ARC: FAITH

FAITH

© 6/15/2022 Mary Josephine Rose Raneri Guzzetta

http://arc-namaste.blogspot.com

My birth religion was Roman Catholicism:

it formed the basis of belief for decades.

I had questions that were sternly put down:

parents/church convinced faith shining crown.

In early twenties introduced to evolution:

intellectual studies challenged sureness at core.

Science was irrefutable in logical evidence:

disputed everything avowed in Genesis.

Tenants I could no longer uphold tore me asunder:

deferred all familiar towards autodidactic pursuit.

A lay avocation in theology and cosmology began:

juxtaposed philosophy tenacious five-decade span.

Weekly visits to varied abodes of worship began:

all denominations, cultures, lifestyles were studied.

Each had definite ritualistic norms of preference:

yet, primary message emphasized `love’ deference.

Alas, notable was semantic difference from action:

one had covert `primacy of conscience’ tenant.

But did everything in power edicts to overrule:

sin behavior/thought dominated in their school.

Each had ultra-right literal varieties of tomes:

advocated passages that had selective versions.

In common had prejudice superior tone to other:

opposite of what `left’ shared kith sister/brother.

Carl Sagan/Yuval Harari famed academic atheists:

eloquently explained Big Bang adverse divine theory.

Mythical stories perpetuated how God talked to a man:

presented `this’ male how to perpetuate His divine plan.

Interpretations of these instructions all done by men:

noteworthy too how all placed women in inferior position.

Another commonality – multiple mates allowed for each man:

yet, not in any religion, is same custom sanctioned for women.

Killing too among most sanctioned with precise illustrations:

Numbers 15:32-36 commands stoning for breaking Sabbath.

Abraham instructed to bring his only son for sacrifice:

there is no ambiguation, the articulation is precise.

Chapter 9 Verse 5 Idolators are to be slayed:

blood atonement is called for in additional.

Exception is one crying put aside the sword:

origin of Gandhi/King’s civil rights chord.

When I was born, there was no `knowing’:

I have existentially/academically learned.

Once loved relation forgot my birthday:

disappointed feelings were color gray.

Nature’s diversity is kaleidoscope of wonder:

`everything’ magnifies with higher awareness.

Six decades of study lead me to serenity of belief:

Dear God, I believe and thank you for divine motif.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_studies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Varieties_of_Religious_Experience

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuval_Noah_Harari

Numbers 15:32-36 NIV - The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

https://www.biblegateway.com › passage › search=Num...

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death - While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who found.

Bible Gateway Genesis 22 :: NIV

http://web.mit.edu › Bible › NIV › NIV_Bible › GEN+22

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the ...

Verse 9:5. "Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush.

Sword Verse - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Sword_Verse

https://www.famous-trials.com/mountainmeadows/926-atonement

"Live by the sword, die by the sword" is a proverb in the form of a parallel phrase, derived from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 26, 26:52): "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existence_of_God

Pascal's Wager about God | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

https://iep.utm.edu › pasc-wag

For those who are unfamiliar with decision theory, the idea can be ... However, if there is a 50-50 chance that God exists then we can calculate the ...