"Imagine
all the people, living for today."
That
song has been embedded in my head and is my recommendation for the
future world anthem. You'd be too quick to say that I hate religion
and fear or resent god or w/e else that first pops into your head
when I try to discuss your "faith." After watching License
to Wed, of all movies, I realized how badly people need to fully
appreciate where someone is coming from before they can even begin to
understand and think about what's being said. For me a better
statement would be that I hate the countless negative things done in
the name of Jesus or a god. I hate when people "justify"
blissful ignorance in the face of factual knowledge. I hate seeing
defensive stances taken in an area of your life that should mean so
much more to you than something to fight for instead of express.
The
truth is, I don't care at all if you believe. If it "makes you a
better person," "adds meaning to your life," and
"isn't harming anybody" then go for it. A church go-er can
walk in and see all the people in the choir who "love to praise
Jesus." They look around at all the heads nodded in "prayer."
They "ask for forgiveness" and get blessed. I can't do
that. I see people who simply like to sing and appreciate the musical
energy. I see people huddled over mimicking what their parents taught
them, behaving respectfully, and wishing really hard. I watch people
as they give
up
after exhaustively pointless attempts to justify their guilty deeds
and thoughts.
I
will never feel intimidated or scared of your god or knowledge of the
gospels. Don't look for me if you want to argue with bible quotes,
miracles, or nice people stories. If you don't see how easily I
can argue the bible with the bible, find plausible scientific
explanations for the miracles, and tell you just as many bad people
stories your fooling yourself. All I ever ask for people is to be
honest. The same kind of honest that made me rant for countless hours
about "love." Honesty that accounts for 20 or so depressed
and pissed off blogs. REAL TRUTH that pushes you to get informed,
most assuredly stress out, and ultimately achieve real happiness.
That thing that keeps your heart steady and your head on when your
faced with something you don't yet understand. The lack of
understanding pill is the hardest to swallow and takes the longest to
digest, but the rewards are so insurmountable later you won't regret
the side effects.
You
must always remember I won't try to fight "your god"
because if I try we both already know I'm wrong your right and I'm
destined to "lose." If you justify your accusations and
beliefs in ignorance, or better said, "on faith" I won't
bother to argue and will only suggest certain books or documentaries
I can all but assume you won't read or watch. The ultimate paradox
will always remain however, though we think we know so much, at the
same time we really don't know anything. If you don't at least
settle, better yet, begin
to question,
the ground in your own mind how much bigger are you making the
problem? Where is the advice your giving really coming from? What
message are you actually trying to preach? Sure, its simple to agree
on the basics, you know, peace, love, yada yada, but what hat happens
when we hit the details? Instead of arguing semantics why can't we
just simply agree on those simple things of peace, love, and yada
yada and stop there. Your religion is not your spirituality and
especially not your individual nature. I don't care to, nor try to,
"attack" you. I look to explain what you believe. Moreover
I look for you
to explain and understand
what you believe. If you don't think that's where I'm coming from,
that's on you, just don't expect anything out of me that I wouldn't
award anyone else with a contently closed mind. If you'll never see
me as anything but some "hateful atheist" or "religion
attacker" and my opinions or better yet, proven facts, just will
never matter, the very least I would hope for you to take from me are
some questions you can ask yourself. Alone and quietly in your
bedroom perhaps at four in the morning when no one can judge you.
Light a candle, put on some Jack Johnson, sit back and just ask. I
don't know what will happen. Simply ask. Don't get angry, don't give
up, and don't be afraid of your answers.
