Faith is an amazing thing. To believe something just because someone told you that it is the truth is an amazing thing unto itself. Some would call you gullible if you were listening to a mere mortal. And yet weren't those who wrote the chapters found in the Bible mere human beings?

Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, was a doubter, or a questioner. Asking questions is how we discern what is and isn't true. So why do we brand those who ask questions about God athiests. Maybe they're not. Maybe they are trying to gain an understanding for the unexplainable. There is no better example of this for me than two songs that were came a decade apart. XTC came out with Dear God and a little later Dear Mister Jesus was written. One is written in the words of a small child and the other is written by an adult who has lost his way. There's the voice of innocence and then there's the voice of the angry, disenchanted adult. I think the child understands free will better than the adult. Look at the lyrics and you will see what I mean.

Dear Mister Jesus

Dear Mr. Jesus, I just had to write to you
Something really scared me, when I saw it on the news
A story 'bout a little girl beaten black and blue
Jesus, thought I'd take this right to you

Dear Mr. Jesus, I don't understand
Why they took her mom and dad away
I know that they don't mean to hit with wild and angry hands
Tell them just how big they are I pray

Please don't let them hurt your children
We need love and shelter from the storm
Please don't let them hurt your children
Won't you keep us safe and warm

Dear Mr. Jesus, they say that she may die
Oh I hope the doctors stop the pain
I know that you could save her and take her up to the sky
So she would never have to hurt again

Please don't let them hurt your children..
Dear Mr. Jesus, please tell me what to do
And please don't tell my daddy
But my mommy hits me, too.
Please don't let them hurt your children...

words and music by Richard Klender
© 1985 Klenco, Inc. (Klenco Music Group), ASCAP

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Dear God

As sung by XTC

Dear God,
Hope you got the letter,
And I pray you can make it better down here.
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer,
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them starving on their feet,
cause they don't get enough to eat

From God,
I can't believe in you.

Dear God,
Sorry to disturb you,
But I feel that I should be heard loud and clear.
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears,
And all the people that you made in your image,
See them fighting in the street,
cause they can't make opinions meet,
About God,
I can't believe in you.

Did you make disease, and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the devil too!

Dear God,
Don't know if you noticed,
But your name is on a lot of quotes in this book.
Us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look,
And all the people that you made in your image,
Still believing that junk is true.
Well I know it ain't and so do you,
Dear God,
I can't believe in,
I don't believe in,

I won't believe in heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners,
No devil as well.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You're always letting us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown.
Those lost at sea and never found,
And it's the same the whole world round.
The hurt I see helps to compound,
That the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Is just somebody's unholy hoax,
And if your'e up there you'll perceive,
That my heart's here upon my sleeve.
If there's one thing I don't believe in...

It's you,
Dear God.