Letters for Aug. 20, 2016

Letters for Aug. 20, 2016

Christian God no longer an option

Mr. Loyd Clayton’s letter “I’m a believer-with doubts about God” (Aug. 16, TGI) expressed the thoughts of many who claim Christianity as their spiritual path.

The God with whom Mr. Clayton struggles is the theistic God who dwells above the sky demanding obedience, dolling out blessings to those who serve him. This is the God to whom we petition in prayer and corporate worship as we reflect on our sins asking for mercy. This is a God that demands our attention and one we can no longer believe in.

In 1963 an Anglican Bishop, John A. T. Robinson wrote “Honest to God,” addressing the writings of Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann, all of whom offered alternatives to the theistic understanding of God.

All God’s die. That is, all Gods are worded in such a way that reflects a historical understanding of who they are in time. The God of the Christian story who dwells in the sky and who intervenes in the natural order of life is no longer an option for me.

Jan Rudinoff, Lihue

Still learning lessons about life

My regrets it’s taken awhile to submit any of my feelings since I relocated from Lihue back to the Westside I love so much. Still waiting for a house I can refer as mine will come with God’s blessing. All the awhile, I’ve been camping in Waimea Town and recently rescued by my loving Hawaiian family up the valley (in the nick of time).

Just one day later, I fell victim to probably the worst case of bronchitis (COPD). It kept me down flat for a good week. Now, I’m so much better. I am very blessed to be able to rest and recuperate. Although I guess because of today’s changes in population, it’s no longer that feeling of being a person holds value I learned in my young age.

Most of my life lessons were taught to me and to this day I hold on too. I determined I will see younger generations be taught, learn and live with the same values in life. After all, isn’t this “The Aloha State.” Love does cure all. I believe that from my own trial tribulation. Being hard headed with traumatic brain injury and seizures seems to be a process I seem to practice all the time. But I can say I try my hardest and it’s long process but I’m improving.

Well, unless we take care and protect the aina and all the keiki, I can’t see it surviving. Education to me is the key to understanding how to make a better life for ourselves and the ones we hold close in our hearts. It also keeps our loved one’s positive.

So Kauaians, let’s be on the the same page. We all want the same — peace, love and a place children can be happy just seeing great creation we were given. I know this place is one of a kind.

Edie Barsch, Waimea