So, driving into town tonight, I heard an atheist named Kenneth Lonergan talking about marriage. He is the writer of Analyze This and You Can Count on Me. I find listening to atheists really interesting if they are not too militant and more open to everybody having their own belief systems and doing what works for you. I find they are often very insightful about Christianity and they give a perspective that is very refreshing. I have a friend who is an atheist and she doesn't ever give me a hard time about my Christianity, even when I talk about it. She says that she knows it is important to me and that I never try to ram it down her throat. I am glad that she is comfortable that way. I don't ever want her to be uncomfortable around me because of that. St. Francis said, "Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words."
So, anyway, the atheist on the radio made a comment about marriage that went something like this: "I went to a Catholic wedding, my first one, and I realized that God, the Creator of the Universe was in the room with us. He cared about these two people marrying each other." WOW! Now that is some statement. The statement, from an atheist, speaks to the lie about marriage just being about piece of paper and easily discarded. The Creator of the Universe cares about these two people being together!
He went on to say that he wished he had belief because it seemed to make the world easier to navigate. He also said that belief in God seemed to make people's lives better. He finds that when bad things happen to people he finds himself talking to God and saying, "I don't believe in you, but please don't let this bad thing happen."
When I hear comments like that, I wonder, "how long can they hold out against the Creator of the Universe?"
I don't think for very long! I wish I could remember the name of the author...will have to go hunting in my messy basement library. It's about an agnostic who decided to pretend for a few months that maybe God does exist. In doing so found out that the Divine is very much alive.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great book, Susie, one I would like to read.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you mentioned Kenneth Lonergan. "You Can Count on Me" is a very fine film, and I've now got his latest one in my DVD queue.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me an atheist who acknowledges the existence of "God, the Creator of the Universe" is not really an atheist. Many people have trouble moving past their agnosticism, though, for reasons I understand.
For myself, I felt the presence of God in a church, yet I could not understand so much of what the church professed. I ended up praying: "Lord, I believe—help Thou my unbelief." It took a certain amount of humility that surprised me.
I don't know, Kevan. I think he was just speaking about what the couple believed, not his beliefs specifically, but I do think you are probably right that he is not a confirmed atheist.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen "You Can Count on Me, but I did hear a clip from it and I do want to see it.
I think that churches and organized religion are good for people. They should provide support in those moments of unbelief that we all have. I guess I have always been lucky to be at home in a church setting and always felt free to question whatever I didn't understand...or believe...and it was never squashed...not once!