First things first. I’m a Christian. In my conversation with Lawrence, my newfound atheist friend I’ve come to understand that there are differences between us. I’ve also come to understand through our conversations that there are many similarities between us. What is perhaps the most interesting phenomenon however, is that I have come to realize we share a similar difference in common.
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The core belief system of the Abrahamic religions, the Ten Commandments as given in Exodus 20:2–17. Not Exodus 34 or Deuteronomy 5:6–21 because that’s not where they are given. Oh no! My problems with them are simple and it is more than just being told what to do. Here is my own skewed perspective.
And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God…
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First Contact
Monday, March 3rd, 2008
I remember my first personal encounter with religion vividly. I’m not talking about attending the weddings of my cousins or family friends, saying the Lord’s Prayer at cub scouts or even the daily rote lectures that took the place of religious education at school. Religion in these contexts was easy to ignore as it was simply part of the ritual of the institution. I’m talking about my first contact outside of this protective bubble.
I was about 10 or 11 years old and in typical boyish fashion I’d been out all day on my bike. We used to ride our bikes all over the woods and hills, looking for new dens or places to hide. It was summer and very hot and I was tired. I’d cycled most of the way home but decided that I wanted a drink. I hopped off my bike, dumped it on the pavement (we were just as inconsiderate of pedestrians in my day) and popped into the nearest shop. I should point out that the newsagents of the day weren’t all 7\11 clones but small, privately owned affairs typically run by families. You had to go to the counter and ask for what you wanted and the staff would fetch it for you.*
No-one was behind the counter though, at least no-one that I could see. I had to wait. Without warning a little old lady got up off the floor from behind the counter. “Sorry,” she said, “I was just praying”. I mumbled something , bought my drink and left. I couldn’t help wonder though: Why was she praying? What good would it do? Why was she on her knees? and while she was working? To my childish mind this was an glimpse of something that I didn’t think I should see, something taboo. I’ve never quite shaken that idea and, to this day, public displays of faith make me uncomfortable.
*This makes me sound really old but it wasn’t that long ago. Only about 25 years….Oh dear, I am old.
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