In Tune With the Church Songs

A boy sits down with his father outside the church as the sermon of the priest comes to a close. They hand the ale next to them a few pesos and the ale in turn gives them some Hansels and a Pillows pack to wile away their hunger. The boy thinks about his mother and his sister who are inside the church listening attentively to the sermon as he takes in a Hansel sandwich. He remembers that not long ago, he would also be inside the church with them. But tonight, he's outside the church, sitting on a bench by a big willow tree keeping his father company.

The boy looks at his dad and knows that deep inside, that they want to believe in a God. He knows that they want to believe in something bigger than this life. But with all the repetitive sermons which just cycle each year, over and over again delivered by different preists, getting worse every year, just more illogical, hitting the same brick walls of the arguement of faith. "How do I know that what you're telling me is real, Mr. Priest?" "All you have to do is believe, young one." Don't worry Mr. Priest I believe you...

Three years of sciece-based education did something to the boy. It reconstructed his way of thought. Now, he won't accept anything that has no logical, acceptable, realistic proof. After reviewing the many theories and formulas of physicists, the uncanny physiology of each biological individual, and the behavior of the unstable little molecules, he has come to terms with the idea that everything must have a factual basic assumption from which everything else will follow. Physics has the Laws of Newton. Biology has the Theory of Evolution. Even Chemistry has its basic assumptions. He scrutinizes religion and finds no Law of Newton, no Theory of Evolution, no basic assumption.

However, the boy is no Satanist. He doesn't let his moral code crash with his religious one. These are two different things for the boy. He keeps his moral code of doing good when you can and avoiding bad when someone might get hurt. He just doesn't acknowledge a diety to guide it. He's spiritual, not religious.

Just as he replays the religious arguement of believing blindly or searching for proof, the churchpeople recite the Apostle's Creed. "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth..." "Why do I believe in Him? Why should I believe in Him?" But the prayer does not answer him, instead it goes on "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord..."

The boy steals glances at the different points of the church's exterior. He spots the moldy pillars of the outside, it look like this church has been here since Spanish times. He notices the nearby cemetery and remembers the beliefs of the past. Old habits die hard and tradition at times, although illogical and superstitious (something the Church is said to discourage), people up 'til now are still burying their dead beside the Church thinking gives them a better chance of shotgunning and rubbing their shoulders their way to heaven. He realizes the immense size of the Church and while it may be older than his grandparents, this structure was taken care off better than any individual who has ever come across it. He remembers the corrupt friars, and while they may be gone, the fact still remains that gave proof that evil men can hide behind holy masks. He sees the lavish altar all golden and lit up with the Christmas songs. He sees the Communion paraphernalia, and thinks about the hungry beggars outside relying on humble Hasnsel sandwiches for lunch. He then turns his attention to a simple sign by the corner printed on it are huge letters in bold: BAWAL MAGTINDA SA SIMBAHAN.

Just then, the Our Father is played. "Give us this day our daily bread." For some people, these vendors provide them with THEIR daily bread, be it some Chippy or some crackers. Apparently the Church 's standards are are too high to let these simple folk take their daily bread as long as the priest and the laymen take theirs.

It's Communion time and the boy remembers that if he doesn't show up in that long line, his mother will notice that he didn't attend mass. He's going to hear a sermon if he doesn't lie to the tradition. He stands up and walks toward the door, his father doesn't mind. But he stops himself short. What's the point of being a sentient if one doesn't have one's principles. He sits back down next to his dad who hands him another Hansel sandwich.

The mass ends a few moments later and the boy props himself up near the door to look like he's gone out with the rest of the people, make it look like he did go to Mass. He has his principles but he's too tired to listen to a sermon so he lies to avoid the trouble. His mother doesn't ask him if he did nor does the boy think she wants to know. Or maybe he's just overthinking the silence. Just like how I overthought religion.