My guilty pleasure on roadtrips (besides high speeds) is listening to religious talk radio. Upon writing that sentence, maybe the two are linked...
Don't make the mistake that I'm a true believer. I believe in eating at others tables. (Did you catch the esoteric reference?) There's something about being in the countryside, hearing a preacher preaching. I believe it's important to understand others perspectives. To jump into their mindset groove; regardless of my own judgements. More often, the challenge is how long can I stand listening to the station before twisting the dial to find a classic rock station with CCR or Mick Jagger.
Racking up over 3000 miles in the last month I did a LOT of listening to religious talk radio. So much so, I started recognizing the preachers names. It gave me new insights - and disgusts.
Have you ever spent time in the wilderness? Out and about. All alone. In a car/truck 30 miles off pavement where you could die if you were stupid? Or on a roadtrip through empty landscape. Have you lived in rural america, where the nearest town is miles miles miles away. And there were no cell phones? or Internet? Have you been lost in the woods?
Out there, in the wilderness, you need some comfort. You need to know you're not alone. You want to know there's someone watching over you. You need to know there is a reason to go on. Otherwise, one might go crazy. The self-responsibility necessary to live without God is huge. It's utterly terrifying. Much easier, more comforting to live with God. And why not? It's a compassionate perspective. It makes this hard life on earth a little softer. It's a good reason to believe in God.
But the disgust is equally there. I mean, WTF is up with literal interpretation? I caught one snippet, where the preacher's point was that anyone could go out and talk to god. His example was taking the bible with him on a walk at night and reading the scripture by the light of the streetlights. He suggested everyone should do this. As if reading the bible is the only way to "talk" to "god." I was saddened and amazed at the missed point. Disinformation.
Driving through the high desert, listening to religious talk radio, I equally gave up on humanity and held compassion for our situation. Life is hard, and who can blame it if we sometimes we need a little comfort?
From a U.S. MD visiting in Germany I adopted this belief:
"God is all beings who have been, who are and who will be."
Works for me, explains conundrums like ubiquity, omnipotence and more, no need for literal interpretation.
Or this one, I am in amnesia where I picked it up.
"God is a great humorist and we are his jokes."
Posted by: CoCreatr | April 24, 2011 at 01:09 AM