Songsoptok
SONGSOPTOK: «Belief is simple acceptance that a proposition is true,
without regard to reason(s) while faith is the acceptance of a proposition
rather than an epistemological (evidence-based) reason.” Does this reflect your
understanding of the two words? If so, why? If not, then how would you
distinguish between the two?
MARY: Basically I agree that belief is reliant on proof, whereas
faith is dependent on trust. If you are forced into a spiritual crisis, faith
is when you totally release the human confines of your beliefs. I believe it is
a step closer to the divine. True faith is when you finally accept, without
intellectual reasoning to support it.
SONGSOPTOK: Each person can inherit, adopt or construct her own set of
beliefs and faiths, or it is a combination of the two. How would you qualify
your own personal set? Were your faiths and beliefs handed down to you by
someone? Who? Or were they acquired? If so, how?
MARY: During my childhood, my father played a principal role in
laying out the foundation for my faith. Because of the tragic loss of my two
siblings at young ages, my father searched for answers. As he journeyed the
vast highway of religions to satisfy
his better understanding, his beliefs would change. It was a rocky road I
traveled with him, often, seeing his frustration. Then my mother’s health failed, and the whole
family’s faith was dearly tested. This was when I truly understood his need for
answers, because now I also shared them.
As I rode the rollercoaster where beliefs failed me, I felt an anger
build inside me. As the years
progressed, and my mother became totally bedridden it further became a wedge
that blocked the road to faith. Little did I know, that my husband’s constant
failing heath would lead me to that ‘leap of faith’ that to this day affects my
life. Unlike me, my father had long since overcome his need to have all the
answers.
SONGSOPTOK: In your own personal sphere, do you consider worship as a religious
act involving rites, rituals or other types of practices? Or is it related to
something that transcends religion? Can you explain your position with some
examples?
MARY: I was raised primarily as a Baptist, but when I married a Catholic
my eyes really opened up to the practices of another faith. Even though both
were Christian based religions, each taught ‘their way’ was the right way.
Worship is where the heart and spirit connect with the truth about God, Jesus
Christ and redemption according to the scriptures. There were similarities
where communal worship was practiced to encourage a closer relation with God.
Both were heavily based on the books of the Bible, but the later relied so much
more on rites and rituals foreign to me.
So I consider rites, and rituals to a degree as a certain religions
interpretation of scripture.
SONGSOPTOK: “Faith takes over where
reason leaves off” – do you agree? Can you explain your point of view?
MARY: We are creatures of free
will which includes doubt. According to the
Bible in James 4 :7-10 it says, “purify your heart, you
double-minded.” Also in Acts 15; 7-10 it instructs us how to have faith by
saying “purifying their hearts by faith.”
So I believe the constant need to base reasoning to believing can leave
you unfulfilled. It is only by finally gravitating to a ‘leap of faith’ you are
no longer limited in your expectations.
SONGSOPTOK: Did you ever face a conflict between your beliefs, reason and knowledge?
How do you react to such situations?
MARY: Several years ago, my husband’s health forced me to face my
inner most views on all that I had been taught. He had terminal cancer in which
two weeks later he was to be told. For those weeks I struggled alone
questioning my beliefs and faith. Reasoning where and why again tragedy raised
its head. This lead to me confronting God desperately praying that I needed
proof he existed. First, this was something you didn’t do. My Christian beliefs
had scriptures to back up anything. So instead of offering me comfort, I was so
busy trying to reason what I should believe or expect. This is something I
can’t put into words, other than to say the day before he was to see the doctor
to be told, I finally took that ‘leap of faith.’ I began praying again with my limited,
judgmental expectations of the past, until something in opened up inside. I had
been so terrified, vulnerable, and alone, I guess it pushed me to a limit in
the past I had never journeyed. You
might say I was free at last to understand. All I know was this deep sense of
harmony and acceptance.
SONGSOPTOK: Are you a believer? What do you believe in?
MARY: Yes, I am definitely a believer as my ‘leap of faith’ that day
resulted in what you could term miracles. My husband’s cancer was gone, and
from that day on I felt a connection, and peace I had never before felt. Three
months after this event, I woke up a writer.
I remember the first time waking up with words in my head thinking I was
losing my mind. I am far from having all
the answers. I believe there is a God, or creator who designed us for a better
good. That we are all a part of this design and maybe Heaven is when we are all
joined together for eternity in unity and love. After being in a major car
wreck two years ago, I also experienced an angel experience. All the
circumstances leading up to this wreck made no sense including how I later had
seat belt wounds when I had on no seat belt.
The love I felt radiant from the angel was beyond anything I can
describe
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that it is essential to convince and convert others
to your own system of beliefs and faiths? Why? Can you please describe the
reasons for your answer?
MARY: All that I can say is, I’m a simple person who’s only mission
is to share what has happened to me. Every day I’m reminded of my faith as I
wake up and have to write. Sometimes I
will feel lead to share and leave whatever conclusions up to the listener. I
don’t feel the need to convert someone, but I do feel a deep sense of sadness
for those that do not believe in any creator or God.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that each individual has some form of faith or
belief, whether related to religion or not? If yes, then what do you think are
the main reasons?
MARY: Yes, I think the majority of us have some form of faith or
belief to explain the complexity of the universe we live in. It doesn’t matter
if it is a faith-based belief system, or a non- faith belief system, they both
fundamentally require faith and not rationality as their foundation.
SONGSOPTOK: “A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship
Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on
the walls of his cell.” said C.S. Lewis. Do you agree with this view? Or do you
think that some form of worship is indispensable for humans? Why?
MARY: Well, I believe C.S. Lewis
understood that no matter how hard you try to deny the possibly of a creator,
it is impossible since all five senses are simulated to the possibility. In
other words, you can’t deny his glory. It is a personal choice in what form of
relationship you have with this creator. According to scriptures such as
Matthew 23:28 as I quote” So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but
within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” So I believe that worship has
to be true of spirit. Something that can be done in a house of worship, or in
the privacy of your closet. But to
definitely have some form of relationship on an everyday basis.
SONGSOPTOK: You may or may not choose to answer this – but nevertheless we
would like to know who do you worship? Why do you worship? How do you worship?
And above all, in what way does it help you in your everyday life?
MARY: I basically still follow in the Baptist religion form of
Christianity. Every morning when I have
to write, I meditate. I open myself up to all that that is around me and also
pray. It is a very personal thing to me, and I look for guidance from my Heavenly
father. I am a member of a local Baptist
church, and try to attend Sunday School, church services, and Wednesday prayer
meetings. I usually attend with my daughter, and grandson which I find
uplifting. We don’t all share the exact belief system, but enough to be there
for each other. So I believe in conclusion, my faith is not so much of having
all the answers. It’s the simplicity of accepting God’s love without judgement
and worrying about the necessity of having all the answers. The Bible is a
complex book in which often scriptures can be interpreted to be taken many
ways. I have come to the conclusion this only divides.
MARY L PALERMO: A poet,
songwriter and musician. She lives along the Texas Gulf Coast. Her 2nd
poetry book called The Enchanted Poetry Book is due in a few months. Married to her childhood sweetheart. Her
passion is writing songs. Which can be found on You Tube, and ITunes and CD
baby. Also loves to garden, travel, hike, and paint. She loves to play the
guitar and piano/keyboard.
We sincerely thank you
for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
Aparajita
Sen
(Editor:
Songsoptok)
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