10.28.20 - Greatest Commandment, Atheism Continued

Context of Exodus Reading: God speaking to Moses at Mt. Sinai after giving the 10 Commandments.

Exodus 22:20-26

Thus says the LORD: "You shall not afflict or oppress a stranger (foreigner), for you were once strangers yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword; then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans.

"If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an extortioner by demanding interest from him. If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in? If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate."

Q: Who is God focusing his message on: the orphans, widows, strangers, the poor, or lenders?

A: The Torah makes clear God’s concern for the vulnerable in society, emphasizing that we should also be concerned and take action, or else He will “hear their cries” and my guess we don’t want to be on the wrong end of that discussion. God often singles out four groups – the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the strangers – because in those days especially, these people had no rights and were often subject to horrible abuse, neglect, and death.

Q: What’s up with the lenders and not charging interest?

A: This is not referring to proper, everyday private or business loans. This is talking about helping out those in distress. It uses the word extortion which implies taking advantage of others. God is interested in our genuine desire to help our neighbor in trouble. In such cases, charging interest would not exactly reflect the love of God, and high interest would be shameful.

Q: What is the message as it relates to today’s Gospel?

A: What is especially unusual at this time in history was that the God of Israel was concerned for strangers. That would have been considered very odd. Stated another way, this also means “love of neighbor,” so this idea was not something new that Jesus introduced to humanity but present from very early on; although not likely practiced much, which is probably why the Jewish lawyer asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29 – The Good Samaritan)

There is another connection to our discussions about pain and suffering, but not our own. God wishes to evoke in us sympathy and compassion for others who are suffering or oppressed, just like He has.

A reading from Paul to Timothy

Context: There is an old story that The London Times posed a question to readers at the turn of the twentieth century. The question: What’s wrong with the world?

One could easily imagine one of the responses being, “Well, how much time do you have?”

And that would be fair since there seems to be so much that’s wrong with the world. Anyway, as the story goes The Times received many replies, but one in particular stood out. The English writer, poet, and philosopher, G. K. Chesterton, responded with this four-word response: “Dear Sirs, I am.”

Chesterton’s response was kind of refreshing compared to the usual pointing-of-fingers or passing-the-buck. God tries to teach us to take responsibility – for everything – because, as the saying goes, we can’t change others; however, when we change ourselves then the whole world changes because we are part of the world.

Long before Chesterton came along, there was an apostle named Paul. Paul definitely had some major past issues, but he also confessed those shortcomings, saying: “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man” and, after naming who Jesus came to save (‘sinners’), he goes on to make a very Chesterton-like qualification: “of whom I am the worst”:

1 Timothy 1:12-17

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King of the Universe, eternal and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul knew exactly what was (and is) wrong with the world, and he also knew the only hope of making things right was humility and the grace of our Lord. As Jesus suggested, we need to remain focused on removing the log in our own eye. God doesn’t need our posturing. When we don’t worry so much about propping ourselves up, God’s grace will take care of filling our gaps.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic. He has been referred to as the "prince of paradox".

GKC Quotes:

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.

The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly.

A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.

Context of this week’s Gospel reading:

I told you last week that, after three weeks of Jesus delivering parables to the Temple religious leaders, this was the end of Jesus’ lectures. However, in the spirit of G.K. Chesterton and St. Paul, I must make it known that I was a liar of the worst kind. It was not Jesus’ last response.

It appears there was still one lawyer left in the group who was likely volunteered to ask Jesus one more question. It wasn’t a particularly dangerous question, perhaps because they were running out those. It was a question that, in the minds of his opponents, didn’t necessarily have one right answer, as there had been debates among the Temple’s religious experts for years about which of the commandments were the greatest.

It is worth noting that the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments), though singled out by God on two stone tablets, represented only 10 of 613 commandments found in Exodus and the 4 other books of the Torah, or Pentateuch.

Q: The question the lawyer asks in today’s reading – “which commandment is the greatest?” He asks Jesus to pick one. What might you think would be the easiest and safest answer?

A: Probably the first of the Ten Commandments

Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"

He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Q: If you asked someone who the greatest composer who ever lived and he responded, “Mozart and Beethoven,” what would you think? Why would Jesus answer with two commandments?

A: By citing two, he was making them equal; because it appears the second one is instrumental in delivering on the first one. In other words, we love God when we love our neighbors, which Jesus makes clear is everyone.

Q: Where did these two commandments come from?

A: First one, the Shema (Duet 6:4-9). The second one is Lev 19:18.

Q: Why didn’t Jesus pick from the Ten Commandments?

A: The Decalogue was mostly a list of negative commands (i.e., “Though shalt not…). Jesus was focusing on what we should do, which has a much wider scope of possibilities than mere prohibitions.

Q: Jesus said all the other commandments hinged on these two. How exactly do the Ten Commandments hinge on them?

A: Reportedly, the first three commandments – idolatry, blasphemy, the Sabbath – were on one tablet, which represented Jesus’ first commandment. The other seven commandments – honor parents, no killing, no adultery, no stealing, no lying, no coveting your neighbors wife or goods – were on the 2nd tablet and represented by Jesus’ second commandment.

Atheism Conclusion

The Search for Happiness

There is one common attribute that all human being share throughout all human history: seeking happiness. The search for happiness is the motive of every action of every person – all races, all ages, all political parties, all religions (including atheists), and even those who kill themselves. In everything we do, every step we take, every move we make, happiness is what we’re looking for.

By “happiness,” in no way do we mean the superficial happiness of the material world; for those kinds of happiness start fading the minute we get them. They are fool’s gold.

It’s kind of strange since all other life forms seem to live up to their expectations, instincts, or design: trees, flowers, fish, birds, horses, bunny rabbits, mosquitos and even bacteria. But nooo, not us humans. We are never living up to our expectations/instincts/design. Am I wrong?

Note the corollary to the statement “we never live up to our expectations” is that whoever we are now is never who we want to be. Humans are the only species who want to be something more, or something other, than who we are. All other species are just what nature made them. Humans refuse to accept that. We say, “no” to our natural being. What is wrong with us?

Welcome to the fall of man; our fallen selves. We know this by virtue of our never, ever being happy with the cards nature has dealt us.

But, can we really rebel against nature?

Welcome to free will. For some reason, humans can rebel against nature. We not only can rebel, we absolutely will.

Why are the cards that nature dealt us missing the card on happiness?

Furthermore, the happiness we seek apparently can’t be found on earth or for that matter in the universe. Nor in us because we’re the ones looking for it. Yet, it is absolutely in the inner core of every human being.

We can tell we are getting a closer to it when life begins to take on a meaning or purpose that is somehow greater than we are or were before; or, when we stand up for someone or something based on some higher good or truth; or, when we defend someone who can’t defend themselves; basically, when we become someone better and higher than who we are now. Even if it’s just temporary, we can tell happiness is down this road. When we park our job demands or aspirations for family time? When we sacrificing nice things in the present for our kids’ futures? When we help an old lady across the street when we are late for a meeting? The path to happiness is not made up of the selfish things of this world.

It’s as though we have this treasure map inside of us; we instinctively recognize that X that marks the spot (perfect happiness!)... but we just can’t figure out how the map works.

Logically speaking, we only have two options: Either these high aspirations and elusive ideas about happiness are figments of our imagination, or else they are put into us by God. No other options.

If the answer is that it’s our imagination, then that means everything important to humans is a lie: free will, goodness, justice, truth, and perfect anything – all pretend. Yet, we know that no species has ever evolved or advanced by way of falsehoods and delusions because that is illogical. If there is no God, then it would be “natural” for us to not believe in God. Imagine a fish, evolving for eons to its present existence in the ocean. It has no other experience whatsoever except being in the ocean. Then, for some reason it evolves to have a strong desire to crawl around in a desert? Mind you, it’s never seen a desert and never will. Of course it makes no sense; it’s stupid. The same goes for humanity evolving to seek meaning, purpose, truth, happiness, and justice. If we humans are truly one with our material nature – like an apple hanging from a tree – then why are we so completely not one with nature?

Rather than all these senseless lies and delusions, humans instead seem to have “evolved” so that it is “natural” for us to…

1) believe in many things that are not of the material universe;

2) believe that we should have meaning and purpose to our lives – or else life isn’t worth living;

3) believe that we can be – no, must be – different/better/greater than who and what we are at every moment of our lives;

4) believe in a power greater than ourselves (God); and

5) believe in an afterlife.

If it is natural for us to believe these things, then there must be a reason, for science has stated that anything that comes into existence must have a cause. What’s the cause of all this stuff?

Since goodness, justice, purpose, and freedom are not from this world and not from us since we are the one’s seeking them, then God is the only logical reason.

However, there’s a problem: it may be logical but it would be total speculation because such a concept (of God) is outside our finite existence/reach. Unless, of course, this God choose to enter our finite existence and reveal himself to us.

It so happens there is a religion that got its origin this way – Judeo-Christianity. The whole bible is all about this God coming after us to reveal himself; and the rest is about us failing miserably to meet his love standards and running away from him. Who on earth would make up such a self-demeaning, self-punishing religion? And then try to sell this to the world? Answer: no human in their right mind. Or even in their wrong mind.

It further turns out that the first thing this God tells us is that He breathed his immaterial Spirit into us and that this is what makes us in His image and likeness. This just maybe might explain these high “godly” standards which are so hard for us to meet. It might also explain why we think we need meaning and purpose in our lives, and that we can somehow be better than who/what we are, and that there is an afterlife, and that there is a God. Yes, it just might explain all of that. Finally, it could explain why we are endlessly seeking a more perfect happiness in this life despite the fact that nobody has ever seen or reached such a place.

But it’s still hard. No matter how many places we go, worldly achievements we garner, or possessions we collect, the happiness they give us starts to fade almost immediately. Fool’s gold. So we stop and listen, and God tells us this happiness treasure map is not initially an earthly roadmap. The first part of the map is to connect with the spirit He gave us – you can’t read the map any other way. However, once we get that down, then we can use that information to make our earthly journey, which is the second part of the map. And that will lead us to the third part of the map, which is both physical and spiritual. And, furthermore, this is the reason we are here.

It turns out that we are on this journey to become more like God, which kind of makes sense because our spiritual parents are actually the Trinity. God reminds us that this is what is meant by our being made in His image and likeness (Gen 1:26). We are God’s offspring. Holy Moses!

So, we say this is still too hard – always doing the right thing, being good, loving our enemies, forgiving idiots, and He replies Yes, He knows, but the powers He gave us were not intended to be used autonomously!

So, we ask God, Why? We like our autonomy!

Because, He answers, the connection is based on love and love is based on relationship, and relationship is how we used the powers He gave us – it’s our link with Him. Breaking off this relationship is what is called the Fall of Man, and humans are very good at doing that. But, He adds, the door is always open for us to return anytime during this lifetime.

So, we say, it’s still too hard!

God says He knows. However, to show us the meaning of love, He reminds us that He poured himself into a human being, which is a little like pouring the Atlantic Ocean into a shot glass; or all God’s eternal wisdom into one Word; and then that one Word became a man, Jesus Christ, so that, among other things, God could meet us and we could meet Him. He would do this to make the path easier, and create a bridge from us to the Trinity via the Holy Spirit.

Then God says He can’t think of anything else he can do except make our decisions for us, but then we would lose our freedom. And it wouldn’t be much of a relationship if there wasn’t freedom to enter or exit it.

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I know you all believe in God, and this is about atheism, but it is important that you have as logical a foundation as possible. That was part of our purpose for this topic.

Not all of this is necessarily easy to remember at first, but laying a reasonable groundwork is the right start.

Below are some quick guidelines for dealing with atheists. They are not theological arguments; just a few argumentation strategies.

Dealing with Atheists

#1. Always remain calm. It is amazing what an advantage this is.

#2. Don’t look for trouble. Trouble will find you soon enough.

#3. If an atheist starts by demanding you prove that God exists, remember that whoever is making the demand has the obligation to defend their position first.

If an atheist replies, “I have nothing to defend, I withholding any belief in God,” you can say, “No, agnostics withhold belief. Atheism is a position that affirms or asserts the non-existence of God.”

If the atheist replies, “I have nothing to defend, I don’t believe in anything,” you can say, “My understanding is that atheism is not a passive disbelief but a position that positively affirms or asserts the nonexistence of God. That requires a defense as much as my beliefs do.” If he asks where you got that understanding from, tell him the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, under the heading “What is Atheism?” – paragraph 3.

#4. It is always helpful to learn more about the atheist if you want to help them. To do so, you need to meet them where they are at, not where you are. For instance, most atheists were believers at one time, or at least part of a religion. When you get the chance, ask them if they ever believed in God before and what caused them not to believe any longer. It’s always interesting. Show interest and understanding and ask more questions.

#5. Don’t be afraid to be wrong or to admit you do not know the answer. You can easily say, that’s an interesting comment or good point, can I look into that and get back to you? This is how you learn, and it’s how to maintain civility.

#6. Remember, you are dealing with someone who also has the image and likeness of God. They may not know it, but that doesn’t make it any less true. The Lord is in them, locked away in their soul by their free will, hoping to be invited out. He will most definitely appreciate your assistance, even if it’s just planting a seed.

Just to be sure you know their thinking, this is what atheists believe:

"You, your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of personal identity and free will, are in fact no more than the behavior of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules." (Atheist biologist, Francis Crick, in his book The Astonishing Hypothesis)

Or Richard Dawkins’ universe, in which there is “no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference.” (River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life, 131-32)

Q: What does the Church teach?

A: The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for (CCC 27).

Maranatha!

Ron