Expert: Scott Talbot - 5/13/2008

Question
Hello Mr. Talbot,

I have many things going through my mind at this point in my life. I’m 1 year
removed from almost dying from my initial attack from Crohn’s disease,
which I have luckily found a way to control it with the help of my doctors.
Crohn's disease is basically an advanced form of IBS (irritable bowel
syndrome), which basically means that ulcers develop and burn holes in my
intestines. Basically means I might have to get major pats of my intestines
removed as my life progresses. I am also aiming to achieve an undergraduate
in law & society with a minor in philosophy, (currently maintaining a B
average) with a hope of attending a law school, or teachers college. I know
this sounds like dribble, but I assure you it all leads up to my question. My
family is mildly religious (we are Greek orthodox). What I mean by mildly
religious is that we attend church on Christmas and Easter only. For a while
now I have been battling with my spirituality and religion. I know that I
should believe, but I also know why I should not. I know that from a rational
standpoint there is no real reason for god to exist, but I know in my heart
that he does. Also, what makes Jesus the Son of God and not any of the other
messiahs? What is it about him that completely discredits all other religion
patrons? I have heard all the rhetoric possible that can convince me that god
does not exist, or at the least that Jesus was not the Son of God, and I believe
it all. How can you not see that humans have evolved? How can you not think
that the earth is millions of years old? How can one ignore the world of logic
and science that is around us? You can’t just solve all the inaccuracies in the
bible with “because god said so.” There has to be a greater answer than that.
What I’m trying to say/ask is how can I logically fit god and Jesus into my
world. My spiritual side is dying and I feel compelled to resuscitate it. I fear
that my hope for this world, and my desire to change it, will die along with it.
If god doesn’t exist, then what is the point of living? All the good deeds I have
done, and the goodness I have in my heart will mean and be worth nothing. I
understand that for a better world we have to be kind to one another, but I
just don’t see it working. How can I know that what I do in this life matters? I
don’t want to wake up one day and realize that I’m only alive to work, make
money and die. If that is the case then I don’t want to be alive. I want to know
that there is a place for me whether it is here, or in a spiritual realm. I want
to know that what I do counts. I know that it seems like I’m concerned about
myself, but trust me it isn’t. I mean this for everyone. I don’t want the
lifetime of happiness that my mom has given to my family and countless
others to be for nothing. For the two weeks I was in hospital she stayed by
my bedside day and night, leaving only to take a shower. She felt guilty eating
wile I was sick because I couldn’t. My family had to force her to eat which is
bad for her health specially that she has Multiple sclerosis. I don’t want her
good deeds to mean nothing. I cannot provide her the comfortable retirement
that she deserves in her life and I need to know what when she dies there will
be a good place for her. Right now, I don’t see this happening and it makes
me very depressed. How can such evil exist in this world? Yes, I know god
has a plan and that judgment day will come and all that. However, doesn’t
gods/Jesus’s hear ache when he sees these things happening? How can he
just sit there while children die of starvation and disease, and mothers and
children die from unjust wars? Humans do all the bad things in this world to
humans, and god just sits back and lets it happen. I don’t see good in this
world anymore. I don’t see how god can look at all the pain we cause
ourselves and not help. I’ve thought about joining a religious academy to try
to help my spiritual side, but I keep falling into a pattern of logic that stops
me. I fear that atheism is creeping ever closer to my heart and I fear that
there will be no point to my being if it ever reaches that point. I know that
this sounds like a garbled mess, but I hope you can gain some reference of
what I am talking about so you can help me.

Thank you for your time.  

Answer
Theo,

I'm so glad you wrote. God cares very much about you, and about those who are close to you. One indication is that He is continuing to work on you and open your eyes to Him. Jesus said in John 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him ...." Your desire to pursue this discussion is from God. He is drawing you to Himself. He has the answers you seek.

Your questions cannot be fully answered in one brief e-mail. However, if you are serious about your question--if you really want to find the answers and know that they fit with logic--then I want to help you.

Finding the answers is a journey. If you want to take this journey, it will mean doing some reading, working through some tough issues, and sticking with it. It will require commitment on your part--the commitment to keep pushing towards the answers you need. The answers are there, and I would like to take this journey with you.

Would you like to do this together? If so, write back at my personal e-mail address, which is FurryPiglet@aol.com.

Scott