"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
--Hebrews 11:1
I've gotten into a lot of conversations lately with people here at work about religious fanaticism, and it always swings around to Mormonism. I find it all very fascinating, especially after watching the last few episodes of my new favorite television show, Big Love. Anyway, I think the scariest thing about religious fanatics, and religious people in general, is how they blindly believe what they believe, without questioning it. And please, you God-lovers on my Flist, don't get your panties in a bunch. I love God in my own way. But after being in a cult for 8 years, and actually living the life of a religious fanatic, I think maybe I have a right to my opinion on this one. I am speaking from experience, after all.
Jihadists are willing to die for their beliefs, and kill others, all the while thinking it earns them martyrdom and a special place in heaven. SUICIDE AND MURDER! You have to be sort of blind to kill yourself and others for God. Mormons believe Jesus actually came to North America after he died on the cross, was resurrected and ascended into heaven. Where is the archeological proof of that?? And Mormons for the most part, are highly educated and successful people. How anyone with any sort of logical reasoning can believe Jesus walked around with the Native American Indians thousands of years ago is beyond me.
I believe in God, and I believe in Jesus, but I no longer believe in this to the exclusion of everything else. For instance, I also believe in evolution. I believe that the Colorado River created the Grand Canyon over millions and millions of years. I do not believe that God put the Grand Canyon where it is. However, I think he set in motion the cycle of evolution that gave us the world we live in today. To me, that makes sense. It is the way I’ve managed to blend my faith and my reasoning into something I can understand. They say faith is blind, but I say I can’t afford to be blind EVER AGAIN. And if that means questioning everything I’ve ever believed in my whole life, than so be it.
Self-preservation is my new religion.
I don’t understand how someone, who knows what they are doing is the wrong decision, can continue to make that decision. It’s one thing to make the wrong decision out of error. Error you can learn from, grow through, mature because of. Just as I learned, grew and matured due to my experience at Crazy!Church with Evil!Pastor.
However, resolutely making the wrong choice with eyes wide open? Knowing full well you were on the wrong path? I don’t get that. Why cause yourself unnecessary pain? You can’t learn, grow or mature through something like that. Because it’s just stupidity. Blind stupidity. As blind and as stupid as the Jihadists blowing themselves up, or the Mormons praying to their big stick in the air.
I've gotten into a lot of conversations lately with people here at work about religious fanaticism, and it always swings around to Mormonism. I find it all very fascinating, especially after watching the last few episodes of my new favorite television show, Big Love. Anyway, I think the scariest thing about religious fanatics, and religious people in general, is how they blindly believe what they believe, without questioning it. And please, you God-lovers on my Flist, don't get your panties in a bunch. I love God in my own way. But after being in a cult for 8 years, and actually living the life of a religious fanatic, I think maybe I have a right to my opinion on this one. I am speaking from experience, after all.
Jihadists are willing to die for their beliefs, and kill others, all the while thinking it earns them martyrdom and a special place in heaven. SUICIDE AND MURDER! You have to be sort of blind to kill yourself and others for God. Mormons believe Jesus actually came to North America after he died on the cross, was resurrected and ascended into heaven. Where is the archeological proof of that?? And Mormons for the most part, are highly educated and successful people. How anyone with any sort of logical reasoning can believe Jesus walked around with the Native American Indians thousands of years ago is beyond me.
I believe in God, and I believe in Jesus, but I no longer believe in this to the exclusion of everything else. For instance, I also believe in evolution. I believe that the Colorado River created the Grand Canyon over millions and millions of years. I do not believe that God put the Grand Canyon where it is. However, I think he set in motion the cycle of evolution that gave us the world we live in today. To me, that makes sense. It is the way I’ve managed to blend my faith and my reasoning into something I can understand. They say faith is blind, but I say I can’t afford to be blind EVER AGAIN. And if that means questioning everything I’ve ever believed in my whole life, than so be it.
Self-preservation is my new religion.
I don’t understand how someone, who knows what they are doing is the wrong decision, can continue to make that decision. It’s one thing to make the wrong decision out of error. Error you can learn from, grow through, mature because of. Just as I learned, grew and matured due to my experience at Crazy!Church with Evil!Pastor.
However, resolutely making the wrong choice with eyes wide open? Knowing full well you were on the wrong path? I don’t get that. Why cause yourself unnecessary pain? You can’t learn, grow or mature through something like that. Because it’s just stupidity. Blind stupidity. As blind and as stupid as the Jihadists blowing themselves up, or the Mormons praying to their big stick in the air.