It’s one of those trite things. “I’ve been soul-searching.” “I’ve been getting in touch with the Lord.” Honestly, I’m the epitome of spirituality. It’s been four months since I last stood and sang with my congregation – I haven’t turned the pages of my Bible in a while.
As temporally distant as I’ve been with my religious practices, I’ve never felt closer spiritually – although, I have been feeling slightly annoyed.
College is the place where your beliefs are to be tested, twisted, turned and tossed around. I expect that. I’m not sure I have enough fingers to count the amount of times I’ve had to defend my religion against vicious attacks. Though, it’s more than proving whether or not I’m a monkey’s uncle – or if a monkey is my uncle – I simply argue that something greater than us exists.
For me, life would be much too coincidental without the notion of a deity. For example, I was painstakingly pouring over my course selection materials this past Friday and came upon two classes, which I absolutely had to take. Naturally, they were at the exact same time. One would significantly help me obtain my major – the other was being taught by a visiting professor that would not be here next year and was the continuation of a current class I enjoyed. Which to choose? This dilemma obscured my mind. Surely, God Almighty hated me. It’s the natural conclusion I jumped to. Either that, or He is toying with me. The world is a pawn in His ridiculous game of chess. Such a terrible thought lingered with me until the following day. On that day, I found out that due to special circumstances, the visiting professor had decided to postpone the class I wanted to take until next year. I was free of my trouble! This situation was created, from how I see it, out of more than mere coincidence.
Such moments occur to us all. In these moments, when we are in despair, feeling abandoned by everyone around us – all those damn, happy, smiling people – we end up feeling most enlightened. The little things in life that give us newfound hope are the work of something greater and beyond our comprehension, something existing to give us joy when we cast about us an aura of gloom.
Perhaps it was the sight of the Interfaith Chapel glowing in the sole beam of sunlight on an otherwise overcast day, but I couldn’t help thinking that God is still there for me. I’m certainly not alone.
Roughly 84 percent of the world’s 6.5 billion people have a similar notion.
Now, I’m not the kind of person who will try and shove my beliefs down the throat of an atheist. But to be told outright that I and others who believe in God have false beliefs is rude and disrespectful. Our beliefs can certainly be challenged, but, at the end of the day, it’s the beliefs we hold on to that will shape our future. It’s the belief that I don’t care what science says, my golden retriever is a sharp, conscious creature. It’s the belief that after the breaking of a once great relationship, we will meet and love someone else – by the way, ladies, x4-3984. It’s the belief that there is a God.
I have no problem with challenges to my faith, because my faith is deep-rooted. I respect the right of an atheist to challenge me. However, I also expect a respectful debate, not a categorical denial of my beliefs. So, don’t tread on my Lord – I have countless people to tread on you.
Brenneman can be reached at rbrenneman@campustimes.org.
