Polemic on Religion

[lunadelcorvo]

I try so hard to be fair minded, egalitarian, and respectful of the beliefs of others. I do, even here in the Bible belt, surrounded by Baptist Conservatives, Fundamentalists, and just plain ignorance. However, as time goes on, and the more I see, the less tolerance I have been able to maintain. Today I realized my tolerance is gone. Nothing in particular happened, there was no final straw, I just realized that I can no longer do it.

Christianity is completely artificial. It is not grounded in anything at all to do with the historical person (if there was one) of Yeshua or his teachings. It is not grounded in anything his followers supposedly said or thought. It is not grounded in anything Paul said or thought. It is not grounded in Judaic thought. It is a fabrication; a construct of the mid-second and subsequent centuries, designed solely to consolidate power. It is the most successful 'Big Brother' ever devised. It is a mechanism of control, a totalitarian regime of which the world has never seen the like. Its only purpose is to keep populations quiet, unquestioning, and under control.

The dogma of religion, (Christianity perhaps chief among them, but by no means alone), has done more to hold back humankind than all the wars (for which it is largely responsible), plagues, famines, earthquakes, and disasters our species has ever known. It idolizes ignorance, encourages blindness, creates division and enmity, and holds stupidity as its highest virtue. It is as insidiously deadly as Hitler, Mussolini and Franco combined.

I recognize that not all who claim Christianity truly believe that the world began in seven days in a Disney-eque garden with a talking snake. They do not all believe that the Earth does not move, and the universe flings itself around this planet every 24 hours. They do not all believe that science is a lie, nor that is is perfectly OK to trash the environment and destroy the very earth beneath our feet because 'hey, it's all gonna end in a few years anyway, and why don't we start a nuclear war to get it started?' They do not all believe that is it fine, nay, even vital, that others be exterminated, if not by conversion, than by the sword, and if not that, the bomb. They do not all believe that blacks, or gays, or atheists, or Muslims are subhuman, and should be eradicated like vermin. But many, many, many people do.

And the fact that many people do, and the fact that they JUSTIFY these insane notions in the name of Christianity should be deeply alarming to anyone who claims the same faith. It should make anyone who claims that faith question seriously the value of that faith in any sense. Furthermore, it should be enough to make them realize, at last, that it is time to grow up. It is time to step out of the dark ages, to stop worshiping ignorance, stop believing the lies.

It is long past time we realize that religion has no place in shaping our public lives, our communities, our government, our policy, our education, our world. It is time we grew up and began to think for ourselves. It is time to set aside faith, and all the evil it propagates, and become rational, thinking adults.

Does this mean I think that our rich and diverse history and heritage of religion is worthless? Not at all. Symbol, allegory, archetype, and metaphor are vital to our wholeness as humans, and to the wholeness of our understanding of ourselves and our relationship with each other and the world. But ONLY when we remember that they ARE symbol, allegory, archetype, and metaphor. THEY ARE NOT REAL. And no one has the sole license to the only valid metaphor. When the symbol is mistaken for the thing, all is lost, and we have willingly turned away from the real and embraced a deeply flawed fantasy. When the metaphor is read as literal, empirical reality is lost.

The vast majority of the people on this planet, today, right now, have no sense of reality. They gleefully, with an insufferable sense of superiority, tout fairy tale as truth, and look down their deluded noses at anyone who attempts to correct them. It is time to wake up! Time to put religious thought back where it belongs, into personal reflection, personal understanding, and individual thought. It has no business anywhere else.

And that is why my religious tolerance is gone. My respect for the religion of another person extends only as far as that person's understanding that religion is a tool of thought, and not reality. The rest, I cannot but regard as delusional, having no grasp of reality, and certainly not fit to make rational decisions about the world around them. Let me say that this applies not merely to Christians. It applies to anyone who seeks to make societal decisions based on literal beliefs in religious allegory.

If someone commits murder because a voice in their head tells them to, we remove their freedom to make decisions for themselves, for it is clear that they are not rational, and therefore are not capable of making rational decisions. How is this different from killing an abortion clinic doctor? How is this different from letting a mother die rather than allow an abortion? How is this different from denying access to contraception, or safe sex education? How is this different from refusing to allow stem cell research? How is this different from supplanting science with faith, creationism, and geocentrism? How is this different from starting a war in the name of God? It is no different at all. It is high time we stop excusing hate, violence, oppression, and ignorance in the name of religion.

Comments

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

i think i may've just fallen in love with you. :)

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

ROTFLMAO!

Oh, my! *giggle*

Thank you! I needed that! :D

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

haha ...well you got it, babe. :) that was the best thing i've read in a really long time.

[jfc013.livejournal.com]

Damn, I love you. *links*

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

step away from the raven...she's mine. ;)

[jfc013.livejournal.com]

She was my sister first, dude. ;P

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

*sigh* fine then... haha ;)

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

She's my big sis.... there's penty to Raven luv to go round! LOL

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

I love you, too, sis.... Just suddenly had to get that off my chest...

*snicker*

I am happy it's been well recieved! LOL

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

It was interesting reading this, in the somewhat more moderate British religious climate, where many Christians are somewhat more sensible and less extreme than the ones you quite rightly criticise.

I'm currently trying to work out what parts of my faith make sense, and what parts don't, but as you're probably aware, I've had a terrible time in church of late, and I can fully understand your frustration with the organised religion that you see. I think many, many Christians are motivated largely by fear and insecurity, and a resulting need to be right - these are things I've never felt, and this is possibly why I feel so discouraged with the incredibly dumb things done in God's name.

Whatever you do, don't let yourself be consumed by hate, because then you'll be just as bad as the people you criticise. Faith when practised properly and sensibly can be of enormous value, and my advice to anyone, most of all myself, is don't let extremists ruin your view of a particular faith. Best example of this is actually atheism! Although many people agree to some extent with Richard Dawkins, they're greatly disturbed by the hateful glee with which he lays into religious people.

It's far too long since we last spoke at length...let's do the thing sometime.

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

many Christians are motivated largely by fear and insecurity, and a resulting need to be right.

i couldn't agree more.

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

It's a terrible motivation for anything, as it leads to a defensive "them and us" mentality, and that way madness lies.

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

it really is - unfortunately, it's the motivation of the majority of our society. *sigh*

mind if i add you?

~kym

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

Go right ahead, new friends always welcome. :)

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

thanks - i added you. i was looking at your profile...i've always wanted to go to england. i love the pic of the castle. *sigh*

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

That one's actually in Scotland. ;)

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

still...it's absolutely gorgeous. i can't imagine living in a place so beautiful. that's my goal once my son graduates.

heh - and i suppose if we're going to be friends, i should probably ask your name?

~kym

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

Lee. :)

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

I hate elitist LJ-ers who try to beat people off with big sticks.

and i hate to say it, but you should probably know right up front that i am really picky about the people that i add. i've had some really bad experiences on here - for awhile, i had my journal locked and wouldn't let any new people in at all. *shrug* i got bit in the ass big time...but i'm slowly getting over it, and trying to accept that not all people are lying fucks. haha

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

Well, that's entirely up to you, of course, and my comment isn't directed towards people who are just private - more at the people who are actually insulting and aggressive when you try to be nice.

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

well...i can be rather insulting and aggressive - but only if you piss me off. ;)

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

Is that a challenge? ;)

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

nope- not at all. just me being...well, me. :0

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

Heh! OK. :)

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Sweetie, It's not abot hate - that part of what I have such a problem with. I am simply done excusing things for the sake of religion, and hate is one of those things. And I do not mean only Christianity, (though that is the one I end up face to face with most often). But I don't think we can continue excusing otherwise reprehensible behavior on grounds of any religion, be it Christian, Muslim, or anything else. Things that societies would not accept under other circumstances are accepted just because the are done on religious grounds. I truly do not believe that as a global society we can keep doing this save at our own peril.

I do think, as I said that religion has a place in the mental and spiritual life of the individual - it cannot continue to operate in the public sphere, however. And I think it is imperative that we take religious belief of any kind out of any kind of public policy.

I would no more 'lay into' a religious person in the way you describe than I would a deeply psychotic individual, but I do not think we can continue to ignore atrocity on the part of either, nor can we allow either to be in charge of making decisions that affect us all.

Note that I do not consider ou to be such an individual - I have always thought you have a degree of perspective on your personal ideas/beliefs and the 'appropriate' range of their applicability that I admire. If there were many more like you, the issue would be moot.

Sadly thought, you are right, fear and insecurity motivate too many in terms of religion. It's self perpetuating, and it is precisely the way that the church(es)/doctrine(s) were devised—to create just such dependence on the power structure. Kept the masses biddable, don't ya know! But that's an entirely different topic. LOL

Indeed - let's do talk soon. *hugs*

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

I am simply done excusing things for the sake of religion, and hate is one of those things.

You should see the way some Christians are reacting to new British anti-discrimination legislation. It's forcing them to be nice to gay people (shock, horror).

I agree with you that religion should be kept out of public life - it's a personal decision, and a particular form of morality cannot be imposed by legislation.

[lachaim.livejournal.com]

I've often thought that insecurity may be one of the primary motivators behind religious belief (power and control are the motivators behind religious development). Take evolution as an example. The main arguments against evolution often boil down to "if we evolved then we're no better than anything else and I just can't accept that."

Somehow creationists don't see the flip side of this. On the one hand, yes, being the product of evolution gives us a similarity to everything else, but look at what we've accomplished (good and bad) that nothing else has. Language, culture, art are all predominantly (although not entirely) unique to humans. Humans are not special because a creator made us special, but because we've accomplished what we have despite having to kick and fight our way against all odds just as all other life forms have.

Who do people respect more? The person who started with nothing and worked their way to the top or the person who inherited everything and never did a day of work in their lives? (note that respect is very different from wanting to emulate if given half a chance). Evolution says we're the hard worker who started with nothing; creationism says we're the spoiled child who had everything handed to them on a platter (the Paris Hilton's and Donald Trumps of the world).

I'm also tired of the empty argument that without religion there is no basis for morality. Morality is a social construct that does not require religious dogma; religion just shifts the blame away from individuals and onto a higher being.

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

Evolution v. creation has always struck me as an enormous red herring. I really don't care about it, and I don't see why the two are mutually exclusive, or why it particularly matters. What I do know is that anyone who blindly accepts Genesis 1 as a literal explanation of where we came from, in seven literal days, is clearly not thinking very hard...but beyond that, I'm not that bothered.

I'm also tired of the empty argument that without religion there is no basis for morality.

Absolutely - it's always struck me as rather weak. I think we've generally come to a consensus over the years, as many ideas have changed over the centuries anyway.

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Morality is a social construct that does not require religious dogma; religion just shifts the blame away from individuals and onto a higher being.

Thank you! I agree totally. I have also heard it argued that evolution devalues humankind, because (forgive the gender thing here) if man was not created by God, then he is not 'special' but a mere accident of physics. However, it seems to me that to put 'man' below God makes him subservient. Evolution, on the other hand, raises man to the highest ethical rank, making him the sole crafter of his own destiny...

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

question: do you mind if i post this in my journal...with proper credit, of course?

~kym

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Not at all, link or post away!

[datura-shadows.livejournal.com]

thanks, love. i posted it. :0

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Here through a link on jfc013's livejournal. Unfortunately, your post has accomplished just the opposite of what you intended. I came here a hard-core atheist, likening any and all religions to the childhood belief that bad shit can't happen to you *so long as you are in bed under the blankets*. But now, I am going to start a church based on worshiping you and all you represent. OH THE IRONY.

*wonders where her atheism icon has got to*

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Er - that would be jfc013.

[jfc013.livejournal.com]

Oh, I already worship her! ;) She's one smart cookie!

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Gracious, I feel all like I'm back in high school! LOL

*mwah*

[lachaim.livejournal.com]

If this new religion gets going, I wonder how many times a day I'll need to bow in the direction of raven_moon? (whom I currently sense is a few degrees North of due West of my current location)

Er...I suppose that would more accurately be how many *more* times I need to bow...

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Awww. stop you, I'm gonna get all hot and bothered.... *wink*

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Now, now, don't go doing that... totally defeats the point! LOL

Glad you liked it, though! Just something that's been simmering over for a while, ya know?

[http://users.livejournal.com/__3amconfession/]

I am here via jfc013.

This is a very good essay (if you consider it that) - all the points you make really bring into prespective how hypocritical religious adovocates and believers are. I am surrounded by Christians and to hear every day about what is right and what will send me to heaven has worn down my patience for their beliefs. I am tolerant of theirs, but they are not tolerant of mine - I may be agnostic, but that doesn't mean my values and morals shouldn't matter.

I like this very much and yes, they do need to pull their heads out of the gutter and sit back down in reality for a bit.

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Thank you for coming by, and I am glad you enjoyed it. The constant prostheletyzing does get wearying doesn't it? LOL

Anyway, welcome, and thanks again!

[alobar.livejournal.com]

My main gripes with organized religion can be broken down to several issues.

They tend to be monotheistic and that leads them into a them/us mindset about those who feel differently. Being monotheistic, they perceive everything as a fuedalistic power-over with the head honcho making all the decisions. When I think of monotheism I think of micro-managed melalomania deified.

Me, being pantheistic in inclination, perceive creation and the physical laws as being a loose knit coopoerative of all sentient beings, which is mutable over time.

Hard to find any good examples of religions who held the reigns of temporal power where they did not kill or torture those who believed differently than the particular religion in power. Sephardic Spain may have been one, but no telling if it would have remained so had they not been conquered by the Xians.

Great post. I came here from a link you posted to dark_christian. May I repost to my LJ with link back here?

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Please do, and thank you! :)

[alobar.livejournal.com]

Your essay is spreading. See comment to my post.
http://alobar.livejournal.com/2376861.html

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Wow... thanks! *blush* I am happy it is, erm, well-received.

[dubpulse.livejournal.com]

Hi, I got here through Alobar's post. I also re-posted this in my journal with due credit, I hope you don't mind.

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

Not at all... it seems to be getting quite a bit of mileage... I'm flattered really, but happy it seems to strike a chord in people.