All Religion Is Imperfect Too

 We've said before that all systems be it philosophical or governmental is imperfect. Now we dare say that even all religions are imperfect too.

What happened to the Catholic church founded by Jesus Christ then?

My friend, it is still the church founded by Jesus Christ, our Lord, but it is comprised of human beings. That's why we call it both human and divine. And the church has always asked for forgiveness for all its members' offenses and sin.

Me as a sinful church member though continuously trying to become holy has benefited from its authoritative interpretation of the Bible. I don't know how I will live up if there is no such a thing, as most interpretations are varied among christian communities. I benefited from its official stand against the world's contraception, abortion, euthanasia, human right's violation, same-sex marriage, etc. My conviction is solid since Jesus himself said that he will be with his church even unto the end of the world.

Matthew 28:20 ("I am with you always, even to the end of the age") is understood as Jesus’ promise to remain with His Church through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This verse is often linked to the Church’s teaching on apostolic succession, ensuring that Christ’s authority continues through His appointed leaders.

Matthew 16:18 ("The gates of hell shall not prevail against it") is a foundational verse for Catholic doctrine. It signifies that the Church, built upon Peter (the first Pope), will withstand all opposition and remain intact throughout history. This passage is frequently cited to support the Church’s authority and its protection from doctrinal error. -Copilot Quick response, 5 June 2025

Jesus' main intention is unity, and that division in the christian world is more a cause of this imperfect world.

 "That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us..." John 17:21

Precisely the motto of our present Pope Leo XIV, "In the One, we are one."

Secondly Jesus has instituted the sacrament of confession and forgiving sins a regular part of its existence.

 The Catholic Church often cites John 20:21-23 as a key biblical foundation for the Sacrament of Confession. In this passage, Jesus grants his apostles the authority to forgive sins, saying:

"Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained."

Other supporting verses include Matthew 9:6-8, where Jesus demonstrates that God has given men the authority to forgive sins, and 2 Corinthians 5:18, which speaks of the ministry of reconciliation. -Copilot Quick response, 5 June 2025

Christian ethics is an authority so that we can have a firm conviction about what this life is all about. Not because of human genius or even holiness, but because its root is Jesus Christ true Man and true God. 

A Meaningless Act

I want to propose that existential meaninglessness be connected to sin as the real existentially meaningless act and not "Sisyphus rolling the boulder endlessly up the hill—a symbol of futile effort." By doing so, we free ourselves from the absurdity of human existence, since human existence is not the absurd one, but sin. So what becomes of Sisyphus? If God wants him roll the boulder, then Sisyphus' act becomes an act of doing God's will, the highest act of a human being, like God willing abnormal human being worthy of life and not to be terminated as embryo. Not that we will stop at researching to prevent abnormal conception, but if it still happened, then we have to accept life.

The Father’s will is not always about doing more, but about being present to what He asks of you now — listening, forgiving, praying, helping, resting when told to rest.

(direct, indirect quote, ChatGPT-4o, 5 June 2025)

Imperfection then becomes a way to be holy since we are willing what God wills. Life becomes meaningful because God exists.

We've said something before about my problem not just God wanting me to conform to his will but unite to his will also. (see our topic on St. Alphonsus' conformity, uniformity to God's will) I have problems before with uniformity, since I want to work as an electronics engineer, and find my regrets always haunting me before. But this world's imperfection, a fallen one, affected personally my career capacity, God permitting such, not causing it. It's a passive way of willing that past event. 

However, it's rather continuing in the active willing of what God wills by saying, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me."(John 4:34) that holiness is completed.

I am a sinner but the sacrament of confession makes me conform again to the Father's will. Uniformity is a higher form of holiness where you accept this world's imperfection but also surrendering somewhat your own will in order to make way for God's will, in the how and when, if what you will is already good like my desire for electronics engineering, rather transfered and consummated in repairing computers, vulnerabilities, etc. 

Well, we want paradise rather without the fall which God could have prevented. But let's just say, its not what God has willed, or it's the price of creating a free rational being, but rather being saved by Jesus and going to heaven after becoming faithful to his call to holiness. But for now, we are not yet in heaven. We are willing everything imperfect in this world because God willed it or permitted it. We can say that now since we have first made way for the means how to do it or explained how to accept such a reality. (see our previous topics on such) But in fact, it is simply a relationship with Jesus, and it starts by talking to him.

You want this imperfect life to be meaningful? Then let us pray:

« Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter »