Beneath The Mask
 

 

Hello to all my friends, neighbors, relatives, brothers and sisters:

For all you who read my poem entitled "One Person at a Time" a couple days ago, this is a follow-up. If you have not yet seen that poem, and would like a copy, let me know.

A good person--what is your definition of a "good person?" I would say that a person who spends their time and energy trying to help others and to make the world a nice place to live, would be considered a good person. Would that definition pass in the eyes of God?

What if we asked some people about themselves, and got these replies...

    "I believe in God, and I am a murderer"... good person?
    "I believe in God and beat my children"... good person? 
    "I believe in God and I abuse my spouse"... good person?
    "I believe in God and I killed the neighbors dog"... good person?

Do you think that a good person HAS to believe in God?

What, is the one thing you are told to NEVER discuss in public? And, WHY do you think that is? Well, this is public, and here I am, and those who know me, also know that when I believe in something, I stand by it. What is peoples "most" private concern, the thing they are "really" sensitive and touchy about? Yes, it believe that religion is the correct answer, but WHY is that?

The root of peoples pain, suffering and guilt. This should be a very interesting topic, and I have some opinions and views, If I were to ask all of you the question, "Do you believe in God," I could guarantee that about 99.9 percent would say YES ...in public. Why then, are there so many different religions, if all people believe in God? Why are there so many different Christian religions, if you all believe in Jesus. Why are there different levels of Judaism, if you don't believe in Jesus. The point is this, to a differing degree, people can't, or don't "quite" agree with the beliefs of others. My opinion is, if people REALLY believed they were to be saved, they would be DANCING IN THE STREETS!!! I know I would!!

Human nature, to want to be loved and accepted. Because of this, people will display in public QUITE different than they feel in private, because no one wants THAT type of attention!! People suffer so much guilt because they don't believe as much as they pretend, or act, or feel they should. Everyone else REALLY believes, why can't, don't I? I am sure NO ONE will admit this, and I can understand, because among your friends, relatives and peers, you MUST be as you say, or act, or
pretend....and we come to "beneath the mask".

I believe in nature, in ONLY what I can experience with my senses of taste, smell, touch, sight and hearing . I believe in nothing else. I would like to ask you to consider this...Let us say there IS A GOD,,,,if I used the mind that God gave me, and through MY reasoning, did NOT believe, would that be better or worse to God, than someone who just had BLIND FAITH and was ONLY playing follow the leader? Interesting thought, isn't it?

There is a much larger number out there who doubt, at least in part, their beliefs and suffer because of it, as they are pretending and have a difficult time. Let me pose another thought to you...again, let us assume there IS A GOD,,,if God/Jesus are with you every moment, knows your every thought, wish, fear, dream, WHAT is prayer all about? So we have a person, who doesn't "quite" believe, praying to God--doesn't God know this? And again, isn't religion between YOU and God, why a pope or other religious leader, did God appoint them? And when someone is in trouble, we get all these messages that say "prayers needed."

I have nothing against anyone being religious, or believing in whatever they choose to believe. The problem I do have is that when being accepted by those around you becomes so powerful, that it puts people into these uncomfortable positions and causes them to don the mask.  This affects so many other areas of their lives, for it is a deep rooted guilt and affects their self esteem. Much of the pain in this world is really caused by the fact that people can't be openly honest about their
doubts and believes for fear of rejection.

I honestly feel that if as many people who CLAIM to believe, actually believed, we sure would not have as much as abuse in our world as we have, how could we? People WOULD be much happier, wouldn't they? I mean, if I had a inside track with the boss, I know I'd walk around a bit more SURE and confident. Consider this, let us assume that you have a friend who is suffering in a abusive relationship, with God and Jesus at your side shouldn't YOU go there and DO something, other than just suffer the guilt of knowing and NOT doing? Isn't THAT supposed to be the power than deep belief instills in you? Most feel they SHOULD believe more or deeper, and suffer because they
don't or can't.

I am sure I will lose a great many "friends" as a result of this. I came into this world alone and I know I will leave the same way, but be sure, while I am here, I will follow my heart to be a help to people and speak what I feel. I can live with the results of that. In our world, many live on "one way streets", and that is their choice. I like to think I was given a mind to THINK rather than follow blind. I will be more than happy to discuss with any of you, anything that I have stated, IF what you are discussing is something YOU heard, saw, tasted, smelled or touched.
 

©Written by: Ed Kassirer
October 18, 2000