A non-believer’s point of view

by Letters Editor · April 19, 2012

From: Mario Compagnoni, Bedfordview

I� attended the Easter Sunday Mass, looking forward to being imbued with the inspiring message of the resurrection, but the sermon was so dreary that I took the opportunity of reading your publication of April 4 from cover to cover instead.

Three articles were particularly thought-provoking: �Is Easter still credible?� by Fr Raymond Mwangala OMI, �Vatican II must be better understood� by Beth Griffin and �How the Church embraced Judaism� by Fr Anthony Egan SJ. In response I offer brief comments from the perspective of a non-believer.

I actually admire and envy individuals who are still able to believe the story of the resurrection as an historical fact rather than an allegory, as some theologians apparently argue. The believers are thereby able to derive hope and strength from their belief in eternal life after death. No such comfort for the non-believers.

Ever since the day that I came to the unshakeable conclusion that humans had created God, I realised that such a belief system was no longer within my grasp. Life without belief in a loving God who guides and protects us in this life and assures us of eternal life hereafter is not for sissies.

It requires self-reliance, a personal set of moral values and a commitment to do good in order to provide some meaning to one�s otherwise meaningless existence.

With reference to the aims and achievements of Vatican II and �How the Church embraced Judaism��, all I can say is that the peasant diplomat, who became Pope John XXIII was a visionary way ahead of his time, to the extent that what he aimed to achieve with Vatican II is still being frustrated to this day by the �conservatives�, too afraid to engage with the realities of the 21st century and beyond.

Finally, my only �points of contact with the risen Christ� are a continuous process of self-renewal�to be the best that one can be; and aiming to make a difference for the better in whatever one does.

I have absolutely no fear of death because I �know� that there is nothing thereafter, except the legacy that one leaves behind, which will soon be forgotten in most cases, except perhaps for the ignominious destroyers, the great innovators and other �historical� figures, whose �legacy� may last a little longer.

Any responses from your readers will be most welcome, to continue the debate on any of the above issues; but please do not feel sorry for the likes of me.

After all, we can always take comfort from the views of the Prof Alan Schreck quoted in your article on Vatican II, that �non-believers are not excluded from salvation by the grace of Christ, even if they do not know him�.