Spiritual Needs of Human Faith
Odd how so many of the world's population turn to the emotional, spiritual and social support of a belief in a holy spirit, an all-seeing, all-forgiving, all-powerful being whose oversight of all that exists gives hope to believers and provides balm for the spiritual needs of those who believe. The comfort that people derive from their belief of an unseen spiritual presence overlooking their lives cannot be underestimated. For so many their belief in the divine gives meaning to their otherwise-impoverished lives.
The manifestations on earth of this unearthly presence in whom so many place their ultimate trust, their undying devotion are the messengers the divine presence has sent to this mortal coil to assure the faithful of his presence, his compassionate regard and his determination to have the masses place first and foremost in their minds obedience to his supreme presence.
The divine spirit's messengers, prophets and those through whom his work has been seen to be done inspire others by their trusting alliance with the presence on high. For Buddhists it is the figure of Buddha in his many guises, for Hindus, their inspired holy men, for Muslims, the prophets, chief among them Muhammad, for Christians the holy trinity, for Jews the figure of Moses and vast generations of faith-inspired prophets and interpreters of the holy word.
Ancient writings of the world's religions inspire worshippers of god to attain to a higher level of human behaviours, invoke restraint of ungovernable emotions. To hold blind faith in the higher purpose of the worshipped figure. To generally uphold the belief of goodness, to treat others with respect and kindness in the name of the holy spirit. Faith requires no direct proof of existence; it enables worshippers in their great need to believe, to bypass another human instinct; that of demonstrable proof.
Still, people are left vulnerable to the very suggestions of their own needs, seeking subliminally for some certitude that eludes faith. A symptom of some kind, a holy sighting, a visitation, a gesture that could only have come from one on high, a phenomenon not readily explained rationally that must have its inspiration from the divine. As miracles cannot be explained other than by faith, an experience that presents as immune to rational explanation is sought as confirmation of the existence of the divine.
So can innocents suddenly encounter events so out of the ordinary, so inexplicably immune to reason and the experience of reality that they can only be taken as a sign of god's existence. Evidence is seen in the appearance on an otherwise-ordinary wall of the outline of a holy figure, that of the mother of Christ. Word spreads of the vision and the faithful flock to view it, to authenticate its presence with their very eyes as proof of the presence of the divine.
Visions can be found in the most unlikely places; the visage of Christ outlined on a cookie sheet, that of his mother Mary on a piece of toast, a grilled cheese sandwich; Mother Teresa on a commercial bun. A fish can be found upon which is written in Arabic script the word Allah on one side, on the other that of Muhammad. The faithful scrutinize without realizing their search for meaning and inspiration, and discover visions that prove their faith.
A statue of the Virgin Mary sheds tears and this is seen as a holy communication from on high. Word of mouth soon has the faithful streaming in droves to witness the miracle. A crucifix with the figure of the tortured Christ begins to show droplets of blood, and no one appears to be able to apply any acceptable scientific logic to explain phenomena not of this world. The Catholic church may even step in and after long deliberations, give it the stamp of authenticity.
A special place of worshipful respect is given to artifacts said to be related to some holy figure of the past. A shroud which was said to have been used to wrap the dead body of Christ and upon which can be seen an outline of the holy figure. Bone shards said to represent the ankle-bone of a significant biblical-historical figure given a shrine in a holy place of worship. This is what people demand, this is what the church upholds.
There are times when science intervenes, as when tests indicate that the shroud of Turin, although aged, may not be of the period in question, and indeed represents an example of holy fakery. Objects very much venerated for their connection to fabled religious figures of note have been copied since time immemorial; splinters of wood taken from Christ's cross; bits of fabric said to have been worn by a holy figure.
Religious artifacts of faith that have inspired peoples' veneration over the ages cannot be truly authenticated. Their authenticity is taken as a matter of spiritual trust, a need to believe in their existence as a symbol of divine presence. They fulfill an all-too-human need of worshippers who require the inspiration of these symbols to uphold their faith.
Scientific analysis has recently confirmed that the remains of the French saint, Joan of Arc don't really date from 1431, but from two millennia earlier in time. Carbon dating demonstrates the human bone artifacts were in fact that of a mummy, someone who died 2,000 years earlier than the Saint. These same venerated bones are kept in a French museum, dutifully "authenticated" by the Roman Catholic Church.
People are, after all, suggestible, willing to suspend disbelief for the greater happiness of believing and finding comfort in visions, in sacred visitations, in god's kindly dispensation of opportunities to enhance belief in his existence. Proof, where faith demands none. Proof that is hailed as his divine intervention in the paltry affairs of mankind. The truly pious are willing to pay large sums of money to acquire these symbols of god's existence.
Great holy pilgrimages to places like the shrine at Lourdes, to the Ganges River, to Mecca, to Jerusalem, to Buddhist temples and shrines become the highlight of peoples' religious lives. This is all to the good. People need to believe in something that inspires them, that relates to their idea of their presence on earth, that gives meaning and value to their existence.
On the other hand there are also vast numbers of people who profess no belief in the existence of an inspiring spirit of goodness and who find their own salvation in exemplary human behaviour through an appreciation of life itself and our presence within nature's bounty.
In a landscape of troubles where humankind does not always act in a collaboratively humane manner yet seeks to do otherwise - to behave in the laudable manner in which the sages and clerics would have us do in recognition of god's word to mortal souls - one supposes people need all the help they can get to secure a feeling of peace, to credit values and meaning in life.
Those who can see their way clear to setting guidelines and goalposts for themselves along the journey from life to eternity simply perform as best they can of their own volition.
The manifestations on earth of this unearthly presence in whom so many place their ultimate trust, their undying devotion are the messengers the divine presence has sent to this mortal coil to assure the faithful of his presence, his compassionate regard and his determination to have the masses place first and foremost in their minds obedience to his supreme presence.
The divine spirit's messengers, prophets and those through whom his work has been seen to be done inspire others by their trusting alliance with the presence on high. For Buddhists it is the figure of Buddha in his many guises, for Hindus, their inspired holy men, for Muslims, the prophets, chief among them Muhammad, for Christians the holy trinity, for Jews the figure of Moses and vast generations of faith-inspired prophets and interpreters of the holy word.
Ancient writings of the world's religions inspire worshippers of god to attain to a higher level of human behaviours, invoke restraint of ungovernable emotions. To hold blind faith in the higher purpose of the worshipped figure. To generally uphold the belief of goodness, to treat others with respect and kindness in the name of the holy spirit. Faith requires no direct proof of existence; it enables worshippers in their great need to believe, to bypass another human instinct; that of demonstrable proof.
Still, people are left vulnerable to the very suggestions of their own needs, seeking subliminally for some certitude that eludes faith. A symptom of some kind, a holy sighting, a visitation, a gesture that could only have come from one on high, a phenomenon not readily explained rationally that must have its inspiration from the divine. As miracles cannot be explained other than by faith, an experience that presents as immune to rational explanation is sought as confirmation of the existence of the divine.
So can innocents suddenly encounter events so out of the ordinary, so inexplicably immune to reason and the experience of reality that they can only be taken as a sign of god's existence. Evidence is seen in the appearance on an otherwise-ordinary wall of the outline of a holy figure, that of the mother of Christ. Word spreads of the vision and the faithful flock to view it, to authenticate its presence with their very eyes as proof of the presence of the divine.
Visions can be found in the most unlikely places; the visage of Christ outlined on a cookie sheet, that of his mother Mary on a piece of toast, a grilled cheese sandwich; Mother Teresa on a commercial bun. A fish can be found upon which is written in Arabic script the word Allah on one side, on the other that of Muhammad. The faithful scrutinize without realizing their search for meaning and inspiration, and discover visions that prove their faith.
A statue of the Virgin Mary sheds tears and this is seen as a holy communication from on high. Word of mouth soon has the faithful streaming in droves to witness the miracle. A crucifix with the figure of the tortured Christ begins to show droplets of blood, and no one appears to be able to apply any acceptable scientific logic to explain phenomena not of this world. The Catholic church may even step in and after long deliberations, give it the stamp of authenticity.
A special place of worshipful respect is given to artifacts said to be related to some holy figure of the past. A shroud which was said to have been used to wrap the dead body of Christ and upon which can be seen an outline of the holy figure. Bone shards said to represent the ankle-bone of a significant biblical-historical figure given a shrine in a holy place of worship. This is what people demand, this is what the church upholds.
There are times when science intervenes, as when tests indicate that the shroud of Turin, although aged, may not be of the period in question, and indeed represents an example of holy fakery. Objects very much venerated for their connection to fabled religious figures of note have been copied since time immemorial; splinters of wood taken from Christ's cross; bits of fabric said to have been worn by a holy figure.
Religious artifacts of faith that have inspired peoples' veneration over the ages cannot be truly authenticated. Their authenticity is taken as a matter of spiritual trust, a need to believe in their existence as a symbol of divine presence. They fulfill an all-too-human need of worshippers who require the inspiration of these symbols to uphold their faith.
Scientific analysis has recently confirmed that the remains of the French saint, Joan of Arc don't really date from 1431, but from two millennia earlier in time. Carbon dating demonstrates the human bone artifacts were in fact that of a mummy, someone who died 2,000 years earlier than the Saint. These same venerated bones are kept in a French museum, dutifully "authenticated" by the Roman Catholic Church.
People are, after all, suggestible, willing to suspend disbelief for the greater happiness of believing and finding comfort in visions, in sacred visitations, in god's kindly dispensation of opportunities to enhance belief in his existence. Proof, where faith demands none. Proof that is hailed as his divine intervention in the paltry affairs of mankind. The truly pious are willing to pay large sums of money to acquire these symbols of god's existence.
Great holy pilgrimages to places like the shrine at Lourdes, to the Ganges River, to Mecca, to Jerusalem, to Buddhist temples and shrines become the highlight of peoples' religious lives. This is all to the good. People need to believe in something that inspires them, that relates to their idea of their presence on earth, that gives meaning and value to their existence.
On the other hand there are also vast numbers of people who profess no belief in the existence of an inspiring spirit of goodness and who find their own salvation in exemplary human behaviour through an appreciation of life itself and our presence within nature's bounty.
In a landscape of troubles where humankind does not always act in a collaboratively humane manner yet seeks to do otherwise - to behave in the laudable manner in which the sages and clerics would have us do in recognition of god's word to mortal souls - one supposes people need all the help they can get to secure a feeling of peace, to credit values and meaning in life.
Those who can see their way clear to setting guidelines and goalposts for themselves along the journey from life to eternity simply perform as best they can of their own volition.
Labels: Religion
posted by Pieface | 12:55 PM
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