Religion

[shondawilson]

I had a friend tell me last night, as we worked on another busy christmas season night that one day, someone asked him if I hated religion. I laughed when he said that, because that couldn't be farther from the truth. I believe in God, I have read the bible, and I have a lot of faith and work hard every day to be a good person. Now, I wont deny that I have a huge problem with many facets of ornganized religion. I think religion shouldn't be in our government when we are a democracy that has freedom of that subject, I do not believe it should be forced upon our children, especially in government funded educational institutions and I have a MAJOR problem with anyone who uses any sort of message of judgement, oppression, or hate under the banner of any God by any name. We have, for centuries now, seen what the product of real religious oppression can do from the antics of the world running church of early western history to the witch hunts, crusades, and inquisitions of zealots. Even today, when people are hurt because of a God...it really defeats any purpose that I think the true need for religion creates.
Love, hope, fellowship, community, trust, honesty....these wonderful things thrown out the window when overzealous believers blow up abortion clinics, protest a gay man's funeral, or blow up a car in a foreign country in the name of some God....a reason to spread hate.
I could never say I hate religion because the base needs for them and the base teachings of what it means to have a God and something holy are important, but when people get hold of them....man do they get perverted and I do hate that.