Deus Ex Machina

We have all read it. We have all watched it. We have all been pissed off about it. The definition of deus ex machina from Merriam Webster Dictionary "is a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty". It can be convenient for the writer but dissatisfying to the reader. 

I believe the introduction of deus ex machina into the idea of religion or otherworldly beliefs has taken away the true meaning of life for many. This is not me trying to demean these beliefs, but more to challenge you in your thoughts of them. Is it easier to believe that something is controlling everything and will either save you or let you down? Or would you rather believe that we control our destinies? At first glance, you probably shout the latter, but after a few minutes, I think you will agree that the former is a lot easier to swallow. Why take responsibility if we do not have to? 

(This idea I believe can be seen throughout most religions but most of my examples with come from Christian beliefs because it is what I am most familiar with.)

Jesus himself denied his father as a figure who would partake in deus ex machina. During the Temptations of Christ; the time after Jesus was baptized and spent 40 days fasting in the desert. He was tempted by Satan three times, one of which I find very important to this blog. Satan tests Jesus saying "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Luke 4:9-13) Jesus responded quoting scripture " Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'" 

I have not thoroughly read the bible nor any other religious scripture but this stuck with me. If God would not intervene to save his one son, why would he ever help me? Then it hit me, God has allowed us the chance to save ourselves. Our choice of free will is the greatest gift of all. If at any point God can just swoop in and save us from dying, what is the point of living?

This brings me to another very interesting thing I recently read in Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life. In the 12th rule, Peterson presents a question from an old Jewish story, "Imagine a Being who is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. What does such a being lack?  The answer? Limitation. 
It is easy to look at limitations as flaws, setbacks, or unfair but these same limitations are the cause of all beauty and meaning in life. If everyone could throw a football like Aaron Rodgers, then no one would watch the NFL. If everyone could sing like Beyonce, then no one would listen to music. 

To try and wrap up this coffee-induced babbling, I would like to leave you guys with a question to think about. Would you rather the entrance into after-life be granted through strict belief or true practice. If one strives to be a Christ-like figure but is not lucky enough to be presented with "the one true religion" are they less likely than the spiteful but avid churchgoer? What God would deny entrance to the former? Would you want to go to that after-life? 

That is not for me to decide, but I do challenge each and every one of you to be a Christ-like figure, no matter your beliefs. Pick up those who reached their limitation and then find beauty in that limitation.


I love all of you guys, keep your head up, your heart higher and be thankful for the day.

Until next time,

NB 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stop Being Selfish. Start Being Yourself.

In a world controlled by social media; powered by likes and retweets and followers we are faced with an overwhelming sense of comparison that the human race has never before faced. For many people living in small-town America, this is a hard fact of life to get over. In the small town I grew up in, everyone could be the best at something. You had the best lawyer, best doctor, best athlete, best musician- ect. Everyone knowing their place creates an easy to follow hierarchy where order reigns supreme and chaos is lessened. For the past 50 years prior, college was often the time where this structure came crumbling down. All of the sudden the town's "geniuses" who went to top-tier schools become the "dumbest" kid in their class. The top-tier athlete in high school spends most of his time on the bench. This collapse of structure is what I believe is a main culprit of the on-set of anxiety, depression and other forms of mental health that often surface in colleg...
Read more

What Happened What's NextWhat the Hell is Mania

What Happened What's Next and What the Hell is Mania   Well jeez, in a lot of ways, if I knew I probably would not have had 3 separate psych ward stays, emptied my bank account, and cut myself off from those who love me the most. But here I go. Bi-Polar disorder is a bitch but bipolar 1 is really one of the worst diseases you can have in the sense that you have literally no control over your brain. Unlike everyone who has their ups and downs that are like the top and bottom of a hill my ups and downs are like the top of Mount Everest and the bottom of a coal shaft not only is it hard to breathe in both spots but one wrong move can kill you in either spot. I am not really sure when where or how it started. Work was stressing me out because I was up for a promotion and a pay raise I did not feel I deserved. You probably never thought you'd see someone type that but when you are deathly afraid of success things to happen. Some of my best friends, brother, and girlfriend at the ti...
Read more

Silence Is No Longer an Option

Silence Is No Longer an Option A little over a year from the first time my Dad ever opened up to me about his struggles with mental health was the morning I received the call my Dad would never open up to me again. This opportunity was one my two brothers never had the chance to experience. It took me to my breaking point before I ever had the opportunity to get my Dad to open up. It took two phone calls filled with inaudible sobbing over school, anxiety and lack of self-worth for me to get my Dad to open up to me about something he had dealt with throughout his life that could plague me for the rest of mine.  When I asked my Dad why he never opened up about these issues until that point in October of last year, his response was "I hoped none of you would have to deal with the problems I have had to deal with. It is like no other issue and I prayed you would not feel the pain I have felt"  That was also the last time my Dad ever opened up to me and I'll b...
Read more