Losing My Apatheism

There's hope for the apatheist, I should know, I once was one.

Philosopher Mr.Keith Ward writes about evolutionary biologist, author and atheist Mr.Richard Dawkins:  "Dawkins conclusion that there is no God or any purpose in the universe is "naïve" and not based on science but a hatred of religion.  Dawkins' strong anti-religious views originate, according to Ward, from earlier encounters with "certain forms of religion which are anti-intellectual and anti-scientific...and also emotionally pressuring."

Although I never considered myself an atheist, I strongly disliked organized religion for many years of my life for these very reasons.  After all, I had gone on to engineering school and studied science and physics and chemistry.  I knew how the world worked and I knew how to make the world work for me, or so I thought.  My moral relativist attitude of sorts was to please everyone, to be cool, and to love all people and so quite naturally, I felt within bounds to object to people or groups trying to tell me or my loved ones how to live based on "non-provable" religious dogma.

Getting beyond those walls meant becoming receptive, slowly but surely, to the validity of ideas that are thousands of years old that when digested, are revealed as current today and as relevant today as any other modern idea.  There were my own prayers too.  Even though my pride still wanted to fight against it, putting my hands together, kneeling down before God and praying a simple prayer or two to my Creator began to soften that hardened heart of mine. 

I understand we pray to One much greater than ourselves, our Creator, the Creator of all form and all matter.  If that's too hard to conceive, don't worry, we can pray to His Son, Jesus Christ instead.  We can all "see" Jesus Christ in the myriad of images and art passed down by tradition and we can know from historical accounts, the Bible, records, documents, etc. that He really existed.

Fr. Francis Fernandez writes: "In Christ we find the fullness of revelation.  In his word and life all that God willed to say to mankind and to each person is contained.  In Jesus we find all we should know about our own existence, in him we understand the meaning of daily life.  In Christ everything has been said to us; it is for us to listen to him and follow the counsel of Mary: "Do whatever He tells you (John 2:5)" Conversation with God, Daily Meditations Volume Three: Ordinary Time: Weeks 1-12

I couldn't have fathomed that one day I would be able to

• use rational reasoning to prove the existence of God, or

• find historical and scholarly works proving the existence of Jesus Christ and his Apostles, or

• listen to the wisdom in testimony after testimony of God's work in people's lives, or
• see the many happenings in my own life as not just coincidence after chance coincidence, but indeed answered prayers and yes, miracles, or

• recognize the hard evidence that has been there all along, everywhere, bible based churches, the brick and mortar structures resulting from faith in God, and

• join a community of believers, the real flesh, blood, and Mystical Body of Christ present in this very day and age.

But here I am, no longer an apatheist.  No matter how far you've strayed, no matter what sinful things you've done, maybe I'll be the first ex-apatheist to tell you, other people's prayers for you, God's constant love for you, and yes you, in finally accepting God's grace, can choose once and for all, to allow the supernatural to light your way. 

1. If you see a guy on the street begging for money, whether you think he's scamming or not, roll down the window and give the man a few dollars. 
2. Skip a meal while thinking about all that Jesus Christ gave up out of love for you and me, enduring death by crucifixion and then offer up the resulting hunger, in a short prayer, for some poor soul who is starving and wondering where he will get his next meal. 
3. When you see someone in the store that you'd normally think critical thoughts about, this time, try saying to yourself: "there goes somebody's precious child, how her mother loves her and used to hold her as a baby in her arms and rock her to sleep." 

You'll get the hang of it and your heart will begin to turn from stone to flesh.

If you've ever felt like an apatheist, the good news is that when the time comes, God willing, it will be far easier for you to recognize God's Divine Providence at work, this I can personally assure you.  You will know it in your heart and those that really know you will see it in your core that something supernatural HAD to have happened to turn YOU, yeah YOU, of all people, towards the truth.  "Just look at my past" you'll say over and over, just look at my past.

Whether you're an apatheist or not, what have you got to lose by making a simple prayer?  Try it, no one has to see it either.  Layperson to layperson, I encourage you to simply put your hands together, close your eyes and tell God: "Here I am Lord, I-want-to-know-this-great-love-that-you-have for me.  Despite all of my sins, convince this hardened heart of mine of your great love for me Lord, show me your will for me, take me into your fold, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen."  

Practice, Perform, and Preach

If you're a baptized Christian, it's your obligation.


If you're Catholic, regardless of where you are in the world, this is what you heard at mass today during the second reading:


Brothers and sisters:

If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach,
I offer the gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.
 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23

Spreading the Good News is my obligation too and yet I'm provided infinite freedom in how to go about doing it but do it I must.


St. Paul provides prose, purpose, and proof to practice, perform, play, paint, provide, picket, praise, post, promote, plant, profess, preach, pray, perhaps any number of other pursuits; however it is that you can 'get' to all people, even without profit, so as "to become all things to all, to save at least some."   Powerful!

The Last Things

NARNIA or BORG

CHILD or SLAVE

DEATH and JUDGMENT
HEAVEN or HELL

On Top

If you've ever been taken in by the glitz and opportunity found in the business model known as multi-level marketing, MLM, you're not alone; the following will make a bit more sense to you.

Those I've looked at, the MLM company promises freedom, travel, meeting people and lots and lots of material wealth.  Personal belief in the product line and the motivation to show it to everyone you meet is the gist of what you need to do to springboard yourself into superstardom and great wealth. 

In addition to a good product line, one is assisted by high tech marketing materials and best of all, the support of those in the business whom are already quite successful themselves.  One sits down with a friend, pops in a DVD, and then watch together as people get in and out of Bentleys, helicopters, luxury yachts on their way to magnificent estates, ranches, beach houses filled with the finest furniture, largest TV sets, and other things that tug so mightily at one's hedonistic sensibilities.   

I can remember getting excited about being able to select the song that would be played for me, Cold Play's Viva la Vida, when I would make my way to the front of the conference auditorium, on the shoulders of my team of course, to accept 'the crown' of one of my company's top positions: Regional Vice President (RVP).

I confess that I never succeeded in obtaining the magnificent wealth or status portrayed in the DVDs, through MLM, commission sales, or any other self employment opportunity that I have pursued even with the greatest of gusto, ambition, and work habits.  Instead, just another lesson learned, cumulating with others, until finally, they all proclaimed in unison the truth I needed to hear: ...the world with its seductions is passing away but the man who does God's will endures forever. (1 John 2:17)

Wow!  Rediscovering the gift of God's grace has given me a fresh new perspective, a joyful invigoration, and the vision to see.  Far from a life of second best, I can still utilize all the good things that I enjoyed in the MLM business model and come out on top:

• I can share the good news of the Gospel with everyone,
• I can point people to the truth through the support of others: the clergy, the religious, the Church Magisterium, Christian apologetic professionals,
• My deeds and way of life can be duplicated by others utilizing their own special talents and interests,

• I bring glory to the Kingdom of God as I help souls convert/revert into the faith through Jesus Christ, and

• I live joy and peace now and a heavenly destination, eternal salvation later.

This 'opportunity' has already been purchased for me at a great price (1 Corinthians 6:20). There are no products to buy or startup opportunity kits to invest in.  This is not my own doing, it is God's gift: and from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace (John 1:16).

Best of all, as a baptized and confirmed Catholic, I start at the highest, noblest position of all.*Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, Pope Paul VI, Second Vatican Council on November 21, 1964.

According to Lumen Gentium, the Church, in its twofold ministry toward its own members and toward those outside, shares in Jesus’ threefold office of Priest, Prophet & King (PPK), that is, it participates in Jesus’ ministry to sanctify, to teach and to govern (see 10-13).

• "While bishops, priests and deacons exercise, within the Church, the ministries of sanctifying, teaching and governing through the power and authority bestowed upon them at their sacramental ordination, all Catholic lay men and women also share in this threefold ministry of Christ. Catholic lay men and women, by their baptismal and confirmational character, are empowered, in Christ through the Holy Spirit, to be priests, prophets and kings and so come to share in the Church’s ministry of sanctification, teaching and governing." (emphasis added)-The Catholic Laity: Priests, Prophets, and Kings

Here's the good news for me and all other Catholic faithful.

We've been empowered, in Christ through the Holy Spirit, to the top position of our vocation, PPK, and so play our song now; rejoice, rejoice we have seen the star and rejoice with exceedingly great joy! (Matthew 2:9-10)

To All the King's Men

Remembering Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. today and all other men, women, and children of truth inspired by his writings and deeds.

Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power.  Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.  Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above.  You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground.  Stand fast, with the truth as the belt around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and zeal to propagate the gospel of peace as your footgear.  In all circumstances hold faith up before you as your shield; it will help you extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, the word of God.  EPHESIANS 6:10-17