I don’t know if you’ve seen or read Ben Stein’s piece, “My Confession” that’s been doing the rounds on a lot of social media sites of late. If you haven’t don’t worry, because I’m passing it on. I found it to be a worthwhile read.

Ben Stein, who is usually known for his work as a comedian and actor, delivers a thought provoking, honest and not very funny truth about faith, our institutions and our priorities. It really struck a chord with me, because the truth is nobody really talks about God anymore, unless you are a Rabbi, Priest or kabbalist perhaps. What most of us spend our time talking about, and paying attention to, is a whole lot of nonsense. Whatever happened to speaking the truth? When did we, as a society, become so intolerant of each other’s “beliefs”?

For years, Ben Stein has been very vocal about his stance on the matter. In fact, he first wrote this in 2005, and over the past 7 years anonymous writers have contributed to the original article. Around the holidays, when atheists flare up about a Nativity scene and insist it be removed (this took place in Michigan a few weeks ago), this piece re-emerges and remains relevant as it circulates on our facebook pages and our inboxes, and now on my blog.

“My Confession,” originally by Ben Stein:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees… I don’t feel threatened…I don’t feel discriminated against… That’s what they are, Christmas trees. 

It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crèche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. 

I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat… 

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren’t allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that’s a sign that I’m getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. 

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it’s not funny, it’s intended to get you thinking.

In light of recent events… terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc… I think it started when Madalyn Murray O’Hair (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school… The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock’s son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he’s talking about… And we said okay.

Now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with ‘WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.’

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world’s going to hell.  Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send ‘jokes’ through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. 

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list, because you’re not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it… no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don’t sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. 

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully, 

Ben Stein

To take a line from Ben Stein, isn’t it funny how we tell lies and we expect the truth… but where exactly are our priorities? Isn’t is funny that we all want the blessings and love that the Creator provides, but he is so rarely present in our thoughts, actions and words? It isn’t really funny at all.

THOUGHT TO ACTION:

Don’t be afraid to speak about your beliefs. Share something important with a friend, family member, partner, or colleague. Bring God back into the conversation and back into everyday life.

And now, a quick little funny to lighten the mood… What does an agnostic, dyslexic insomniac do?

He lies awake all night wondering if there really is a Dog.