Our Brothers' Keepers, Not Their Guarantors

I am lucky because my elderly mother is my keeper. Ever since I lost my job (not my fault), I have depended on my mother's meagre wages as a meat packer to maintain me and my wife and son in some sort of decent lifestyle. What greater love can there be than that of a decent standard of living when all around you are losing their dignity? The question I often ask in the quiet moments of the early morning is "What will we do when she finally has to retire?" It's a question that only God can answer.

If we continue to be preoccupied by social status and by which religions and lifestyles are correct -- implying the others must be incorrect -- aren't we doing exactly what Hirschfield warns against?

Kain :

You wrote, "Why does what one knows matter? If you do a good thing simple to do a good thing does it matter if you 'know' that god exists?"

God may ask more of one according to what one knows.

You also wrote, "For that matter what about pets that save their owners lives, or people who have never known God that help a man in need."

I don't know about the pet thing but it is written: "Whatever you do to the least of My People that you do unto Me", it doesn't say anything about knowing God or believing in God, does it?

Even tho I am not a hockey fan, when I was a kid I have skated after hockey games up at the Baltimore Civic Center and I tell you those players sure do tear up the ice during a game.

I am speaking of satan who is spoken of in the bible and even tho he may try to come across as "mister nice guy", he isn't.

Besides satan being a liar and a thief, he is also a loser, a sore loser.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Thomas Baum,
Every hockey fan in America and Canada knows that Satan is real; he plays for the penguins this year.

"God is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof and it is important what one does and why one does it and what one knows."
That seems to make sense until you add the last four words.
Why does what one knows matter? If you do a good thing simple to do a good thing does it matter if you 'know' that god exists?
For that matter what about pets that save their owners lives, or people who have never known God that help a man in need.

HYJANKS

You wrote, "Any religious fanatics out there care to tackle this conundrum?"

I am not a religious fanatic, just someone who has met God. There are religious fanatics out here but it is not about religion, at least it shouldn't be, but about God and His Creation. There are also anti-religious fanatics out here.

Besides the fact that God is a Trinity and is a Being of Pure Love and that Jesus is God-Incarnate and that satan is real, I would like to pose a question or so.

Since you do not believe that God is real, why do you care if some that believe in God do not know anything about God except for His Name?

Why do you get upset if some that believe in God do not know His Name?

Why do you seem to get so upset because some think that without believing in God that it is impossible to, as you say, "have morals" when it is very evident that believing in God doesn't mean that people will "have morals"?

As I have said many times: God is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof and it is important what one does and why one does it and what one knows.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Response to Hyjanks:
I would suggest that we are better off devoting our time and energy to developing and implementing strategies for "raising all boats," rather than to trying to start arguments over the unprovable. There are many places to find wise guidance toward compassion and clear headed choice and action. We needn't wait for or argue over the perfect book or theory about existence. We also have plenty of opportunity now to practice the good of what we preach and see what we can do to make this world a better place for all beings. Thanks.

That same Bible has brother killing brother--and encouraging the killing of thousands of others simply because they refuse to worship the "correct" god.
I've been reading this Kumbaya stuff about holy books all my adult life and one thread runs though all of the essays: It's all right--make that imperative--to cherry-pick the contents to make things appear as they are not, whether it's the bible or the koran.
Look Rabbi, you have to accept the morbid, the disgusting and the horrible with the Sermon on the Mount.
It's funny how many blank stares I get when I mention that to the religious in their presence; stares that say, "No. We do not accept the fact that Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Genesis are in the bible, but, anyhow, who really cares if it is?
The Old Testament has become the proverbial crazy uncle in the attic, with his relatives hoping that no one will go up there and see that the household is more like Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" than Beaver Cleaver's idyllic home of tie and pearl-wearing automatons.
And here are questions that also elicit an eye-raising response: Why do we need a god to prompt us to act in a moral way? Why do we have to face punishment from a non-existent. ethereal being to behave ethically? Isn't it in the best interest for all concerned to love and protect one another without being "counseled" to do so by some spook we've manufactured in our minds?
Any religious fanatics out there care to tackle this conundrum?