Religion and Theology: A Reflection - Essay Example

? Religion and Theology: A Reflection of the Religion and Theology of the Concerned July 2, Religion and Theology: AReflection Introduction There is no denying the fact that in the contemporary context, we are living in times marked by a fast rise and fall of ideas (Smith, 1999, 15). Amidst this ideational flux, the human soul yearns to grasp something solid, to stick on to something that stands to be constant and unchanging amidst the flow of time. Earlier, when the human needs were limited to the food, clothing and shelter, human beings used to live life. However, with the onset of the industrial revolution and the concomitant rise of consumerism, it would certainly not be wrong to say that in the present times, human beings tend to consume life (Brown & Phillips, 1996, p. 43). In the course of one’s life span, the average American today gets bombarded by millions of advertisements. In fact sometimes I think that besides God, if anything is omnipresent in today’s civilization it is the advertisements. Just go for a drive down the neighborhood, and billboards scream at us to buy this thing or that. Turn on the TV and the advertisers are there to tell you what you need to buy. Just surf the internet and a zillion ads and pops ups glare at our face telling us what new toys are there that can entirely reinvent our lives. Under such circumstances, the challenge for any aspiring Christian is to live a life that is essentially in consonance with one’s innate values and sense of integrity. Isn’t Pain Natural Well, it would not be wrong to say that today we are living in a world that is to a great extent impacted by material notions and ideas. Yet, if one is bent upon looking for ideas to help one understand the essence of life, this material world is a great source in itself. I vividly remember going to the downtown supermarket just a week ago to shop for weekly grocery. I must say that though I was there to shop, I was in an introspective state of mind. As I approached the meat shelves, I found an assortment of meats available in boneless versions. Something blinked in my mind. As I proceeded to the fruit racks, there were available oranges without pips. It was then that I identified the primary dilemma facing the humanity today and that is we tend to opt for the easy way out today. Technology has brought many comforts and luxuries to our life. However, this ease of life facilitated by technology has turned us into shirkers. We want meat without bones, oranges without pips and a life without suffering. By suffering and pain I do not mean here the most obvious pains as one experience while grappling with a disease or while fighting an addiction. By suffering and pain here I mean an essential recognition of the fact that all good things involve effort and effort do gives way to stress, pain and fatigue (Smith, 1999, p. 143). It is a sense of unease that is the essential aspect of human existence. For instance say we are on our way to a party. We enter the venue, expecting a hearty crowd and delectable foods. Suppose, when we enter, we find ourselves face to face with a lion. It would certainly be a shock to us, as in the first place we were never expecting a lion. To a great extent it is quite the same with our lives. Influenced by the salient aspects of the contemporary consumerist society, if not discernibly, than at least at a subconscious level we expect the life to be one big party. Though we have to bear with the daily hard work, responsibilities and duties, yet, in our minds we yearn for a million dollar jackpot that will help us get rid of this entire daily grind. Escapism is the biggest dilemma being faced by the contemporary humanity and perhaps its greatest problem. We move around in life desiring it to be a big party and are time and again shocked, coming across lions those we never expected to be there. Why do we time and again forget that the conception and birth of any worthwhile dream involves pain and effort? Why do we tend to aspire for a very sanitized, sterilized and pain free version of life? Of course I no way want people to aspire to be some sort of sadomasochists. However, I also do not want people to opt for a life replete with shirking, evading and denying of the genuine challenges that it has to offer (Smith, 1999, p. 144). A Right Attitude towards Life In today’s consumerist society it is imperative for us to stand and ask ourselves as to the whether the extra toys we buy or aspire to acquire bring true happiness to our lives or are they merely facilitating the temporary and evanescent pleasures and a chance to consider ourselves to be successful, at least in a relative context (Brown & Phillips, 1996, p. 187). Happiness always flows from inside out. Hence, any aspiration to seek the source of happiness in material acquisitions is bound to lead to repetitive embarrassment and frustration (Smith, 1999, 165). It is our duty to seek our true vocation in life, to seek the special gifts that the God almighty has bestowed us with. Yet, at the same time it is also a must to strike the right balance between our obligation to make a living and our duties as fathers, sons, husbands, brothers and as members of the larger community called humanity (Brown & Phillips, 1996, p. 208). In that context we need to sort out as to whether the work we are doing is giving us a sense of fulfillment and self actualization, or whether we have ended out being a cog in the larger machine that is the contemporary consumerist society. Our obligation to earn the outer pecuniary wages should not make us stop or hesitate from doing the obligatory inner job of attaining spiritual and emotional maturity by diligently and persistently engaging in self development and self examination (Brown & Phillips, 1996). The need to shun away the outer demons of hunger and cold ought not to make us dither from facing the inner demons of selfishness, acquisitiveness and greed. While respecting and being true to the paid activities in our life, we also need to respect and remember the seemingly unpaid aspects of our life like praying, philanthropy and altruism. We need to develop the essential courage to resist the conventional worldly wisdom to opt for steps that bolster and strengthen our sense of integrity and self respect. This calls for a sense of respect towards the time given to us by providence on this earth and exploiting each and every hour on and off the job with consideration and care. A Right Attitude towards Money Almost most of the people will agree with me that many personal and public problems owe their origin to the wrong attitudes and perceptions about money. Wrong attitudes and notions about money could do strange things to people and their personal and social life (Pearcey & Phillips, 2004). Wrong attitudes about money could tear apart families, vitiate personal peace and divest the people of their calm and poise. Hence, to live a meaningful and God centered life, it is a must to have the right attitudes about money. The thing that needs to be kept in mind about money is that essentially speaking human needs are limited. In that context it is important to earn money so as to fulfill these human needs. In fact it is the sacred duty of every person to earn money so as to be able to fulfill the essential and basic needs of oneself and one’s family (Pearcey & Phillips, 2004). Beyond the human needs comes the realm of comfort. There is no denying the fact that certain amount of comfort do makes human life livable. So there is nothing wrong in earning money to be able to afford the essential comforts. Beyond comfort come the luxuries. The fact is that there is no end to luxuries. Once one ends up buying a costly car, one may come across a car that is even costlier and has more luxury features. So, eventually it is for an individual to decide as to where he needs to stop wasting one’s life in the quest of material possessions to spend time on those activities that make a meaningful difference to one’s life and the lives of others (Pearcey & Phillips, 2004). Besides, as per the theory of utility, the addition of material assets extends satisfaction to a person only to a certain level. Beyond that level, no matter how much money we earn, the levels of satisfaction go on dwindling. So it is for us to decide that what enough for us is. Conclusion Conclusively speaking, a God centered life is a life which is lived in consonance with our innate values and believes, earning livelihood for us and our families using the talent and gifts given to us by God, and investing the remaining time in activities that bring meaning to our life and the lives of others. References Brown, William E & Phillips, W Garry. (1996) Making Sense of your World: A Biblical Worldview. New York: Sheffield Publishing Company, Pearcey, Nancy R & Johnson, Phillip E. (2004). Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity. New York: Crossway Books. Smith, Gordon T. (1999) Courage and Calling: Embracing your God Given Potential. New York: IVP Books. Read More