Is 3am Really The Best Time To Think About Religion?
I’ve thought quite a lot about god, religion, and the interplay between the two recently after a two-year long break. I co-produced a documentary about religion a few years ago. I’ve mentioned it here before in passing, but never explicitly, because I have so many conflicting opinions. The IMDB profile for it is here. I got involved because I had worked previously with the director and thought it would be an interesting project, not because I advocate for the views expressed in the documentary.
I learned a whole lot about a lot of things (few of which have anything to do with religion) while making the film, so overall it was a great experience, but I have trouble talking about it now, since it is so controversial and militant in its stance. I don’t feel that way anymore (if I ever did) and I don’t want to offend my religious friends, because I respect their views and value their perspective.
There’s a girl on tumblr who I follow who seems very sweet and genuine, and for whom God is very much a real presence in her life. I think that’s lovely, actually, but I could never go back to believing again. I’ve devoted too much time to rational thought and critical thinking and the truth is, I don’t believe in God. I just don’t.
And while I certainly don’t miss organized religion, I miss having faith in something other than this world. I’m envious of those who embrace some form (any form) of spirituality. Not because I want comfort or something/someone to fall back on and certainly not because I need a moral compass (if your faith is the sole basis of your sense of morality-what does that say about you, really?), but because by eliminating the sense of something beyond what I can see, test, and empirically ”know,” I’m worried that I’m stifling my creativity.
I posted about this first a few weeks ago here, in response to Ryan Adams, but then took it down. I thought it was dumb when I read it back later, and maybe it is, I don’t know, I have no perspective when it comes to my own writing. I’m reposting it again, though.
I seriously need to finish this paper. It’s starting to have seriously negative effects on my mental health.
Oh, and Tami, what do you think about God?
After coming across Bucky’s quote, I thought I’d look up what some other people have said about the existence of God. I don’t really have any opinions on what these three guys have to say, but I do think it is an interesting question to ask of anyone.
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