Author:
Fr. Robert Plews Laka, SVd (Religion - a threshold of hope)
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Date Posted: Tue, Jun 03 2008, 06:44:48pm
Mr. Moniker, I don’t know if you are an Engan or not, but let me say, what a piece you put in here, by pointing your finger at the institutions which have served as the bases of hope in the midst of horror as you put, to portray Enga. Without negating your views on the situations in Enga, your opinion against the Churches as the very cause of the mess in Enga is rather naïve. This is like as if you are applying a “kitchen sink” strategy to others when you realize that you cannot solve some problems. Besides, churches do not tie a rope around your neck and pull you into believing what they teach, rather, they put out options for you to choose. You have the choice whether to choose or not to choose. You can’t just sit somewhere in the blues and start blaming others for the realities happening there. We all have things to do, not at a bigger scenario but in our households, small communities to help and inform our Engans to change for bad to good. Given the position of what I am, I have tried, and tired. Yet people choose what to do, whether to do good or bad, but I don’t blame them. There are other factors which contribute to the scenarios presented in Enga.
When people don’t have jobs, when people don’t have money, when education rights have been deprived and many more, people clinch to attitudes that best suits them, whether good or bad. And there is no reason to say, church are causes of these. Enga Ombudsman has elaborated some of what the churches have done. Without credits to the churches in Enga and PNG, I doubt if the government of the day would move Enga and PNG to what it is now.
Now Mr. Moniker, I don’t know if you have any indignant thoughts against me as a person or as a pastor, but let me point this out. I have spent 12 years in seminaries in three different countries; I have sacrificed the death of my own father, brother and sister, whom I have never seen them at their dead beds and I have let gone other possibilities in life to clinch this life and it is my 6th year as a priest. After priesthood studies, I am still studying something else that would be helpful for our young in PNG and Enga. Are these fake? I am sorry; you got me wrong my friend. You are right; I am no closer to God just as you may be, (if that is so) but at least I am trying my best to be close as any people of good will would do and these are not fake. You may argue as if my long years of studies and moral principles have given me the “license” to mix them with the ordinary folk, but let me say this: These knowledge and moral principles have given me the right to offer directions to people and it is up to them to take them or leave them. It is not up to me for force it to them. People have choices and these choices are what make them either good or bad.
On the other hand, religion is not a myth as you labeled it, but is a something that had prompted those who have every faith and reason to believe in it. Long years of religious associations with those who have strong convictions and 12 or more years of studies to the lead such a life does not qualify a person to be a moron, rather those who have naïve thoughts about religion and faith are. There may be mist on the way, but it takes a courageous person and people to see through those mists to reach a safer destination. If you want to get more insights and understanding on religion, I invite you to visit my blog on MySpace URL: http://www.myspace.com/bobbyplewslaka
Click on the blog: The Ecumenical and inter-Faith Legacy, I have posted. That might give you some thoughts on religion, whether it is a myth or a reality.
Blessings.
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