Something to believe in

Published on April 22, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Philosophy

I wish I was someone else I'm confused, I'm afraid, I hate the loneliness
And there's nowhere to run to Nothing makes any sense, but I still try my hardest

Take my hand Please help me man 'Cause I'm looking for something to believe in
And I don't know where to start And I don't know where to begin, to begin

If I was stupid or naive Trying to achieve what they all call contentness
If people weren't such dicks and I never made mistakes Then I could find forgiveness

Take my hand Please help me man 'Cause I'm looking for something to believe in
And I don't know where to start And I don't know where to begin, oh no

I can't be someone else I don't feel that it's hopeless I don't feel that I'm useless

I can't throw it all away I need some courage to find my weakness
And with your love, I know with all my heart I can win

'Cause I'm looking for something to believe in And I just need something to believe in
I'm looking for something to believe in And I just need something to believe in

--The Ramones, Something to Believe In

There are a whole lot of people making a pilgrimage to a freeway underpass in Chicago to see what is described as an image of the Virgin Mary (Rorschacht would be proud). Millions made the trip to Rome to attend the wake and funeral of their late pope.

While there are many out there who are quite sincere in their faith, there are just as many simply looking for something to believe in. No faith is perfect, and they travel from faith to faith asking the ages old question "what is truth?"

While I am a lifelong protestant, I am starting to think that the Protestant Reformation was one of the worst things to happen to the church. Even in the age where the Catholic church was king, there were believers outside of Catholicism, they just weren't "trendy". The Catholic church, for all its imperfections, gave a clear and consistent voice to Christianity, quite unlike the confusion of the thousands of sister faiths spawned in the years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the chapel door.

The search for something to believe in has become a fertile garden for con artists and thieves. Any beggar can get ordained and give legality and status to their solicitations. All they have to do is sell a deity in a fashion appealing to enough people to pay the rent.

Faith, in my opinion, is not about how you feel on Sunday. It's not about how much you put in the offering plate. It is, in fact (to use a tired cliche) a journey, not a destination. It is a living and breathing part of who you are.

So, if you are sincere in looking for something to believe in, good luck on your journey. It's bound to be a long one.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Apr 22, 2005

Martin Luther may have been the catalyst, but the splintering was going to occur. For the simple reason you state what faith is. it is a journey. But like all journeys there are different paths to reach the end, and that is what Protestants did, found a different path.

The splintering in and of itself was not bad, but the excesses you point out are, and unfortunately, I have no easy solution to the Jim Jones out there.

I do think that Pope JPII and Benedict and future Popes continue to the dialogue with the mainline protestant denominations. But I do not see a re-unification (except for perhaps one or 2) and that is fine. An understanding and respect for our differences (nuances) however is very attainable, and I hope that comes sooner rather than later.

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 22, 2005

Yeah, I don't really want to see a reunification either. But this whole "make your own religion" trend is getting annoying.

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 25, 2005

I was hoping to at least get props for appropriating the Ramones in my blog.

*sigh* no respect,I tells ya.

ParaTed2k

on Apr 25, 2005

Great article!

I see it a little differently though. I think that the Catholic Church (at the time) made faith not only a destination, but a home port. With all the answers provided by the priests, the hunger for knowledge was supressed. Martin Luther, of course, never tried to "reform" anything, he merely had a list of questions whose answers weren't readily available. That is the first step in the journey of faith.

as for appropriating Joey and the Boys into your Blog

Hey Ho, Way to GO!!!!! ;~D

Gabba Gabba Hey!!

Dr Guy

on Apr 25, 2005

I hate the Ramones!

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