Is it true that being religious makes life tough?
When you buy a car, especially your first sophisticated high-end car, I bet you would always look carefully in its owner manual first thing. You look at YouTube videos about the best way to use it as recommended by the manufacturer. The manual will tell you at which speed to drive, at what time to change the oil, and after how many miles or km’s, you should take it to maintenance. You follow the manual happily because you know that the best one who knows how to take care of the car is for sure the one who designed it and made it. He knows its abilities, its limitations, and how to keep it in the best shape. The manual will also tell you how your car can be good to the road it runs on, and to other cars and pedestrians, and to its passengers who will be in your custody while you are driving. So you can drive the car safely without hurting the environment and everyone around and inside of your car. You complement the manual of your individual car with understanding the rules and regulations of traffic in your country so that when everyone follows the rules, we can then all drive safely on the road!
No one considers following the manual of the manufacturer to against his freedom, neither driving properly and following traffic signs and law!
So, if you believe that God is the one who created you, and created life, why would you even remotely consider that following his guidance about how to use your body, interact with the environment and society by any means against your freedom.
However, there is another major difference between the two examples:
There is always some doubt that the manufacturer’s manual may be biased towards the manufacturer, and their maintenance advice maybe sometimes pushing you to buy spare parts a little earlier than you may, and even the traffic law is sometimes skewed towards making money out of traffic tickets.
Any human-made law or guidance is subject to human errors, misconceptions, misunderstandings, the potential benefit for the legislator, and human bias.
However, when it comes to God’s guidance, there is no potential benefit to Him or bias to a party versus the other; we are all His creation, and all other creatures and the whole universe is His creation. He is just, and wants the best for all, with a complete balance between all involved parties.
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Religion tells you not to destroy your mind and body with drinking, and not to destroy your money and nerves with gambling; but isn’t this what everyone who really wants your benefit and well-being will tell you?
Religion tells you not to smoke, but isn’t this what your doctor tells you?
It tells you not to steal and not to take bribes and not to corrupt others, but isn’t that also what law and order tell you?
Why do you tend to obey or listen to all of those without considering it abuse to your freedom while being skeptical about following God’s guidance?
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There is no “real” contradiction between freedom and following religious guidance and law; because there must be one guidance or law anyway, so Religion is not introducing a new aspect to the system, but what is there is only human prejudice and fear of commitment!
We know that we can observe the human laws when someone is watching, and in many cases, people break the laws when no one is watching (alas)!
But, we know that should we submit to God and commit to abiding with His law, while we know that He is watching all the time, then there is no time when He is not watching. It is simply a confession and a commitment to be straight all the time.
But, this is also a misconception. God has put the guidance and law, even included in it what to do when you become weak and fail to follow the guidance or break His law and commit sin.
That’s why He calls Himself the most Merciful, and the Most Generous, and the most Gracious; while with human law, there is only blame and punishment, as humans tend not to forgive and would rather retribute and take revenge.
God’s law is the real guidance for peace and happiness. It is the one guidance where you have a direct connection to the one who actually laid down the guidance. It is the one law and guidance where forgiveness comes first. A law designed for our good and wellbeing, here and when we meet Him in heaven.
May Peace and blessings be upon those who submit to their Creator’s guidance and live under His light.