Thus far, it seems we have covered a couple ideas about truth that may be hard to accept.
First, the truth is true whether you like it or not.
Second, (in the entry about Halo and the Arbiter finding that what he believed was false) what you believe to be truth may not be true. (And so it is important that we continue to always seek truth, whatever our backgrounds may be - Atheist, Buddhist, Christian, etc., and in all [important] areas of life. If what we believe to be true is wrong, we'll move away from what is false and towards truth, and if what we believe to be true is true, we'll grow deeper in our understanding of that truth.)
Here's another truth about truth that I think can be hard to accept: Truth is by nature exclusive.
For example, if you paid your landlord for this month's rent already, but your landlord said you only paid half, both can't be true. Someone is wrong.
Sure, it'd be really nice if we could all be right. One popular religious belief is to say that everyone has their own way to God. I wanted to believe that myself. I really did. That way no one is left out. We can all be happy. No one is wrong. Everyone is right. We can all go merrily on our own ways.
However, if you think about, it's actually more likely that everyone is wrong rather than everyone is right. Religions strongly declare things (core beliefs) that contradict each other. How can two contradicting statements both be right? That would turn our world upside down.
Also, in the end, those that say every way is right (the inclusive group), are saying that those who say there is only one way (the exclusive group) are wrong. The inclusive group are excluding the exclusive group, and are exclusive themselves. It's kind of funny how that works. Those folks who criticize people for saying that they believe one way is right are themselves declaring that there is only one way to look at things.
Truth is by nature exclusive (...whether we like it or not.)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Halo & Religion?
It caught me by surprise to hear about the new Halo 3 ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) video game coming out on September 22. I recall becoming such a Halo junkie since the first of three Halo games launched back in November 2001. Yes, the culmination of superior graphics, first person shooter game play, computer artificial intelligence, and online multi-player mode definitely fed the cravings to this young male adult. Before the tease of all these breathtaking aesthetics, any Halo owner would first agree they became junkies of the Halo story.
Why was the Halo story so intriguing to me? Aside from the science fiction futuristic setting, the concept of a theocratic alliance of alien races (Covenant) driven by heresy from appointed alien prophets made me ponder how anybody can be so easily misled thinking they have the one true religion. It became so relevant for one of the key characters, who was once the antagonist to the main character, but later turned protagonist. They called him the "Arbiter" in the game. You see, the Arbiter was a high ranking Supreme Commander alien officer of the Elites who battled against humanity. He led missions to confront all life that the Covenant came across the universe to spread the news of the "Great Journey". Basically, anyone who refuses became an enemy and is to be eliminated. In Halo 2, the Arbiter horribly failed a mission and was branded a heretic and was ordered to be executed by the High Council. But the High Prophets of the Council knowing that he was not a heretic, spared his life and assigned the former Supreme Commander as the Arbiter. Pretty much, the role of the Arbiter was to go into suicide missions to atone for his failures.
Arbiter's first mission was to silence an Elite soldier who was spreading "heresy" against the religious belief of the "Great Journey" that the Halo ring device was not what the High Prophets thought it was to be, and ultimately it will spell their doom. Eventually, the Arbiter's eyes were open when he discovered that the religion he lived and fought for was a farce. Imagine what he felt and what went through his mind. He must have felt so betrayed, gullible, ignorant and downright angry. His true religion became unreasonable truth. His religious practices became illogical. Everything just seemed so very wrong. The good thing for the Arbiter (other than his ridiculous energy sword), is that he was not afraid to find out the truth for himself. Not just truth, but reasonable truth.
If there is a religion out there that has been tested through time, wouldn't you want to know the truth and test it for yourself? I think it is important to find out the truth. It is easier to go with the status quo and accept what today media tells us. There is so much fuzzy logic, bad sciences and situational truth out there that substitutes reasonable truth. If you have read this and now even more so curious, I encourage you to seek and find out the truth for yourself.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
On a little side note, should I get Halo 3: ODST??? =)
Links to related topics:
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki
Why was the Halo story so intriguing to me? Aside from the science fiction futuristic setting, the concept of a theocratic alliance of alien races (Covenant) driven by heresy from appointed alien prophets made me ponder how anybody can be so easily misled thinking they have the one true religion. It became so relevant for one of the key characters, who was once the antagonist to the main character, but later turned protagonist. They called him the "Arbiter" in the game. You see, the Arbiter was a high ranking Supreme Commander alien officer of the Elites who battled against humanity. He led missions to confront all life that the Covenant came across the universe to spread the news of the "Great Journey". Basically, anyone who refuses became an enemy and is to be eliminated. In Halo 2, the Arbiter horribly failed a mission and was branded a heretic and was ordered to be executed by the High Council. But the High Prophets of the Council knowing that he was not a heretic, spared his life and assigned the former Supreme Commander as the Arbiter. Pretty much, the role of the Arbiter was to go into suicide missions to atone for his failures.
Arbiter's first mission was to silence an Elite soldier who was spreading "heresy" against the religious belief of the "Great Journey" that the Halo ring device was not what the High Prophets thought it was to be, and ultimately it will spell their doom. Eventually, the Arbiter's eyes were open when he discovered that the religion he lived and fought for was a farce. Imagine what he felt and what went through his mind. He must have felt so betrayed, gullible, ignorant and downright angry. His true religion became unreasonable truth. His religious practices became illogical. Everything just seemed so very wrong. The good thing for the Arbiter (other than his ridiculous energy sword), is that he was not afraid to find out the truth for himself. Not just truth, but reasonable truth.
If there is a religion out there that has been tested through time, wouldn't you want to know the truth and test it for yourself? I think it is important to find out the truth. It is easier to go with the status quo and accept what today media tells us. There is so much fuzzy logic, bad sciences and situational truth out there that substitutes reasonable truth. If you have read this and now even more so curious, I encourage you to seek and find out the truth for yourself.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
On a little side note, should I get Halo 3: ODST??? =)
Links to related topics:
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki
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