I posted this article in my facebook yesterday. It's about a couple who chose to pray for their sick child rather than take him to the doctor
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One of the problems with some members of *insert religion here* is that they fail to acknowledge, process, or accept some of the tenets of their faith. For example, in Christianity, ignoring Job, and pointing to some mysterious adversary that has *more* or *equal* power to y*wh or Jebus isn't just bad theology. It also harms and disrupts the practice of the faith.
Choices should have consequences, and I believe they do. I don't believe in a Hell, so that makes my decision to live a life of kindness, honesty and generosity that much more meaningful, in my opinion. I don't make my choices out of fear of retribution or hope for eternal grace. I live that way because of the rewards I receive in THIS life.
I don't think anyone knows for certain what will happen when we die, if there truly is a benign creator (I fervently hope so), or if our actions have any bearing on what happens to us when our spirit shuffles of this mortal coil. I stand awkwardly apart from those who have deep religious convictions, because I just don't get it. My spiritual beliefs are far more nebulous. I find my miracles in everyday things, like the silky feel of my daughter's hair, or the scent of the earth when it rains.
Well, isn't religion (all of it) the original opiate of the masses? I'm not talking about spirituality and being connected with your personal deity - I'm talking about the good old methodology that dates back to the stone age, which allows tribal priests to banish those who do not follow the strictures of society.
Religion is the original means by which social order was codified and maintained. Do what God (as determined by me) says, or burn in a lake of fire, and in the meantime, pack up your stuff, buddy, 'cause you are not welcome in the village anymore.
And follow that by the perfect logic that says "if good things happen, it's because God is on our side," and the corollary of "things didn't work out, Satan is behind it!" (or perhaps, "God wills it this way")
This is my ultimate problem with facebook - people who you haven't seen in 20 years feel like they have a valid point to make in your life, then proceed to interject drama into it via their belief system. My reaction would be, "hey, I haven't been associated with you for most of my adult life, and now I realize there is a reason for that," followed by UNFRIEND user.
But you are just too nice of a person to tell them to fuck right off.
Life is too short to attempt an intellectual discussion with morons, religious nuts or members of the angry mob.
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For example, in Christianity, ignoring Job, and pointing to some mysterious adversary that has *more* or *equal* power to y*wh or Jebus isn't just bad theology. It also harms and disrupts the practice of the faith.
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I don't think anyone knows for certain what will happen when we die, if there truly is a benign creator (I fervently hope so), or if our actions have any bearing on what happens to us when our spirit shuffles of this mortal coil. I stand awkwardly apart from those who have deep religious convictions, because I just don't get it. My spiritual beliefs are far more nebulous. I find my miracles in everyday things, like the silky feel of my daughter's hair, or the scent of the earth when it rains.
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Religion is the original means by which social order was codified and maintained. Do what God (as determined by me) says, or burn in a lake of fire, and in the meantime, pack up your stuff, buddy, 'cause you are not welcome in the village anymore.
And follow that by the perfect logic that says "if good things happen, it's because God is on our side," and the corollary of "things didn't work out, Satan is behind it!" (or perhaps, "God wills it this way")
This isn't free-will, it's rationalization.
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But you are just too nice of a person to tell them to fuck right off.
Life is too short to attempt an intellectual discussion with morons, religious nuts or members of the angry mob.
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