Should we rely on faith alone?

By Malu Fernandez

I was reading an article by Maureen Callahan a few weeks ago in the New York Post about how Oprah Winfrey?s weight problem is similar to the economic recession occurring in the United States today. The article stated the similarities of the problems of the economic recession based on Oprah?s comments about her weight problems. ?I am embarrassed,? she said. ?All the money and all the fame and all the attention and the glamorous life and the success doesn?t mean one thing if you can?t control your own being. Oprah, best known for being the self-help new age philosophy, hits the heart of America?s recession problem today with her comment. America is one of the world?s richest economies and yet it just can?t help itself from screwing up.

The author believes that a lot of those who were victims of the recession or are suffering from poverty rely too much on the self-help and new age philosophies that Oprah herself preaches on TV. To further quote the article: ?When you have a cycle of hope and aspiration not based on anything, you?re due for a crash,? says Steve Salerno, author of SHAM: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless.

The reason I am sharing this topic with you is because I feel that the philosophy behind this article also affects this country. But the effects don?t come from new age and self-help philosophies but rather from the Catholic faith and the strength of the Church in all major decision in government.

To those of you who have been with me from the time I started writing, I have always talked about the separation of Church and State. A lot of our government policies have to steer clear from any negative repercussions from the Church or else they will get involved and use their influence against the policy.

You have to agree that a lot of the people in this country leave a lot of things to faith. The biggest example is seen every time there is political unrest. Priests, nuns, and religious groups congregate and organize themselves to form prayer rallies and protest marches. How many individuals do you see in Baclaran church on a Wednesday praying with religious fervor about money, love, health and other problems?

Basically a lot of us put our blind faith in prayer and religious beliefs instead of taking action. This country as a whole likes to complain a lot but no one really does anything. A prime example of this is population control. You all agree we are an impoverished nation. We are also the number one country regarding population problems and the government can?t do anything about population control or institute any programs about it because birth control is against the Catholic faith. So that we are made to believe that God will provide.

Another example is educating the people about aids, sexually transmitted diseases and such by having free clinics and programs. Again it?s a no-no for the Catholic Church and woe to anyone who dares defy them. You may think I sound radical and liberal, but all these problems exist. There are so many unwanted children starving or suffering from poverty in this country. Angelina Jolie would have a field day if she actually looked into it.

Having faith is one thing, lack of common sense is another. A lot of these impoverished mothers are young and uneducated in birth control because they lack proper education or are truly ashamed to ask for help once they are sexually active. Because it is against our religion resulting in an unwanted pregnancy without even a hope of having a choice for abortion. So they have their babies and the cycle of poverty continues.

Birth control and abortion are just examples of how blind faith affects our lives and the economy. But the people in this country should really know how to balance faith and action. It?s just like Oprah going on a diet. All these self-help books aren?t going to make her lose a pound without her shutting her mouth to emotional eating. You can read all the self-help books you want on dieting but in the end, it?s just about shutting your mouth and stopping yourself from shovelling food in it!

The philosophy I believe in is simple: ?Put up or shut up.? Everything has a consequence. And if you rely on pure faith alone for everything, you may be spiritually enlightened and your soul may go to heaven. But you will surely suffer a great deal in your earthly life which if you accept makes you a better person. But don?t whine or complain about your life if the ?bahala na ang Dios sa akin? attitude doesn?t provide enough for your family. I believe in balance part faith and part action. You should have a proactive attitude and plan your life. After all, they say God helps those who help themselves. We can?t just wait for manna to fall from heaven right? Although sometimes I wish it would.