One of the biggest lies our generation was told was that we were free. Yet, almost all the institutional entities that make up our societies are heavily laden with rules, laws, and regulations.
Is it perhaps because even we humans have figured out that humans cannot function without some type of laws and regulations?
Think about it. Let’s take a job for example. You apply for the job of your dream or just a job to make a living, then you go through the lengthy interview process companies nowadays have and successfully get hired. The first step to get into the company is to go through an orientation during which you are required to sign several stacks of papers and items one of which is likely something along the line of an “Employee handbook” in which not only your rights are listed but the rules of the organization by which you are to abide.
Now let’s look at this concept of freedom from another perspective. The majority of humans take pride in their countries of origin. Americans are no different and often display very strong patriotic feelings towards their country just like citizens of other nations. That is because since creation, humans have come to live together as a group in various geographical locations while developing and adopting a common set of values and practices. Over time there has been a need to elect officials and set up various types of regulatory institutions including governments as we know them today to mostly ensure peace and the common welfare of the people. To do so many rules and regulations were put in place dictating what is socially acceptable and what is not. In this regards, are you truly free?
The reality is that all activities we take part in other than informal social or family-oriented activities require some type of contracts. Many contracts for legal reasons nowadays are written and must be signed by all concerned parties to be binding such as opening a bank account for example while few contracts can sometime be implied. This step is taken to protect the interest of all concerned parties.
It is safe then to assume that we humans have long figured out that true freedom is only defined within the confinement of well-defined rules and regulations that everyone belonging to the same group must agree to for things to work. Why? Because without them, things simply do not work due to our human nature. There is just something in us that seems not to work for the good of all if we are not kept in check, at least some people not you are reading this article.
The “Religion”, and I use this term loosely, one chooses to follow must then adhere to the same principle. Wouldn’t you agree? We as a society have already figured that being good simply doesn’t work. While not everybody is a murder or rapist, it seems quite impossible for us to coexists without rules. Do you then really think that a “religion” that says that just do your best and be good is really going to cut it?
Our generation loves the idea of freedom so much that logic is thrown out the window. We humans in our own societies have already figured out that to peacefully coexist, we need well established rules and regulations. Why? Because there is simply something in us that makes it hard for us to do so, many times regardless of the best we do or our good intentions. Why then choose a religion that tells you that all you need is to be good and bring out the dormant best self-hidden in you?
We don’t need a religion that simply outlines the same rules and regulations that we have already established through our justice system that can be summed up in being good, but we need one beyond that, that can go deeper to fix what seems be intrinsically wrong in us. Only then can we rid of the clutch of those rules and regulations because our inner selves that naturally struggle to be good can then be healed and empowered to become good. The next question is how? I mean, if it was that easy people would have become perfect being a long time ago and put away their old selves. As a result, yes you are right, you can’t do it, someone can help you do that and that’s Jesus’s specialty. Yeah, you might not like this name but what do you do when almost all the other religions keep telling you to awaken the higher self in you or simply do your best when we all know we can’t? The proof? Again if our societies can’t function on those premises.
Why Jesus? Because you need God to step in and help. A God who took our flesh and walked this earth. He knows exactly how you feel and knows how to fix you as he created us himself. I quit some self-destructive habits I have had for years overnight. That’s how good he is at his job.
To start, be curious and simply pick up a bible to see what the big deal is about Jesus. Go seek him yourself then form your opinion, not what the media or what anyone else says about him.
Much love beloved.