Good and Evil

What drives the good and the evil of this world? What fuels the evil mind, and romanticizes the gentle heart? Is it God? Or is it just innate human nature? As a person of faith I believe that it’s God that has created both the good and the evil. God is the creator of this world and all that inhabits its dimensions – and good and evil is surly a small piece of the handy work. One thing about God is that He has given us free will, and this free will allows us to choose to permeate either the good or the bad through the actions of our lives.

A person’s beliefs are the lever to the triggering of their actions. Whether you believe in God or not, that which you believe is going to be the driver of your actions. A person can be good without being grounded in a belief of a higher deity – if their beliefs circle around the welfare and social-justice of a fellow human being. In religion good and ethical behavior is usually taught. So if one has devoted their lives to believe in a particular faith that expresses this – than the lever that is attached to their beliefs is expected to be gauged to good. So good is what they practice – even with falling into bad temptations at times.

Good and evil has been shaped and evaluated through the “fall of man” of Adam and Eve. This is where most original sin theologies are birthed from. But really what is sin? Is sin something in particular – or that which seems to go against common practice or morale? Sin to me is that which tends to go against the grain of the good of a systematic society. So in this there is a bias to naming exactly what sin is. I lean towards the canonical scriptures to govern my life by, but others may not. The bottom line is that regardless of what faith one is attached to – if any – there is a common knowledge of morale that one should uphold that will direct one to govern their lives and actions in a manner that is compatible for positive interaction with all of humanity. This restrictive plumbline is true whether you name it human nature – or God.

The Swine Flu Vaccine: Is it Ethical to Say No?

There have been children and adults alike that have died from the outbreak of the swine flu. In light of these deaths - is it ethical to deny anyone – especially your child a defense against this virus? There is always the scare of will this medicine work? Or will I have side effects? Truth of the matter is that anyone can have an effect – even with taking Tylenol. Forcing someone not to take this vaccine to me is creating a mini genocidal atmosphere. Not taking the vaccine can cause death among those who didn’t take it if their bodies cannot handle the virus if they get it. Who would want someone else’s blood on their hands in that manner?

There are many religious denominations that teach against science and medicine. But what logically are you against? Are you against the medicine or the humanness that produced it? If ones religious beliefs center on a creator of all things - than that belief should extend with a trust that ‘all things’ includes the minds and hands of pharmaceutical producing men and women as well. I feel that it’s not ethical to say no to this vaccine, especially for children solely on the basis of ‘I’m scared’, or ‘I’m against science’.

Living with a health professional for the past 26 years has truly had its perks when it comes to staying on top of the most current health topics and issues. I was excited when I heard that my job may have been offering this vaccination through our health program, but when I came home and shared the news – I was instantly shut down. I was told not to take the vaccination, because all of the ‘kinks’ had not been worked out of the shot yet. So – I instantly began to think. Was this an ethical issue if they are pushing out thousands of possibly flawed or dangerous vaccines? Or why would the FDA approve something that may turn out to be potentially harmful to the society? September 15, 2009 the H1N1 Vaccine was approved by the FDA, but through its approval – which was only approved through preliminary data – there are still clinical testing that is still to be sought out. But there is something that we have to take into account. All drugs have potential to be harmful or cause unknown side effects. We’ve got look at the benefits that outweigh the consequences of not taking the vaccine.

Pro Life or Pro Choice

One of the most leading arguments among conservative and progressive activists is the abolition vs. the right to abortion. 95% of conservatives believe that abortion should be illegal, and 80% of progressives believe that abortion should be legal and an option given to a woman. What really is the issue that formulates the views of both parties? It’s known that conservative “rights” tend to be pretty traditional and narrow-minded in certain issues, whereas progressive “lefts” tend to focus on the welfare and open-mindedness of society. But is this an issue about religious morale, or just the human right to chose through their free will options?

I tend to believe that the issue is pulled more towards religious morale – with a twist of human freedom. Even though a person has the right to chose what they may – it gets a little complicated when one tends to fidget with the choice to end a life. Being one that does not totally agree with capital punishment, abortion can be a pretty ‘itchy’ topic for me. I feel that if a life is given – than a purpose must be fulfilled. Everyone has a purpose for being brought into this world. In these post modern days – life is sometimes brought about through un-married couples, rape, or even incest. I don’t focus too much on the means of how a human got here, but I try to look beyond to the beauty of the procreation of God that was made through two of his created beings.

I recently had someone who was close to me to ask me whether or not they should get an abortion. They went through all of the ramifications of what they thought would happen if the child was allowed to be born. I felt they were a bit selfish, because what is more detrimental; someone being mad at you for a few months…or you taking a life? I think I’d take the scolding over ceasing a life. I told them that I did not believe in killing an unborn child, but their choice was their choice. They decided to go ahead with the abortion – and I found myself irate. When I sat and pondered on why I was upset…even though I gave the confusing atmosphere of both a pro life/pro choice individual – I found that my views lent more towards pro-life.

It’s true that free will can be exercised, but when your free will in life stops another life from flourishing – it’s a bit problematic for me. I hope that I do not offend anyone who may have had an abortion, but all I’m trying to do is to express to the world that life was created and given by God. As Christians we believe that we are made ‘imago dei’ – made in the image of God. If that life is formed – than the image that of that child rests in the essence of God. It’s not our choice to end that which He created. Especially a child that was never given the right to play their first note on their clarinet, or score that touchdown in the homecoming football game, or the one that would become a successful doctor or lawyer, or the one that could very well take care of you when life has taken its toll on your body.

So let me end this way. God does not make mistakes. If God has given us a blessing – lets choose to love, care, and nurture that life, because we all have a right to make choices. If one’s choice is to not care for that being – than make the choice to submit that life to another life…and not the grave.

The Answer to Youth Violence: Political or Religious Solution?

In the wake of the senseless killings of our youth across the Chicagoland area - there has been a call by the Obama Administration in sending top officials to Chicago to meet about solutions to ending these sick and contagious actions. The reaction of the White House is surely a good one, but is this really a political problem that calls for a political solution? Or is this a religious issue that calls for a religious solution?

Since January of 2009 - there has been over 40 recorded killings of youth to date in Chicago this year. This is a total outrage! Quite frankly whatever is in place now (if anything) in keeping our youth safe - just isn't working. I feel that the political leaders of our state and country should have been reacting from the first killing...let alone 39 killings later. But, would a reaction have done anything better than what's being done now?

To me the political moves haven't worked. How does the penal system answer the call of a solution to end youth violence? How about the blue light flashing police cameras that are on certain corners? What about the citywide curfews that are rarely enforced? What have these done to help?

I feel that our solution could sway more to the religious genre. The leaders of our church today should be taking these killings personal. I know I do. I don't have any biological children, but I have enough God-Children, as well as youth at my church to place myself in a thought of a parent that has fallen victim to their child being murdered. Something has to be done. Taking anyone's life is a bad crime, but when we are loosing our "futures" and our "tomorrows"...there is something that should rise up in the average individual to want to do something about it.

One thing I feel that is important that we ought to be doing is setting up youth mentoring programs through the church so that our young men and women can have good role models to look up to. The sad fact is that our youth are just mimicking that which they are exposed to. So why not implant good behaviors in their minds from credible religious leaders? Behaviors are learned! Whether it is through what they see in their everyday lives, see on T.V., or hear on the radio. True enough the world can't do everything, and good teaching needs to start at home, but when home is what's causing the conflict - other means need to be sought.

So I challenge the religious sector of our city to open their eyes, and to challenge themselves in trying to reach out the the city of Chicago. True enough most of us do a good job with keeping the youth within the four walls of our churches in line, but true mission work and kingdom building must take place outside those walls. So let's start with the virus that has spread throughout our beloved city of Chicago. Our kids are our future...lets preserve them! Not only preserve them, but teach and mentor them to be productive leaders of today and tomorrow.

U.S. & Afghanistan: Modern Day Israelites & Canaanites?

It has been over eight years since the U.S. has invaded the soils of Afghanistan. What is our purpose there? Do we hold a moral responsibility to them - or are we operating through a hidden agenda? Moral responsibility means that one is obligated to do something for the other. Our defining factor for invasion was to seek and to find mastermind Osama bin Laden and cease the Taliban and al-Qaeda terror networks. We have not found Osama bin Laden - nor have we totally wiped out the terror networks. It seems that we have done nothing but allowed Osama bin Laden to slip through our fingers, and have allowed the terror networks to strengthen.

We never invaded Afghanistan on moral responsibility. We invaded with intentions to seek and to destroy. If one is to say that we had moral responsibility for invading - than one is really saying that we had a responsibility to kill. The Bush Administrations’ motive was that the U.S. would go over to Afghanistan to kill out everything that was against our own beliefs and standards.

This is much like the charge of the Israelites over the Canaanites. Was President Bush trying to act like a god? It seems he may have, because he tried to rid the ‘world’ of evil. He was operating in a god-like manner and called for the demise of those whom he felt did not live up to the standard he wanted. Are we operating in a modern day Israelites vs. Canaanites battle? One fact is that even though the Israelites won their battle over Canaan…they had Yahweh empowering them. President Bush was not a god, but he has still charged this battle…so we are not guaranteed to come out as the victors in the end.

Religion is a big factor that fueled the killings on U.S. soil. The religion of the Afghanistan people allows for martyrdom – where as religion in the U.S. does not. The Martyrs called a holy war against a nation that did not have similar views. Since the views of the U.S. are different than those of Afghanistan’s – religious views/motives may not be the best way to defuse the tension. The only way that religion can be apart of the solution is that we as a nation that is “under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” should practice that which we creed not only on American soil, but abroad as well. Our moral responsibility is to treat the Afghanistan people with dignity and respect as humans, and as a nation. We should not try to wipe them out, and brainwash what’s left with American viewpoints. Nor should they us.