Dear Friend 16

Dear Friend,

I would like to briefly discuss two issues.

The first is regarding ignorance and boredom.

Today, I was told that "Engineering is boring". I was immediately offended and told the person that that was the end of the conversation. (As you probably know, I wish to study engineering in the future because I am passionate about science and technology)

The person was a stubborn.

This Stubborn told me that she is entitled to her opinion. I felt like telling her that she has absolutely no knowledge about engineering, or science for that matter. She claims to have gained some knowledge after living for 50 years, but obviously she has led a boring life, living without thinking, living without reflecting, living without a sense of purpose.

It really bothered me that she thinks she is entitled to an opinion in a matter which she has absolutely no knowledge. Absolutely none! She didn't even make her own decisions about her careers, and what are the struggles about her life that make her extraordinary? None!

I could go on and on about the stubborn's ignorance, and my fear of such inheritance. But who am I to condemn her? Who am I to say another person's life is boring? Who am I? Many people live their lives without engaging themselves in some intellectual quest. Yet, they still lead normal lives. Who am I to judge that they have lived without meaning, as if my life will turn out any better. But this is me, I am a person who is concerned about states of consciousness. I am insistent that a life must be meaningful, that a life has no meaning if it is not lived meaningfully (that is to say, I reserve the term "life" for a meaningful existence), an such meaning is based on living life to the fullest of one's capabilities and circumstances, living life constantly question its purpose and meaning, living life in accordance to moral values. (Morals? I still cannot resolve what I have learned to distil into my own understanding) Living blindly, so it seems, is looked down upon by my principles. BUT I AM PRIVILEGED. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTEMPLATE ON THE PURPOSE OF LIFE. SURE, THE STUBBORN COULD HAVE DONE THE SAME, BUT WHO AM I TO JUDGE!!!!!

Perhaps, therefore, my greatest talent is in making judgements and refuting them immediately.

On to the second issue. (When writing letters to you, I should be more focused, ignore all the other tabs. Similarly, I should be more confident in writing bullshit when practising essays)

I read an article calling Christians to be stupid for god. Yes, that is the title. The essential argument is that one does not have to be perfect to preach the word of god. One does not have to live fully according to good morals to spread god's word. One does not have to question, nor does he have to understand, to inquire, to seek knowledge about the existence of god and its implications, to preach about his presence.

Many people shared the article, presumably finding its rhetoric powerful. Look, do you see what it is saying? It is saying that you can be a hypocrite. Even worse, that you do not need to question to convince others about your religion! I strongly believe against that. The relationship between a person and his god is strictly personal. The person must always question, or else his faith is meaningless.

On the other hand, the article may just be suggesting that one shouldn't be afraid to preach despite his own perfections, rather than arguing that questioning is unnecessary. But of course it is necessary! Otherwise you are just a blind advertisement! You must seek to understand to your best ability, if not you have not made the leap of faith, and without that leap of faith, you have no faith to preach, you are preaching blindness and ignorance.

And definitely, your actions bear credibility to your claims. A pervert cannot preach respect, for how can a human claim to preach wolf-speak when he knows none. (That leads back to the first issue doesn't it?)

But such certain beliefs (certain meaning no uncertainty) are not faith, faith is always a leap. A blind leap is not faith. Faith is when you accept that you are insignificant to the vastness of the world, and you accept the limitations of your capabilities. Faith is when you suffer but never lose hope, because you believe in the meaning of your own existence despite the insignificance of it. Faith is when you make a conscious decision, that by making this leap you will stand at a greater height. But faith unquestioning faith is not faith. Faith is the most harsh form of questioning that ceaselessly presses for answers, but the faithful insists, for the sake of hope and meaning for his own existence.

To quote Nietzsche: "If you want to be a disciple of truth, inquire."

And God is supposed to be the truth.

Regards,
The Retard.

P.S. Plan, email, organise, work hard.