhere in Mexico, there is the Our Lady of Lourdes because, she
appeared in a cave somewhere in France. I was just honestly curious. He just
ignored my question and left me…he never talked to me afterwards. I lost a
friend because of one question.
For the prayers, there is a long prayer for
the dead which even mentions a “tower”. The Holy Rosary is alright, because it
is supposed to be a sacrificial prayer. The Mass is most appropriate because it
is supposed to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus, His last act of salvation
for mankind. What is wrong is its commercialization and use as a venue for
political utterings of some revolutionary priests. Why can’t the holy ritual be
confined to its real purpose, and for the revolutionary priests to go out of
the church after the Mass, so that they can shout out to their hearts’ content,
their political slogans and slurs against the government?
The laymen are confused as to the real
mission of the Christian Church. While there are people around who are waiting
for their share of spiritual grace, those with responsibilities are out in the
streets joining hands with rallyists shouting invectives against the
government. Some Christian groups condoned by the Catholic church, preach about
blessings that will rain on the faithful so they must invert their open umbrellas,
the better way to catch them….that when they get home, they should open wide
their windows and doors to welcome hordes of blessings!
Why not just simplify the faith, the
belief, and the way it is taught?...that there is an All-Knowing, Merciful, Benevolent
God…period! Since the good acts of Jesus can enhance the evangelism, He should
be included in the effort, and the faithful should be reminded that it is best
to emulate Him. The simple choice, then, would just be between the good and the
bad.
As for the shrines, those who raise funds
for them, love to build most of these structures on top of a hill or a
mountain. In the Bible, these are called “high places” where pagan rituals are
held. They say that the taking of the hundreds of steps to reach them is a good
“sacrifice”. People today have more than
enough sacrifice, what with the soaring prices of prime commodities, deaf
government leaders, and natural calamities. Why spend money for fares in going
to shrines when such financial commodity is scarce nowadays? Living on a day to
day basis is a sacrifice that can be offered to the Lord. In promoting shrines, the people behind them
should be honest enough to admit that they are actually “religious tourism”, an
endeavor that actually promotes the town
or province where they are built, an industry…and, with that, no more questions
will be asked. Why not trek to the nearest Church during worship days, if one
would really want to sacrifice?
Anything concentrated is better in texture,
stronger. If the faith can have this characteristics, it can withstand the
onslaught of distraction…and that is what God wants to happen – undiluted Faith
in Him, nothing else!
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