GL 350 Blog #3

GL 350 Blog #3

Prompt: The major religions of the West, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all promise some sort of salvation. However, all are inextricably linked to the past. Does history contribute/bolster faith, or does the past limit faith?

            “You can’t relive the past” is what Nick repeats multiple times in the book The Great Gatsby, though Gatsby disagrees with this comment. Gatsby quotes, “You’re wrong about the past old sport, you’re wrong.” Over my years as a young adult I have learned that the past, or our history, has a major influence on our future and is relative to ones successes and beliefs. We may not be able to relive it, but we can surly learn from it. The past has made our lives, our church, and our faith what it is today. I couldn’t believe anyone could say the past limits our faith because it is due to history that we know our Savior, we know our beliefs, and how others beliefs came to be.

            In our readings for this week out of Smiles, we read Saint Paul’s and Saint Peter’s letters to the Church of Rome. This week professor also discussed the past history of the church being split into the different religions by showing us an interesting diagram that depicted the church splitting off into different directions. We also have visited many old historic churches and have seen many tombs, monuments, and learned about many saints. This has really given me a feeling of a religious historical connection over the last couple of weeks. Learning more about the history of religions this week, and reading these letters in our Smiles book really had me thinking about the past, and how it has influenced my life today. For example, being a Catholic requires me to believe that what I do in my earthly life will affect my afterlife and salvation. I truly believe that what I do in life will echo in eternity. I have to earn my place in heaven. I must live the way that He lived in order to earn my keys to the kingdom. Now this belief has sprung from history. In the Lutheran beliefs, Jesus died on the cross for us and this has given us the right to heaven. They believe what we do on earth is irrelevant when it comes to salvation. I am not saying this is wrong, because I understand both sides, but history has split our religions in this way. That is why history is so important, it has made me the person I am today.

            In the first letter of Saint Peter he quotes, “You are now his children, as long as you live good lives and do not give away to fear or worry.” As long as I live a good life. That is history making Catholics believe we must earn our spot in heaven, and we must live like He did. What I believe, and what other Catholics believe, has sprung from history written in the Bible. “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek them with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, and walk in His ways” (Psalm 119: 1-176). If I was taught to believe that I did not have to live the life He lived, I believe I would be a completely different person living in different forms of hate. Yes, we are all sinners, but Catholicism has made earn my salvation in heaven by the efforts to not sin. I live my life to make Him proud, and I would hope that at the end of my life I can experience true serenity from well earned salvation.

            I believe that the history of my religion has made my faith what it is at this moment in my life. Without the beliefs I have been given I would be a different person. I have always thought I was more spiritual than religious, even though not too many Catholics would say that. This is because I don’t want to be a different religion from other people, I want us all to be the same. I think that the history of the church splitting into different religions was regrettable when we all believe in one true salvation, to live in the kingdom of God. There shouldn’t be a split going thousands of ways, and that’s where my spirituality comes in. I don’t look down on other religions, and I embrace the opportunity to learn about their histories so I can see how different they really are from my beliefs. From what I can see so far in my 20 years of life, we are all the same in one way or another. We all believe in one final destination with Him. “Never be self-satisfied” says Paul in his letter to the Church. I won’t ever be satisfied with my life until I have lived like Him, as my religious history has contributed in telling me I should.

            At the end of The Great Gatsby, Gatsby finds out he really cannot relive the past they way he hoped to. Nick tells the reader that he had never met anyone like Gatsby in his life because he had never known anyone with that much hope that evolved from his past. His hope flourished of the history he once had and he would do anything, even die, for what he wanted. I would be willing to die for my beliefs that history has given me, and most Catholics would as well. “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” –The Great Gatsby.