Religion (cross posted with myspace) -

link

^ do not read this if you're easily offended by the suggestion that the bible isn't real. In this case, grow a pair/l2freewill.

I think it's easy to say, avatar aside, those of you who know me could look at the posts in that link and see who was me right off the bat. That's not really the point of this blog, but I just want to show that atheist =/= i hate religion and it's followers.

Dawn Marie is a catholic. A pretty strong willed one too. At some point I might end up converting for her (provided I find enough faith to do so.) She says she loves me that much that she could turn her back on the god she believes in to be with me. I'm not comfortable with that, really. Namely because I can see the good that catholicism has had on her life, for the most part. In the cases where it's caused problems it hasn't been the catholic religion that caused her problems - it was the people that followed it.

I've considering the problem of religion and what it does to the world lately based on a combination of the above thought process, and because of a programme on british TV called ''make me a christian'' It basically takes a group of people who are, for some reason or another, considered to be 'sinning' by the principles laid out by the bible. There's this one guy, who, while simply trying to be a 'rebel' for the sake of it and refusing to try it and see what happens, is pointing out various flaws with the priests involved in being their 'mentors' for this programme - Namely that they are being told simply that they should live a certain way because the bible says so, as opposed to explaining how or why it could improve their lives. The guy I mention as trying to be a rebel may well be childish in the way he makes his points (i'm sure you can find the first 2 episodes online somewhere) but he does nontheless have one.

Christianity, like the other major religions, does have it's flaws. Namely, I believe these flaws are human influence. Why do I say this?

Does any bible ever specifically use the words that you should go out and KILL whoever doesn't share the ideology? Does any bible, or the deities described within, ever show itself/themselves to humans in order to have them declare war on each other?

I'm not claiming to have read any of them word for word - hell, i've barely read any passages from them, but i'm betting you'd be hard pushed to find anything specific that urges that. As I pointed out on the blog on myspace, christians are indoctrinated into believing that they should be out converting anyone who doesn't share their ideology - this is a part of what makes it seem so obnoxious.

Surely though, in this day and age, atheists and religious people really should be able to make peace and live with each other? The idea of god as an all knowing, all powerful being gives rise to the idea that, in creating a being such as humanity and granting it free will would give rise to a section of whatever society developed that DIDN'T follow him. Maybe he didn't like it, but if he designed us and left that in, then it suggests he tolerates it. This is why his followers are rewarded with an afterlife in heaven, and others are not - namely, those who don't follow him will die all the same. That they do not go to heaven doesn't intrinsically mean they would have earned a place in hell. Maybe it was interpreted this way by countless revisions of the bible, maybe he really did feel that way - who knows? But seriously, would an omniscient being be arrogant enough to assume that humanity would bow to his will and be obedient little pups because he said to do so? If someone like me can easily reach that conclusion, then I don't think anyone who knew everything would not.

By now, you might be wondering what the point of this blog is. That's all good, and to be expected. As yet i've really not stated anything much of personal opinion. I'd understand if this was taken to be an attack against christianity - far from it, i'm merely stating my opinion on a part of what I think is wrong with religion in general. If you read my posts on the myspace blog, then you'll see that I am actually defending religion there.

Honestly, I don't think i really can set a definite conclusion to this. I want to, but it's merely a bunch of thoughts that followed on in a logical train.

Maybe it's naive of me in this day and age, but i guess you could say i'm asking why we can't all just grow the fuck up and get along. Humanity is stifling itself by choosing to fight to prove who is superior rather than getting together and working out all the shit we need to.

Shit, look at georgia. I don't know everything that's going on there, granted. But i read one british newspaper on saturday morning that had a headline on the front page saying that Vladmir putin threatened to nuke poland if they stepped in to help georgia, or allowed some us missile base there or something. What does that achieve? half the planet nukes each other in response. yay, we're all fucked because a few retards had control of nuclear weapons.

Maybe there's no point in posting this kind of thing in a blog. But whatever. I'm not interested in changing the whole world. I don't have that kind of potential. What i believe in though, as can be seen, is treating everyone fairly. If someone is a prick to you, then treat them like a prick. They earned it. Just don't go too far, or you'll only make yourself look bad. Try to be even handed and as kind as you can. You never know, a random act of kindness can change someone's life forever