My anti-religion rant

Hi, below I'm going to publish a rant that I made in my blog last week. Although it starts off talking about the group I've just left, the main body of the post is my rant against religion, and why I think the only true evil in this world is religion.

I'm not sure quite what you're going to make of it, but I would be keen on hearing any feedback you might want to give. Thank you.

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I've decided to leave the 'Gay_Pagans_UK' Yahoo group that I was a member of. I've got nothing against the other members (oh the whole, the ones I spoke with were very nice people), but I feel that being a member of this group was making someone that I was not, someone I didn't like.

Read on and I'll do my best to explain.

I've got my own faith. The truth is, I don't feel it's even a 'faith', or even a 'belief', it's more of an 'idea'. It's my own personal view of how the world works, how it all fits together, and what my role in the world is. It is also basis for my own morals – and how I judge what I feel is right and wrong. I'm not however 'religious'. I never have been, and I hope that I never will be.

My own view on religion is that it's the only true source of evil in the world.

I've got no problem with faith. I'm happy for someone to have as much faith as they want, and to believe in whatever they want: in God, in Jesus, in Mother Earth, in Buddha, in whoever or whatever, believe what you want. That's 'faith' and in some cases can be good or you (some people draw power from their faith), that's not 'religion'.

Religion, for example, is where one culture decides that their faith is more important than someone else's, and as such seeks to convert people for their own needs. To "Convert the sinners" for example. It's where Christians might say that Hinduism is wrong because "there is only one god". Or for Islam to say that Paganism is wrong because of the freedom of sexuality that's allowed within pagan circles.

Religion is also people taking advantage of power that religion has given them (or who have even manipulated religion for their own purposes and to gain power), people like vicars and priests (for example) who abuse children or steal money (saying it's for god – yeah, right).

What is the number one cause of war, death and destruction in the world? Religion!

When religion raises it's ugly head, it causes nothing but trouble.

That is why I don't like religion (I hope that you understand what I mean, and see the difference between religion and faith?)

What does this have to do with the pagan group?

Well, once again, 'religion' has something to do with it. Each of the members, in their own little way, was religious. On a couple of occasions I heard at least one of them mummer some anti-Christian words (which I will admit were justified, but in this day and age of forgiveness, were out of place, and not needed), and even had one occasion where one of the members was forcible trying to push his own views upon me. Something which I myself find very immoral.

Anyway, since becoming a member of the group, I've found myself turning into someone that I'm not. I found that by joining the group, I was highlighting myself as being a 'pagan', and in turn, no longer being 'Daniel Hollands'. I found myself becoming (even if only a tiny bit) 'religious', and I really didn't like that. I found myself becoming very 'them' and 'us'... and that's just not who I am.

I'm more than happy to admit that this is my own fault, and is a result of my own thought process, and is not in anyway the fault of the other members, and if you're interested in meeting gay pagans, I can't think of a better group than 'Gay_Pagans_UK', but it was not my scene.

The reason I joined the group in the first place was because I was looking for more people like myself, and though that a joining a pagan group would be the best place to find other people like me (because of the pagan connection). It turns out that I was wrong.

What I really want, in a group of people like me, is a group that share my view that 'everyone is different, but equal'. I don't care from what background you come, or what your belief structure is based around (or even if you don't have one at all), as long as you're open minded to other people and their way of life.

That's what I'm looking for, with some luck, one day I might find it.

(PS, due to a close call, I've put my 'sexual exploration' on hold for the moment. Nothing bad actually happened to me (thankfully), but it was highly possible that something could have. All this means is that I'm still bi-curious, and I am still very keen on finding out what homosexual sex is like, it's just the timing is all wrong.)

(PPS, Although I gave two examples above of religions being used in bad ways, I just want to point out that I've not got a problem with any of the cultures mentioned above – or indeed any cultures in the world that I know anything about. I respect them all equally. Now I admit that I don't agree with some of their ideas and beliefs, but who am I to say they are wrong?)

http://theworldofdan.co.uk/blogger/2004/08/important-change-before-it-was-too.html

 

What is faith?

 

Well, that's the real question isn't it?

An etymological study of the word "faith" reveals its root in the Latin verb "fidere," meaning "to trust." This is very telling because it lets us know that, in a religious context, faith means to put one's trust in God. But what does this really mean, to be faithful to God? We can compare being faithful to God with another kind of faith, the faithfulness between a man and a woman in marriage. Marriage is a union; it is also a promise made by human beings to be faithful to one another. So, faith in God is also a union, a union made through a promise to be loyal to God, a promise to be unquestioning and obedient. It is this kind of faith that will compel a Muslim to crash a plane into a building. I do not question the faith of Muslims; I do, however, question their love. To paraphase Kierkegaard, "it was faith that allowed Abraham to be able to sacrafice his son, Issac. But it was love that made it hard."

So what does faith mean to the Christian? If the creator of this thread is implying that faith has very little to do with dogma, then I agree. It would be more accurate to say that faith is a commitment to the Christian way of life and to following the example of Jesus Christ.

Now, there are varying degrees of faith. The lowest are the faith between a father and son, the faith between a husband and wife, and all other kinds of earthly faith. The highest is the faith of priests and monks and nuns, the bapismal promise and its renewal at confirmation. These are promises to God and must be taken very seriously. They are pledges to follow the example of Jesus because to have faith in Christ is to believe in his infallability and to love him.

 

"It is this kind of faith that will compel a Christian to bomb an abortion clinic. I do not question the faith of Christians; I do, however, question their love."

Does that sound better to you?

"Now, there are varying degrees of faith. The lowest are the faith between a father and son, the faith between a husband and wife, and all other kinds of earthly faith. The highest is the faith of priests and monks and nuns, the bapismal promise and its renewal at confirmation. These are promises to God and must be taken very seriously. They are pledges to follow the example of Jesus because to have faith in Christ is to believe in his infallability and to love him."

I disagree. Putting faith, trust, in other people is greater than putting it in some perfect being. A perfect being can never disappoint you since anything it does you can rationalize as being the right thing. People, on the hand, make mistakes. That is why I am a humanist. I believe in people to do the right thing, not gods.

 

It's the same deal. Muslims crashing planes into buildings, the AOG bombing abortion clinics, Sikhs blowing up 747s, it's all the same. All of these things demonstrate faith, but they show a lack of compassion.

You're forgetting that comittment is a two-way street. If you are going to put your faith in a being, any being, then you have to be prepared to bow down to that being, to admit that you are dwarfed by the presence of the being, to serve and remain unquestioningly loyal to the being, to be in awe of the being, and the list goes on. The emphasis I am placing on faith is not on the object of faith, but on the one who has faith. You seem to be doing the opposite. You seem to be looking for the practical beneficial qualities of faith, while I am looking at its intrisic value, how it makes you more complete as a human being. For me, it's really all about being human the fullest. That's why I'm not saying that having faith in people is a bad thing; it's a vital part of the human experience. But to bow down to something greater than yourself and put your trust in something you can never fully understand, something you cannot rationally describe or even demonstrate exists, is no less important to being human. I think that atheists and agnostics are not fully experiencing what it is to be human, and in some way not living up to their potential.

 

How do you know that these actions show a lack of compassion? How do you know that these actions are not necessary?

A wise, caring teacher might act 'hateful' towards a student in order to drive the student to a higher level of awareness. Later the student learns that the acts that the student condemned were not only necessary but motivated by a deep compassion for the student.

 

Now that's OK if it's asked for. But I don't ever remember anyone in america asking for someone to grab a couple of planes and smash them into the world trade center.

 

Whao, hold on a second. I really can't see the connection between a teacher scolding a student, and murding 3000 people. Who's 'level of awareness' were the hijackers trying to raise? America? Well certainly not the 3000 Americans in those towers. And if 'raising awareness' was their objective then they certainly failed. They've only provoked war and hatered and a few others things that don't qualify as a hightened level of consciousness. If you're trying to defend the actions of terrorists, then just stop now. I won't even respond after this post if the conversation goes this way. Not only is it completely irrelevant to the topic at hand, but it's also an unjustifiable position.

 

TheHammerSpeaks, I'm curious... what is your religion? If you have one that is?

 

I'm Catholic.

 

Thank you for answering my question.

PS, I'm delibratly staying out of this thread as much as I can. I've posted my opinion on the subject, i'm now leaving it to everyone else to post what they think.

I do have a question directly for you however, just out of curious interest. Would you be prepared to give up being catholic (i.e. the 'religious' label of being catholic), so go about your life being yourself? Now I'm not saying to change who you are, or to change what you believe? Just to take the 'religion' out of your 'faith' (if you see what I mean?)

 

Any time.

I'm not going to argue that religion and faith are inseparable. You can take all the ceremony and parables out of it and it would still be possible to have faith. You can also have faith in things other than God, no religion involved. But I think you're talking about the former, belief in God included. But I believe that the religious aspects of Catholicism suppliment faith rather nicely; I feel that the belief in a God who died for the sake of men is such an absurd concept that it strengthens faith to an immeasurable degree. Well, not at first. At first it is painfully conflicting. But if you fight through it, the conflict is resolved, and you come out of it a better human being.

Now, how can give up the religion and be myself when the religion has been such a dominant force in my life? Many of my earliest memories take place in church. These experiences are a part of me. How could I separate myself from them and still be myself?

 

Some lessons must be taught without the teacher being asked. Would you ask for pain if you did not realize it was necessary?

 

So the death of 3000 people on the 11th September 2001 was acceptable?

 

TheHammerSpeaks, as I'm sure you should have seen by now, I don't mind/care what religion people are, or what faith they have. I will admit to not being a fan of the church (espically the catholic church - no offence), but I respect the christan way of life, and indeed have a few christan friends - what you choose to believe in is up to you, and so who am I to say otherwise? (I'm just being honest here, not trying to upset anyone).

What do you think of religions/people that force their views onto other people? and go about activly seeking to convert other people into their own way of thinking?

 

I think that I may have misunderstood what you meant by 'religion.' I went back and read your first post and in it you give two examples of religoin:

First, I think you have a very narrow definition of religion. I think there's quite a bit more to it than that. First, I don't have any religious power; I'm a layman. So the second example certainly isn't a part of my religion. Relgion is a very personal thing. Yes, I'm Catholic. Yes, I believe every word of the dogma. But you can't judge the ideas and faith behind Catholicism by the actions of a few sick people.

But it's your first point that I feel is the most important. A lot of people think that yelling scripture at a person and telling him how evil he is is the best way to convert someone. They are seriously mistaken. The best way is to live your life the best you can and pray that people will follow your example. Take Tertullian, one of the church fathers. He was converted after attending the gladiatorial games and watching Christians being thrown to the lions, choosing death over renouncing their faith.

 

I can agree and accept that. You are lving your life by example, and allowing people to enter if they want to.. not forcing them to (or, as you say, yelling scriptures at them).

I have to admit that I'm not the best person at putting forward what I mean. And I could be using the word 'religion' out of context, but I think that it's close enough.

I guess, at the end of the day, what I don't like is other people telling you what to believe. And I think you realise it's that which I hate, and understand and agree with that.

 

Read the old testament. The hijackers were a tool God used to discipline the world. This caused the removal of 2 regimes in the Middle east. All of these actions are planned and intentional.

Resentment is provoked in those who do not understand the reason for the action or lesson.

It is completely relevant to the topic at hand, which is faith. You demonstrate a lack of faith in God if you believe that an action that God has caused to happen is wrong. Abraham was justified through faith, and so were the hijackers.

 

Of course.

 

I've been reading through some of your old posts and, believe it or not, I actually think we can agree on many points. So let's put this petty debate on terrorism aside, at least for the moment, and talk about some more serious topics. You obviously have a very complex theology, and I'm very interested to hear some of your spiritual influences: books, authors, passages, etc. I already have a few guesses, but I'd like to hear it from you in case I'm grossly mistaken.