I am not a Church-goer, nor am I ascribed to any religion.
However, I have absolutely nothing against anyone believing whatever they wish. I don't hate Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Jaynes, Hindus, or the members of any other of the countless different religions. They all have their imaginary gods and devils, and that's fine by me.
I don't like members of certain religions who use their beliefs for terrorist reasons, but that's a different matter. Nor am I too sure about priests 'Blessing Guns', as above!
Most religions teach their followers to love one-another. To be kind and generous to our fellow man. Yet many extremists ignore that, and are determined to kill those who believe something slightly different to themselves.
I suppose the most bizarre extreme of this attitude must be between the Catholics and Protestants in N Ireland. They use the exact same book, yet they seemed to hate each other because one group reveres one character more than another..... For goodness sake!!!
All religions have their own festivals, ceremonies, and even dress-codes, which I'm happy to accept as a bystander. I even take part in certain religious ceremonies myself.
So please, may I plead with members of religious groups and congregations. Keep believing in your own ideology if you must, but leave others to believe in theirs. There is no reason to hate or kill people simply because they worship some different non-existent god to yours.
I hate to suggest such a thing, but have any of the religious terrorists ever 'suspected' that their deities may not actually exist? Just because someone tells you that there are gods and devils out there.... it ain't necessarily true.
Your last sentence reminded me of "just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you". Makes me laugh every time.
ReplyDeleteWhat you wrote is a timely piece considering we are currently in "the season of goodwill".
Spare a thought for Moses, God's private secretary. No typewriters in those days. Up the mountain with a chisel. So, one of the commandments was "Thou shalt not kill". HA! Pull the other one.
However, as the Angel and I discussed - more than once and the other day - we need to distinguish between the church as an organisation, always there with their collection box and their indoctrination - with belief in the spiritual which comes in many forms. Even greengages.
Whilst I identify as a Christian as it's my (and yours) cultural background I have little time for God. Though have turned to him in prayer in the odd hour of despair. Who I do admire is Jesus Christ. He couldn't be more different from his father. His father the Avenger, Jesus the all forgiving and welcoming one.
The one I make deals with? The devil. So far so fine. He hears me.
U
All religions contain too much nonsensical mumbo jumbo. In the 21st C, it's about time they followed Heracles, and redirect the flow to clean-out the imaginary stables.
DeleteThe trouble with religion is it's man's invention. My church is the garden, the flowers, trees,sun, sky and animals. I need nothing more.
ReplyDeleteHumanism is the only true 'religion', but we should do it in our own quiet ways.
DeleteAs children growing up with our young maturing brains, we are indoctrinated with Religion by our Parents and Schools as indeed I was, and it becomes part of us until, as Richard Dawkins often says, we become old enough and wise enough to declutter our minds from Religion.
ReplyDeleteYet strange how I still find some of our old Churches very appealing in a spiritual as well as architectural way.
I just wish that all Religions could get along. If Religion gives people comfort then be it so.
Which brings me back to that well known saying...
'Religion...It's given people hope, in a world torn apart by Religion.'
It's all a lovely idea, and I think we can take comfort in it even though we know it's nonsense. I'm certain that the majority of churchgoers go simply because it gives them a feeling of 'community'. Nothing wrong with that.
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