Warning : Reader Discretion Advised

The following entry contains the personal perspectives of the author on the topic of religion written without condemnation or disrespect. Read on only if you share an open heart and mind. The author will and cannot be held liable for any consequence that may happen thereafter. You have been warned.

Contemplation

Do you believe that your God is the right and true God?

Do you believe that He can move mountains, turn water into wine, perhaps walk on water? Or do you believe He would ask you to commit murder? Strap a bomb to your chest and run into a building, just to blow up whoever is unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Years ago, I took a first step into faith and chose to believe that there is a God. But I never could accept the whole package of sacrifice and the whole propaganda debacle.

The recent years have shone a spotlight on supposed Muslims who have only been seen to terrorize innocent parties through their Kamikaze bravado. I’m just curious why they aren’t labeled by their nationalities like most criminals. You know, like how one would say, “Gee, that (insert country name here)-ean murdered that (insert victim here).” But why is it that when someone who is remotely connected to Islam, the person will be automatically labeled a Muslim?

Muslims bomb market. Muslims gun down villagers.

It's as though anyone living in an Islamic country is Muslim. You living in an Islamic state? Muslim. Your neighbour is Muslim? You must be one too.

There is an inherent difference between a person and his so called religion. One can be born into a religion but not practice it. Similarly, one can practice a religion and yet not understand its true meaning. This flawed earth has its fair share of oppression, suppression and genocide. Thus it is little wonder why some individuals choose to take matters into their own hands. Still, name the person direct and not use a generic label.

A man is responsible for his own actions.

To me, being Muslim means to infuse a tolerant and spiritual essence into everyday life. From the time you wake till you close your eyes to drift off to sleep at night. No part of the Quran states that murdering your neighbor is acceptable behavior.

How can anyone say that they have a religion and then commit murder when murder is deemed socially and morally deviant? I’m unsure about many things in life, but I’m adamant that my God doesn’t ask me to kill.

My God is love.

Even while growing up, I heard the story where Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. The story is supposed to be a testament of how strong Abraham’s faith was despite the odds. I thank God I’m not in Abraham’s shoes because I cannot imagine myself steadying my blade upon the neck of a child, let alone my own. I probably would have jumped off the cliff or done some other desperate act.

Ross says that’s precisely why Abraham was chosen to do God’s work. No offence intended but I’m sure no woman would have been able to have done the same. I’m unsure if Sara had known what dear Abraham had set out to do because there would have been hell and fire as a mother would protect her child, especially since she had waited for this child all those years.

Ross told me to cut Abraham some slack because it must have been very difficult for him to come to terms with the order from God. Though I still insist my God is love and would not ask me to do such things.

And the story about Jesus being tortured and killed on the cross to wash away our sins. I wasn’t even born when he was supposedly killed so I’m unable to absorb any responsibility for his ‘death’. Neither can I agree on the notion that I’m born with sin thus I need a mediator to contact God.

I never asked to be born.

God states that we are answerable for our own actions so we must live righteous, giving us the privilege to change through the course of our life. And whatever your heart desires, God promises, "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find.”

Be prepared to face the consequences of your own actions.

What I believe is that Jesus is a great prophet. And how I love Jesus! Charismatic Jesus led a revolution against the superpowers of idol worship during his time. He taught the people to pray, to love (even the outcasts), to forgive, showered them with parables. He performed miracles that remain on people’s lips to this day, like walking on water and raising the dead. Yet he also prayed to God, kneeling in the gardens of Gesthemene, weeping as he questioned the need to endure such pain which proves there is a higher being and that he is no God.

He was someone who could heal the sick and revive the dead through the power of God. If Jesus was God, or part thereof, He could have jolly well burned the population to the ground and not weep so humanly.

Similarly, I never understood how the 12 apostles could turn a blind eye after they’ve witnessed the miracles Jesus did with the blessings from God. Enroute towards Calvary, the apostles were notably unwilling to defend this man they once called their prophet. I’m just baffled, because people, even strangers have been known to risk their lives for another but yet in this case, where Jesus had once performed miracles, why would no one revolt? Why did only a man and some ladies come forward to help? What happened to all the reciepients of His glory? What crime had Jesus done to deserve such suffering?

Or did they know something we don't?

And it is even more ironic that people today can worship the cross, the same instrument of torture that supposedly killed Jesus and countless other men.

Would you glorify the atomic bomb?

If God states that there should be no idol worship, then why harbor the need to even carry this disgusting symbol of torture?

It wasn’t until Ross shared that Muslims believe Jesus was never crucified. Since God had promised that there would be no more sacrifices after Abraham’s act of faith, God allowed Jesus to be swapped with Judas. Thus explaining why no apostle or why his very own mother had not come forward to shoulder the burden of the crucifixion. And even Judas had realized he could not escape the power of God and accepted the burden of the cross.

I like this version because I would rather Jesus be safe and for one thing, I know deep down in my heart that a person is responsible for his own actions. I like to think that even Judas was truly repentent during his last moments alive. Bearing witness to the cruelty of the mob, perhaps he was the one that said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they have done."

I guess we never know how much we can hurt someone until we are at the brunt of our own (mis)deeds.

As humans, we will surely buckle and swerve. Nonetheless, we can learn and gain strength to move forward. Some actions require effort, while some actions lead to revelations. I believe that violence begets violence. Look at the countless wars that have bred hatred through the centuries. It's something I know I can live without.

And as a believer in God, I believe my God is love. And I’m trying to live the best way I can, stumbling at times, through this path laid before me.