Belief Systems

Phrase of the day : Belief systems..

Humans are no different all over the world. Whether its Lucy in Mexico or Benaiah in Nigeria or Tom in Malaysia or Ahmed from Saudi. We all search for something more. Yeah of course we chase after money and love and all kinds of other things, but deep down, there's a deeper need in all of us.

So what's the new thing on the block? Scientology? Some other new age 'religion' or belief system? We take it all in stride in today's modern society. We've got the ones that have been around since before we learnt to wear clothes and the new ones that sprout up like weeds after rain.

You know what I find weird about a lot of the so called new age beliefs? I mean, no disrespect to them, but, it sure seems like a lot of them believe that after death, we'll become some kinda gods. But then again some of the old age beliefs aren't too far different after all.

The olden days Pharaohs of Egypt were so paranoid of death they built 'palaces' (pyramids) for their deaths. In fact they spent more time preparing for their deaths that they forgot about living. When they died, their wives would also be killed to 'accompany' the king wherever he was. Heck, they even bury the Pharaoh's cats and gold. Good ol' Shi Huang Ti from downtown China wasn't that different. He was the one with the 5000 terracotta warriors wasn't he? Forgive me if I got the names or numbers mixed up by the way.

I find a large similiarity with today's modern Chinese. Oh yes, they're getting VERY modern indeed. When I was a little boy, all they had was paper money to burn for the dead. And now? Mansions and Mercedes, maids and magazines, handphones and so on.. The very latest update I got (no idea how true this is) is that they now have email addresses for the dead, for example MrDead@hell.com.my. The things we think of.

Chinese people are also terribly afraid of death. Hence the numerous superstitions and traditions. It's not 'good' to give a clock to a Chinese apparently. It would be telling him to die or something like that. When someone dies, their family can't be visited or can't visit for 100 days because there's some 'uncleanness'. Would you believe that when my father's dad died one day on the kitchen floor, none of his children dared to go near the body? "Unclean". Well thats the belief system for you.

Why do we fear death so much? It's simply because no one knows what comes next. Why do we have so many conversions or sudden religious urges on deathbeds? Simply because in the face of death, we don't know what we're gonna face. Are we going to the Chinese 'hell' where you can get mansions your relatives burnt for you in your mail? Will it be the Muslim heaven where you get 4 wives or something like that? Will it be the Christian heaven where you get to be with God forever, or the hell where you are tormented forever? Will you be reincarnated as a pig or a horse or a king or a worm or a papaya? Ah, we don't know do we?

So then, why do we need belief systems? That's simple too. Don't need to be an Angkasawan to figure it out. Cuz deep down inside under all those layers we've put on top, is an innate need for something spiritual. We have our physical needs, our emotional needs, and last but not least, our spiritual needs. A writer put it this way: "There is a God-shaped hole in each of us that nothing and no one else can fill"

That's it. Our spirits long and crave for something spiritual. We can chase materialism all we want. We can indulge in everything the world has to offer but deep down there will be this empty place in our hearts that none of that can fill. In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon (reputedly the wisest man on earth at that time), drew away from his relationship with God. And instead, he pursued worldly things. he surrounded himself with gold and riches, with love and laughter, with wine and good food. And you know what he concluded after he had tasted everything good this world has to offer? He concluded that everything, yes you heard me, EVERYTHING was meaningless. It didn't matter he had everything, they were meaningless. Worthless. Guess that's a case of his God-shaped hole-in-the-heart not being filled.

So we search. We place our belief in idols, in different gods, some of us in our own selves. We place our faith in nothing (atheists). Interestingly, even atheists believe in something. They believe that there is nothing or no God.

So which is right? Is there a one true way to a one true God or is every God the same? does it matter if you pray to an idol or to a picture or to the sun or to some (God forbid!) teapot? Here's an easy way to tell. Have you found yourself in whatever you believe? I'm not asking you whether it works for you. I mean have you found your meaning in life? A purpose for living? Can you answer the question "Why am I here"? And do you know where you're headed when our short little candle of life blows out? it could be today, you know. We could all die today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe we'll live to see and experience the joys of the rocking chair.

Do you know who you are? Is life just a tiresome vicious cycle or boring routine? Has life lost its flavour? Are you just living from day to day, life an endless blur? Are you heartbroken and thirsty? Are you an outcast in your own home and community? Are you lost and searching? Wandering, perhaps? Blindly trying different things hoping you'll find something? Are you struggling with addiction or some other kind of chains? Are you empty? Sounds depressing, doesn't it? But if we examine our hearts, a lot of us fall into one of those categories up there.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Let Me have control and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul" - Matthew 11:28-29

Keep searching, dear brothers and dear sisters. You will find.