Pick and Choose

Whatever happened to the 'immorality'

of piousness...

and judgementalness...

and ego...

and hypocrisy?

I guess those admonitions got lost

somewhere in the umpteen translations.

Or, more likely...

the reality that religion is all just headgames

and make believe doesn't cover up the idea

of 'spiritual transformation' being malarkey...

and human beings would far rather create

misery for another

than give up their own vices.

***

More Alike Than They Will Ever See



NOOOOOOOO!!!!



Just like humanity's endless grab for land and power,

the religious-minded seek to exert control over

others' minds, to the end that their concepts reign

supreme. It isn't benevolence, though many certainly

are convinced of their own sanctimonious 'good-

naturedness' and 'connection to ultimate truth and

ultimate knowledge!'

What bigger ego-trip than to belief yourself

smart enough (and blessed enough, and 'good'

enough, etc.) to be tapped in to the universal Answer!

Imagining that if people will simply follow your words

and your path, they can be just as enlightened and

safe and worthy and superior as you are!

(Barf!)

It's not the differences in religions that are the focal point,

because ultimately they are all the same;

"I need someone to tell me what to do.

I need someone to tell me what to think.

I need to feel safe and loved in life.

I need to believe my actions mean something.

I need to find strength and purpose.

I need to feel connected to something larger.

I need a sense of community with like-minded people."

Now, in and of itself, none of those statements is

dangerous or particularly unhealthy. Life is

hard and complicated and scary at times.

But the problem is in their inherently insufferable

self-righteousness, convinced not only

that they know best and need to spread their

gospel to others, but that others are thereby

incorrect...and must be stopped!

(See where black-and-white absolutism leads?!)

Behind every smile and every act of 'charity' is an effort to

indoctrinate and turn your mind. Because these people--

every last member of every last type of church in every

last religion on the planet--cannot abide anyone who is different.

They won't stop until they condemn and control

all that is variance from their ultimate vision.

Because the bottom line of all their beliefs is;

"You're doing it wrong! Here, let me show you what's 'Right!"

Be afraid.

***

Sucks To Be You...If You're Anything Like Rebel Jesus

So many who stand idly by claiming (or allowing others
to claim for them) allegiance to a particular form of
organized religion are actually not practicing members.
Hell, they aren't even believers.


They simply go through the motions of feigning involvement,
or keeping involvement as superficial as possible, spitting
back the appropriate number of affirmative remarks,
making a convincing number of head bobs in mock agreement.
Enthusiasm on cue.


Because they know how the True Believers and head cases
are with abusiveness (and casting out from the inner circle)
anyone who is even assumed to not be a 'team player.'


You must be a robotic supporter, never wavering or going
against a particular community's (which means a few mouthy
pricks') views on what they think God's law should say, according
to them. (Or lie about it, to get what they want!)


Not only do these nosy heifers stay up in your personal
business, gossip mercilessly, and intimidate and terrorize better
than Al Qaeda could ever hope to, but they have shaming and
ostracization down to a science.


Retaliation for perceived betrayal (nonconformity, or committing
one of the church-approved 'unthinkable sins--you know, the
ones the rest of the congregation were able to keep covered up)
can be mild, subtle, or innocuous-seeming in many circles.
After all, especially in small towns, directness and honesty
aren't a big part of church life.


But in many cases, being socially cast off and disparaged
can be so relentless, so brutal, that people's lives are ruined.
The gap between what 'spiritual' people purport to do and what
they actually do is an ever-widening gap that many have fallen
through the crack of.


A rebel's disregard for any portion of church activity or doctrine
(like, say, last Sunday, Father's Day's unprecedented nationally
coordinated second 'plate passing' to gather financial support
to crush gay marriage initiatives) is grounds for alienation within
the church. But, those churches less desirous of drama or conflict
can simply give the cold shoulder until the 'trouble-maker' gets
the picture and 'chooses' to take their unwelcome ass elsewhere.


Questioning teachings, addressing incorrect behavior, and
simply 'making noise' while the crazies are doing their thing
and riding high on their power are all grounds for alienation,
dismissal, abuse, harassment, or worse in more extreme
circles. And religion is nothing if not a breeding ground for
extremism.


So, people say they believe, or act the part to avoid being
the object of conflict or neglect, finding it easier to fly under
the radar and let others be the focus of rage and control
and insanity that every church harbors in their indoctrination
or condemnation fest (or smear campaigns.) Many would rather
live a lie and keep family and friends happy than deal with
their wrath.


After seeing first hand how self-professed 'godly' people act
(and the examples from Phelps, NOM, AFA, and all the
rest get more and more outrageous every day on the news,)
there is no denying that these folks are unbalanced and dealing
with serious mental health issues.

Perhaps, when someone becomes 'born again,' they really
just revert back to ridiculously helpless babies with no clue
how to engage the world.


The evidence seems to support that theory.


*****************************************************

What's in a Name?

Why must 'Christians' label themselves as such and proudly
boast? I thought the point was the action and the effect of
'goodness'--for its own sake? With these folks it's all ego and
PR campaign.


The idea that good deeds are limited to those who have a
self-believed 'higher calling' is mistaken. Nonetheless,
self-professed Xians have a preponderance of self-importance
and tend to dismiss the good deeds of non-religious folks.

As if by virtue of being separated from the church and the idea
of 'god' and 'believers,' good deeds are hollow and ineffective.
After all, how could there be any possible motivation to help
people and be an upstanding person without god?!?


There are--and can be--many motivations for doing good;

*Conscience
*Reason
*Compassion
*Kindness
*Humanity
*Sense of Community
*Empathy
*Paying Back (or Paying it forward)
*Choosing Civilized behavior over selfishness

It certainly isn't limited to attempting to mimic a higher being or
winning brownie points to make it into a cloud-kingdom post-death.


But the misconception, as always, is that labeling oneself 'covered
in god's name' provides a legitimacy that is not owned by others.
There is a question as to why someone who doesn't believe in god--
or at least voice it vociferously-- would be trying to get involved.


I'd wager a terribly minuscule amount of religious people actually
do good at all, and of those who do, fewer still do it when no
one is looking and there is no acclaim to be garnered.


Most that I have seen have actually use the name and concept
of god and their religion to do immeasurable harm to their fellow
man.

Let the good do good. When you attach the provision that one
who receives charity must also be subjected to proselytizing,
you eliminate any semblance of actual kindness.

****************************************************