OCR Text |
Show 8 THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17. 2001 einns: Secunllsiir o o Not Great, But I'm Keeping My Eyes Open ALEX LEE Chronicle Feature Columnist Last week, I bumped into a friend I haven't seen in years. The latest is that he's found religion, again. For better or worse, he no longer frequents the bars. He has attained peace and happiness, and I am sincerely happy for him. Eager to spread his vision, he wanted mc to join him, but I told him I'm probably beyond help. Curious about my Asian heritage, folks in Utah often ask mc about my religious background. When I tell them I'm an atheist, a hush hovers over the room, and I realize I've destroyed any chance of running for office in Utah. Sometimes people would tell me it's OK and just think that I'm totally confused and estranged. They're probably right, but I warn them that they wouldn't want a guy like me in their church. All of us want the same things in life a sense of connectedness with the world, answers about the unknown and values that allow us to live together in a society. Most people get these from their scriptures and weekly services at church. Secular people just get it somewhere else. The atheists I know don't proscly- - BUDDHA continued from page 7 I closed my eyes again. Why couldn't I feel like that? But effort brought more frustration. Zen class started after meditation. In his speech, the speaker mentioned how confused he had felt when his university class, "the class of '62," celebrated because graduating in the same year made them bond together. He didn't understand why he should celebrate. Another lady mentioned how ridiculous getting excited about the New Year is every year. I wanted to object. If we don't get excited about silly things, then suddenly there will be no birthdays, no graduations, nothing. Will that make the world a better place? No. There will be the same people partying, this time with no excuse rather than an interesting and irrelevant one. Of course, questions and opinions were encouraged, but I was one newcomer against 30 people who seemed to have been attending regularly for some time. After the session, I told my an almost friend, regular attendee, about my opposition. It turned out I had misinterpreted the teachings of Buddha. Encouraging people not to join the crowd is meant to "promote individual thought," not to stop enthusiasm for life. "Are you coming next week?" she asked. I remembered my feet falling asleep, the time I could have been spending on academics or sleep and my embarrassing inability to understand the true meaning of the teachings of Buddha. Then I remembered that the speaker had excused me by quoting, "Buddhism is a disease, cither you catch it or you don't." I decided some bodies come without souls. Homa welcomes feedback at: hz3ryouniichronlcle.ut3h.edu tize. They're not against religion and don't try to make you one of them. All of us tried to be religious at one point or another (you can't avoid it socigrowing up in Christian-Jude- o it us. but work for didn't eties), just I had my stint while attending a Catholic school in Hong Kong. Parochial schools were popular there because the education system was deficient, and the church was willing y to fill the void. It was a street. We give them a chance to mold our minds, and they give us an education. Although the spiritual affects of cn daily prayers, rosary beads and reading the Bible eventually wore off, I have not forgotten the values the nuns and the priests instilled in me. I still support religions of all sorts. And if I ever have children, I would support their curiosity about any religion and joining a church. The teachings offered in many rel- '' 1 -- J .... people after watching Star Wars than after they attend their own churches. It seems to me that more and more J "- -- I iiI .. . -- i rjscBexTjraKj " ) m I- ,,: r" j t I i '" oy ri - k r f- n v nv otw Ww l j igionssuch as tolerating our differences, forgiving others and being compassionate and charitable are important to our society. It's the myths surrounding these messages that are hard to accept. The stories behind the major religions are hundreds and thousands of years old. People find less and less relevancy in them. It may be a sad statement on current religions, but I see more religious fervor in some tp m in ls"WiWf'--ia- BjHUrt fJZ W Q!s9tisj two-wa- - people find their religions unfulfill-ing- . People arc experimenting with Buddhism, Scientology and other religions, but I meet atheists and agnostics with increasing frequency. Many people wonder if we arc heading into becoming a totally secular and Godless society. George Lucas, who believes in the existence of a supreme being, doesn't think so. One of the biggest functions of religion is to explain the unknown, he said, and we realize what we don't know continuously. We live in a complicated world, and we all have developed our own way to cope. Religion and spirituality arc often that vehicle. Ji " it'''; 'I- - - I. 'I - ;''i';t' -- 4i;: tzh ?!'.f i There hasn't been a new religion to revolutionize our beliefs for quite a while and we desperately need it, as evidenced by our decreasing commitment to, and increasing defection from, existing religions. When the right one comes, I'm all cars. Alex welcomes feedback at: alccchronicle.utah.edu r 5 fiaoB? London. . . Paris. . . Berlin. . . 4 1 i;UI ABISOAQ I? AITS Learn How You Can Study in Another Country Enjoy International Entertainment Enter to Win a European Tour and Other Great Prizes wortdwKlt vacations lor18k35yMrokls 1 ! 15EIDI1ESCA, OCGOBE& VI 70:00 Alii 2:00 Fill IfltlOit BALlslSOOltl International Center, Union 159, 581-584- 9 www.saff.uah.eduinter C!iULF,!lilIiC!iAL(i'uIR |