St. Patrick’s Cathedral is considered by many to be the heart of New York City. For me, that Cathedral is the embodiment of the current state of the Church, and of true Christianity entirely. Its structure is beautiful and magnificent, and it can be seen from the far ends of 5th Ave. The beauty of the Cathedral becomes more apparent as you enter through the grand doors. The architectural design of the interior is bold and breathtaking. Each year, millions of people from all over the world come to NYC and visit the Cathedral.
Across from the Cathedral lies the statue of Atlas. It sits at the core of Rockefeller Center. Similarly, Rockefeller Center is also bold and breathtaking in many ways. Leaving Greek mythology aside, I would argue that Rockefeller Center, along with the Atlas, are the premier symbols of wealth, power, and material prosperity. And of course…each year millions of people from all over the world come to NYC and visit Rockefeller Center, and they behold the magnificence of the Atlas.
You have two completely opposing philosophies facing each other across 5th Ave. On one side there is a beautiful Church: a symbol of hope and comfort for the poor and needy, a place with open doors to a large parish from all walks of life. On the other side lies a grand bronze statue that embodies power, and dominion; it sits as a symbol that resonates with the wealthy and powerful. What is the truth about life? How does strength manifest itself? I think both questions are interconnected, and the two opposing entities that exist there on 5th Ave. tell two different stories.
I think you need just as much faith to believe in God as you need to believe that there is no God and that we are all here through sequences of random occurrences. I’m not a scientist or a Christian philosopher, but to me there is an underlying mindlessness to atheism. If this is all evolution, and all survival of the fittest/powerful (like the Atlas), then it would be completely disadvantageous to help or love one another. But to us (humans) there is something abnormal about that. It is not normal to murder each other, and eat each other, and steal from each other. Even though it is disadvantageous to our individual fitness, we don’t do those things, we aren’t animals. We (atheists and believers alike) regard those who do such things as evil people. But if we were entirely driven by this great urge to survive at all costs (and we are driven to survive, but to a certain extent) I really do not see how we would have made it this far without completely destroying ourselves.
Humans who hurt other humans on a large scale, and who kill and starve millions of people are regarded as evil tyrants. This is agreed upon by atheists, Christians, etc… But how can you hold both beliefs as an atheist: that we are here through years of random evolution, but that we should not behave in such an evil manner? Those are two contradictory beliefs. Does anyone ever make the argument that Hitler was only behaving as humans should; that he was simply exercising his every ounce of power to amass strength for himself because it was his human instinct?
Perhaps a less primitive example would be that of the modern day work place. All workers are looking to advance their careers in pursuit of bettering themselves and amassing greater well-being for their current or future state. However, workers who secretly scheme to advance their own careers by sabotaging the careers of their coworkers are frowned upon by atheists and believers alike. It is not okay to stab your coworkers in the back, that is widely unaccepted. While there are many people who do such things, they are still frowned upon by atheists. If it was just human instinct though, then how can it be frowned upon?
Also, how can there be so much order and organization in such a chaotic and disorderly world? Our bodily systems are so complex and organized. The various scientific phenomenon’s that govern life are highly specific, and multi-faceted. It is not scientifically logical for it to have evolved in such a manner.
A world-renowned atheist philosopher was invited to have dinner at the home of an Orthodox Priest. The Priest and his wife cooked a phenomenal dinner: steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus, the works. The man asked the couple who made the steak, and the Priest informed the man that the steak made itself. The man started laughing and asked, “What do you mean it made itself, that’s ridiculous?” The Priest informed him again that the steak made itself. He said, “What do you mean it’s ridiculous? I told you the steak made itself! It took itself out of the freezer, defrosted itself, seasoned itself, and then cooked itself.” The man was astonished at the Priest’s reply. The Priest then continued on to say, “You believe that this entire world, and everything in it, created itself but you can’t believe that this steak made itself?”
While that was a humorous story, in the end you need just as much faith to believe in God as you need to believe that all this ‘stuff’ randomly got here. For me, the gaps in science are what speak the volumes that point to God. In the end however, you need faith to believe in both.
Moving forward…it has been suggested that the Atlas was installed out of spite in 1937 just to anger the parish of St. Patrick’s after making renovations to the Cathedral. To me, that statue just shows how temporary this life is, and that true strength is in helping others. All the wealth that John Rockefeller acquired died with him. He enjoyed his time on earth while it lasted but that was all he had.
When Mother Theresa died she didn’t make any headlines. Arguably the most influential Christian of the 20th century — a woman who touched the lives of millions of people through her philanthropy — made no headlines. Princess Diana died on the same week, and the whole world was covering her tragic death instead. I do not find it coincidental that the dynamics of the world were similar 2000 years ago when Jesus said, “assuredly I say to you they will have their reward.” They truly did have their rewards, their fame, their wealth, and their dominion. Princess Diana was embraced to the fullest extent here on earth and she enjoyed her fame and fortune. They had their time, and now their time is up. And the reward and fame of the Saints, like Mother Theresa, is eternity in the beauty of the Heavenly Cathedral.
Truth manifests itself in the Church and in our lives as human beings. There is a famous saying in the Army, “there are no atheists in foxholes” and it is true. When crap hits the fan, bullets start flying, and IED’s start going off…you can be the biggest, baddest, toughest atheist in the Army, but you will be saying some type of prayer to something. The truth is that deep down we humans all know that there is a God, and we all have some type of connection with Him. The unchanging Apostolic faith that has existed from the beginning is a tangible manifestation of this truth. The church also serves as the perfect manifestation of strength, as its mission is to live in this truth and love everyone as all humans are called to do. Despite every effort to destroy the Church it has stood strong and has continued in this truth.
“Now more than ever in this constantly evolving and dynamically elusive secular world, people are searching for this true substance that is tangible, constant and unchanging. I’ve met hundreds of Americans who I now call my brothers. Hundreds of different people from all over this country. What I’m finding more and more as I meet new people, is this search of belonging to something that is constant and true. And that is exactly what we have as Coptic Orthodox Christians. Our Church is the same today as it was 2000 years ago, and it will be the same tomorrow”…and till the end of time.
