My God has no face or name

Ben Contreras .

WHEN I posted on Facebook about Adam and Eve being Chinese because I am Chinese, it was not meant to draw humorous reactions as it did. It was a serious intent to drive home a point that I, too, do not believe in this so-called “creation” or the story on Adam and Eve.

Call my statements blasphemous as some would like to call Duterte’s but that’s the way it is. I respect your belief but don’t ram it down my throat.

Belief in God is for everyone to choose. Duterte didn’t really attack your God but the God whom some of the priests, nuns and believers have been using to attack Duterte. What God do they believe in that allows them to attack Duterte but silent on the sinners in their Church? Is that not hypocrisy?

Maybe, Duterte’s critics are correct. Duterte has his own God, the God that he prays to when visiting the graves of his parents or the God somewhere in Luzon that whenever he passes by, he never fails to stop and offer a prayer. But for those who know him, he could be more Christian than some of his critics or those ordained.

Let me ask this question: Who is your God anyway? The reality is that, in this world, there are many gods with many names. The Muslims have their Allah. Try to question their belief or cast doubt on it if you are not courting trouble.

Here, every time Oscar Moreno faces the prospects of expulsion based on the Ombudsman decisions, priests hold prayer rallies for him. Which God are they praying to for a sinner to remain in his seat?  Are they praying to a God that favors sinners? Even our Church leaders here, they attack Duterte but are silent on the sinner at the City Hall. Gapamili diay ila Ginoo?

The Catholic Church teaches purgatory, a place where souls are given (kuno) a chance to “hinulsul” for their sins, that they may afterward go to heaven. But the living has to ask the Church to offer a prayer for a fee. No wonder the Vatican is so rich that they can own banks and big businesses. Well, the Vatican has had a change of view on purgatory. I hope they will also change their law on celibacy so that priests and nuns, who are also human like us, won’t sin anymore.

No, I don’t hate religion. My wife is a Catholic. My children were all baptized in a Catholic church but a few chose to become Protestants. My brothers and sisters are mostly religious. So are my nephews and nieces. Why can’t I be like them? I wish I am. But there are questions that I asked but were given ridiculous answers. Besides, I have seen and read too much sinners who are priests and nuns.

A person’s belief can sometimes be influenced by events or experiences. A Catholic becomes a Protestant, vice versa. A sacristan can become an atheist. A Muslim may become a Christian, vice versa. Hence, never claim that your God is the real God. I may have my own God also, He who has no face or a name.

A friend claimed on Facebook that he is actually an agnostic. I guess I am, too. Who else?

Back to the “Creation,” if you as Filipino believe in it, then you can claim like I did for myself that Adam and Eve are Filipinos.

Here is a challenge: Put a couple (a pair) of Filipinos for 200 hundred years and see if they can produce an American.

Now, Christians, don’t be angry. Believe in what you believe and do not sin. Then everything would just be fine.

As for Duterte, bah, leave him to his God if he deserves punishment. We always reap what we sow, right?