Straight Talk by Nimfa L. Estrellado I am spiritual but not religious and I’m not a Catholic. I describe my self as “spiritual but not...
Straight Talk
by Nimfa L. Estrellado
I am spiritual but not religious and I’m not a Catholic. I describe my self as “spiritual but not religious” because i have experience a natural process of spiritual growth which requires me to step back and re-examine the religious traditions and teachings i learned as a child and young adults. I stand firm on my belief that my God is smarter than we are. He is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent God. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength”. -1 Corinthians 1:25.
I should like to say that I don’t really belong to either parties... Dutertards or Yellowtards. This is the first time that i will talk something about the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. I have been silent for a long time. I kept quiet and held myself back. I support most of President’s program, his stand on China and his war on drugs. I may admire his political will. I respect President for whatever he’s believing but what he said towards my God is not acceptable. He should have some respect because he’s the President of the Philippines. He’s words matter as it shape national policies. It’s the only thing he can offer as proof of his sincerity to other countries. He has the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression, but exercise caution when practicing your rights. But this? His words go against my belief and faith. There are Pro Duterte before then they criticized now the President and they are against because of what he did.
Duterte has been condemned by human rights organizations for his contentious war on drugs and crime, which has claimed the lives of thousands of people. He has built a reputation for his brash, and sometimes offensive, rhetoric., which offend some Filipinos, but are taken lightly by many and eventually became a “norm” for most people nowadays. By now, the world is well-acquainted with the Philippine president as an unconventional foul-mouthed leader. The majority of people believe that Duterte is just using tough language to scare the people and to mobilize law enforcement. People have already lost their morals.
Duterte‘s kissing married woman on stage in South Korea has sparked outrage, again social media was abuzz when he has called God “stupid”. I see it on Facebook, Christians fighting with other Christians. Usually, it starts with someone posting something about criticizing the President or just any minor topic post about the issue. Then another blames them for being a Catholic and then defending the President. They redicule each other. They condemn each other. On occasion, they blast them with scriptures as if they were beating the Bible over this other person’s head to make a point.
“Who is this stupid God? Estupido talaga itong p***** i** kung ganun, You created something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work” said Duterte while commenting about temptation of Adam and Eve in the biblical creation story during a speech in Davao City. The president was questioning why the Tree of Knowledge was placed in the Garden of Eden in the first place. Ironically Duterte has been seen praying and kneeling but he calls God ‘stupid. There are lots of ways to single out Catholics, but why he use the bible story?
The God Duterte called stupid was the God in the Bible the basis of christianity. He was talking about the book of Genesis when he asked “who is this stupid God”. So it’s clear who’s God he was referring to. The God he was referring to as his God was vague as he described it mainly as a God with a “universal mind and plenty of common sense” no one knows who exatly he’s God is. He could have avoided offending anybody and all these angry reactions if he just exalted his God and refrained to call the God of the Christians stupid. If he just stuck with the topic of the occasion and resisted the urge from making unnecessary rumblings then there wouldn’t be this issue. Step on people’s sensibilities then expect contradictory and unpleasant rebuttals.
Disappointed? Yes I am. Do I feel insulted and offended? Yes I do. There’s a better way to express one’s religious beliefs without having to disrespect the beliefs of others. Accept that Duterte mocked God and that Duterte is wrong.
Many of us lack trust in and respect for the God who gave us life, some deny that he even exists, and some are even in outright rebellion against their own Creator. I think what happened is probably a blessing in disguise because we know people really don’t read the bible regularly, but now people post Bible verses on social media. Was it ‘ok’ to post Bible verses on social media? Yes, but using the Bible to prove your point that God is smart and that we have free will is wrong. For to prove the omniscient of God is the most shameless insult, since it is an attempt to make him ridiculous; but regrettably people haven’t the faintest idea of this and out of sheer seriousness see it as a pious undertaking. Duterte is living proof that God gave man free will to make himself into whatever he is. Religion. Only an eight letter word, but boy does it carry so much weight. However, at this point, the only religion these kids have been exposed to is Catholicism. So, I encourage you to explore other religions and see what works for you. Take control of your spirituality.
I am spiritual but not religious and I’m not a Catholic. I describe my self as “spiritual but not religious” because i have experience a natural process of spiritual growth which requires me to step back and re-examine the religious traditions and teachings i learned as a child and young adults. I stand firm on my belief that my God is smarter than we are. He is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent God. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength”. -1 Corinthians 1:25.
I should like to say that I don’t really belong to either parties... Dutertards or Yellowtards. This is the first time that i will talk something about the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. I have been silent for a long time. I kept quiet and held myself back. I support most of President’s program, his stand on China and his war on drugs. I may admire his political will. I respect President for whatever he’s believing but what he said towards my God is not acceptable. He should have some respect because he’s the President of the Philippines. He’s words matter as it shape national policies. It’s the only thing he can offer as proof of his sincerity to other countries. He has the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression, but exercise caution when practicing your rights. But this? His words go against my belief and faith. There are Pro Duterte before then they criticized now the President and they are against because of what he did.
Duterte has been condemned by human rights organizations for his contentious war on drugs and crime, which has claimed the lives of thousands of people. He has built a reputation for his brash, and sometimes offensive, rhetoric., which offend some Filipinos, but are taken lightly by many and eventually became a “norm” for most people nowadays. By now, the world is well-acquainted with the Philippine president as an unconventional foul-mouthed leader. The majority of people believe that Duterte is just using tough language to scare the people and to mobilize law enforcement. People have already lost their morals.
Duterte‘s kissing married woman on stage in South Korea has sparked outrage, again social media was abuzz when he has called God “stupid”. I see it on Facebook, Christians fighting with other Christians. Usually, it starts with someone posting something about criticizing the President or just any minor topic post about the issue. Then another blames them for being a Catholic and then defending the President. They redicule each other. They condemn each other. On occasion, they blast them with scriptures as if they were beating the Bible over this other person’s head to make a point.
“Who is this stupid God? Estupido talaga itong p***** i** kung ganun, You created something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work” said Duterte while commenting about temptation of Adam and Eve in the biblical creation story during a speech in Davao City. The president was questioning why the Tree of Knowledge was placed in the Garden of Eden in the first place. Ironically Duterte has been seen praying and kneeling but he calls God ‘stupid. There are lots of ways to single out Catholics, but why he use the bible story?
The God Duterte called stupid was the God in the Bible the basis of christianity. He was talking about the book of Genesis when he asked “who is this stupid God”. So it’s clear who’s God he was referring to. The God he was referring to as his God was vague as he described it mainly as a God with a “universal mind and plenty of common sense” no one knows who exatly he’s God is. He could have avoided offending anybody and all these angry reactions if he just exalted his God and refrained to call the God of the Christians stupid. If he just stuck with the topic of the occasion and resisted the urge from making unnecessary rumblings then there wouldn’t be this issue. Step on people’s sensibilities then expect contradictory and unpleasant rebuttals.
Disappointed? Yes I am. Do I feel insulted and offended? Yes I do. There’s a better way to express one’s religious beliefs without having to disrespect the beliefs of others. Accept that Duterte mocked God and that Duterte is wrong.
Many of us lack trust in and respect for the God who gave us life, some deny that he even exists, and some are even in outright rebellion against their own Creator. I think what happened is probably a blessing in disguise because we know people really don’t read the bible regularly, but now people post Bible verses on social media. Was it ‘ok’ to post Bible verses on social media? Yes, but using the Bible to prove your point that God is smart and that we have free will is wrong. For to prove the omniscient of God is the most shameless insult, since it is an attempt to make him ridiculous; but regrettably people haven’t the faintest idea of this and out of sheer seriousness see it as a pious undertaking. Duterte is living proof that God gave man free will to make himself into whatever he is. Religion. Only an eight letter word, but boy does it carry so much weight. However, at this point, the only religion these kids have been exposed to is Catholicism. So, I encourage you to explore other religions and see what works for you. Take control of your spirituality.
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