Its long been said that the two worst subjects to discuss while in the company of strangers are Religion and Politics. I have always loved ranting about today's government and the socialists that control it. From Father's rights to the petty debate of health care its always been a great source of pleasure for me to verbally demolish and otherwise destroy that which you have called a free society. But in all my years of writing I don't believe I have ever touched on the insanely popular debate on whether a Deity exists.
My esteemed colleague, co-writer and best friend in the whole wide world and I agreed along time ago to disagree on the subject of supreme power in the heavens. She grew up in a local church... actually, the very one my ex-husband's father preaches at. Not that this influenced my decision any on converting to athiestism, but it sure did spark the questions I had that ultimately led to my education and thus my disacknowledgement of The Almighty.
It was when I was out with my sister yesterday, she being a devout christian to the extreme of the sense, that I opted to share my beliefs with you, my loyal reader. My sister, having faith for many, many moons now was contorted with questions. I could see in her face that the things she had come to believe all this time were not reconciling the drama and pain the world has caused her. Every religion, every bible teaches that faith in God will heal you. Every religion indeed teaches that faith is blind, and God is merciful. And every religion teaches tolerance of others; but it also teaches that their belief is the only TRUE path.
I was brought up Catholic... as most Sicilians are. Rosaries and butter lambs were a daily way of life for me. But even at the tender age of 4 I remember crying in church because some dude was hanging from half a tree bleeding all over the place above the alter. What the fuck kind of shit is that? And they call this a family atmosphere? I can tell you, sweet reader, that I would not allow any of my children to witness such a thing, let alone week after week with very little explanation other than "Give money" and "God's Will".
So, in my twenties, I began questioning existence of a higher authority. How can a God allow hurricanes and disease and hunger if he is so loving? Answer; "God's Will". If he "Wills" this to happen, then that is one sick fuck. Who does that really? If anyone of us, save the lunatics that spark violence and rampage, saw a dying man on the street corner, would we not offer a cloth or a ride to the local ER? Would we allow our loved ones to parish from Cancer, AIDS, Sickle Cell Anemia or any other disease because its "Our Will"? I'm telling you, that is one crazy bastard.
Now if religion teaches us that death and disease are God's will, then wouldn't logic teach us that this Cat in the Sky is the greatest serial killer of all time? And he has never been caught!! In fact, he is revered and idolized for his acts. God's Will. What a crock.
Now religion also teaches us that its not for us to know why it is God's will. I'm sorry, but this guy really has a good thing going for him. He can kill, screw, mame, and otherwise destroy any man woman or child.. even animals, and he gets worshiped for it. I really want his job. If I so much as spank my kid, I could go to jail and this guy gets to fuck up who ever he wants and gets praised???? Talk about job perks. I wonder what his health care coverage is like.
So we die, and its taught that we go to a heavenly place... And its taught that eventually there will be a day of judgment where all dead souls of history will be resurrected to account for their lives. All Dead Souls. Do you know how many people die world wide a day? Its like 1500. EVERYDAY. So you multiple that times history and you get a number into the trillions of gazillions! But they'll all be resurrected? Now that is a feat. And not only that, but His kid will come to decide who gets the permanent axe and who moves on to an Eden like Earth. Between you and me, I wouldn't let my kid decide what socks I should wear let alone who gets to live or die for eternity. I wouldn't be added to the "eternity list" if my kid wrote it... But the guy that makes Sour Patch Kid's would.
Speaking of parenting, is the Almighty not the worst parent you have ever heard of? He lets his kid get tortured for his beliefs his whole life.. starves him for 40 days..... and then has him beaten and killed and we are taught that this was a loving act? Poor kid didn't even have butter for his bread at his last supper. Not to mention he was a rebel 20 year old who partied too hard turning water to wine. Let me find out MY SON is at a party whipping up jungle juice.. I would beat his ass.
Ok, so back to the gruel we are fed.. Does the question arise in your sweet head of why we are taught this? The very same reason we teach our own children that if they do something naughty they will go to time out. Time Out to children is Hell to adults. Same difference. Father Baker's, boot camp, go to your room; These are all variations of Hades.
And yet we look into the sky and hope for someone else, not to worship, but to blame. That's what "God" is for the entire world. A Reason. A reason to blame for the death of a loved one. A reason to go to war. A reason to explain the things our infinitesimal minds cannot understand. "God" is simply the easiest way out. Its easier than saying "He had a heart attack because he stuffed his face with 40 pounds of grease a day" we can rather say "Its God's Will." We don't want to think about our mother's or father's decaying in the ground with worms and roaches spreading feces and carcasses all through their eye sockets so we say "He is with his father in heaven" and that makes us feel better. We have little theory as to why humanity exists so we create a convenient story about ashes and ribs. And this is more believable than a UFO. This is more believable than evolution. This is more believable than horoscopes and ghosts.
Please don't get me started on a talking snake. You and I both know if you were to tell anyone that you and a boa had a conversation in the produce section you would be kindly sedated and escorted to a rubber room.
But Mankind... in fact 80% of mankind, believes in some variation of this bed time story. A tale that was spun with the sole intent to control the masses, the same reason we spin tales to our children. Folk lore and superstition force us to hold on to this belief structure simply out of a "Knock on wood" theory and not for fact.
"God's Will" "Blind Faith" "Dogma" and "He works in Mysterious Ways"
Bull shit.
