Then there was the Chapel. Paintings of saints and characters from the Bible posed with Golden Halos, in paintings painted gold. There wasn't holy water at the entrance like there is with Catholic Churches, and the altar was carved out of wood and covered flowers and had a red tapestry underneath the arch on the altar. This was the first room.
The second room was smaller and had a golden cross that looked like it had a sun upon it, and a great candle holder with seven candles ornately made of gold. There was so much gold in both the paintings and symbols. The Priests garbs were also gold.
Today was vespers and the holy liturgy. I was not able to stay for it all so I shall describe what I was there for. The vespers were readings from the Old Testament along with chants and prayers to the Trinity. I was there for Genesis, Exodus, Jonah, Isaiah and Kings. It was here I noticed what my friend and I had been talking about the day before.
In Exodus God leads Pharaoh on for the soul purpose of showing his glory. Rather then having Pharaoh become compassionate towards the Jews he ignites Pharaoh's anger...all this is a show of power to get the Jews to worship and honor Him...to FEAR Him.
In another story a Prophet get's God to heal a boy who is sick. Because "God why have done evil against this boy?" Because the Prophet calls God on it. God lets the prophet heal the boy and "Repents of the Evil He (God) committed."
The God of religion is so much like us (better and worse in some instances). He does good and evil. He contradicts Himself. Is jealous, wrathful, compassionate, and all the other human emotions. The God in the Bible feels bad over some of His actions. Whether it's the flood, the child or other actions. But I have trouble seeing the character as All-Good and All-Benevolent given these actions...as well as the existence of Heaven and Hell.
If either exists then there isn't justice. Eternal punishment or reward for Temporal actions, is not just. There isn't an equal give or getting...it's eternal, infinite, for something that was finite. This is something my friend told me yesterday that stuck with me. She's right. How is infinite punishment or reward just given finite actions?
Hearing these Old Testament stories really gave me an appreciation of the past and how far we have come. Ethically most people are aware of the Good have moved on from an "Eye for an eye." Or killing for ideology...most people just want to live. So many people asked questions and many of them died as heretics for asking those questions...thankfully it is not that way in as many parts of the world as it was before...though it still happens.
When any book, Holy or not, is put above free thought and then used to suppress questions of it...evil occurs. Closed systems aren't just in religions though, that same mentality has exists and does exist within countries and communities.
Easter or sometime after I'll be doing a reflection on Christianity...but this where I am currently. I don't think I would ever convert to any of the Abrahamic faiths. The Books of the Word have to many contradictions, and the God is like us (not all Good or all benevolent)...not better or worse in the stories, just more powerful. There is still more to explore and discover in the stories and life. Religion tells us a lot about ourselves and people. I intend to continue to discover, experience and learn as I continue the blog.
Tomorrow is Easter. Let's see what it brings.
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