Response Paper 1.

Response Paper
Session 3
Philosophy 215A

2.

In this paper I will be responding to a question about my own faith to a person whom has a total opposite of my own. I will try to help them see their own faith, or choice to not have a faith, while I explain better my own and give them the tools they need to learn more so that they are better educated.

“So, what do you believe?” asked my new friend… I knew we were on a long flight and this could go one of two ways. As I got ready for take off I pondered this question. What is it that I believe? What is the best way to explain it to my new friend so that they can get a good understanding and maybe even have good tools that they too can use to find God as their own savior? I breathe a silent prayer, “God, give me your words to be a light for you in this moment.”
“Well, I believe the opposite of you, I believe in God. Now, first let me tell you that I in no way shape or form degrade your own beliefs. I will tell you that I feel like you have been misinformed through your own life and I would enjoy having the opportunity to share some of my story with you and you and I discuss this further in detail.”
“For me, my faith in God is something that is peaceful. I can’t, nor will I say, that my life is easy, but having a firm belief that in all things God is there and all things are for His good makes things easier. Growing up was tough for me. I grew up with a family that was very fluent in drugs and that life style, with that came molestation and insane things happening on a daily basis, my mother then got sick when I was just 10 years old and I began to care for my baby sister, taking my mother’s role in many aspects of our life, I was so confused, I did not understand why I was the one that had to do this. I was upset with life in general. I then met a woman that I now call my grandma. I started to go to church with her, at first it was just a few hours away from home, a way out if you can call it that. I remember sitting in those seats, so bored thinking I guess this is better than being at home with the craziness and arguing. Eventually I began to listen though, like really listen. The very first time I actually listened the pastor read out of the book of James. James 1:2-4 says “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when test and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” Now, at that very moment I broke down and cried… I didn’t understand my emotions at that moment. Here I was an 11 year old, crying in the middle of church and could not understand why… But then, I kept listening. The pastor continued, he spoke out of Romans, 8:28, he read, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. My mind raced. His purpose? What does that mean? As the sermon came to a close I was lost in questions. I wont ever forget the drive home, I sat quiet and thought, my grandma singing away to her hymns and my grandpa staring out the window. Then he looked at me and he said “Star, you know that you have a purpose, things are pretty stressful at your house right now and I understand that, but remember what the pastor just said, in all things God is working.”
We continued to go to church week after week, and I continued to leave more confused than when I came in. Here I was searching for something that would help me to put all of my pieces together and I just could not figure it out. But then one day I was put at ease. Everything seemed to fall in place. We had a revival and I went every night. Good music and food that I didn’t have to cook afterward. I couldn’t help but to go. One night the guest pastor said “If you feel