So the American Humanist Association has paid for advertising in the Washington, D.C. area for the holidays. It will mostly be posted at bus stops and it says, "Why believe in God? Just be good, for goodness sake." Last month, the British Humanist Association advertised at London bus stops, "There's probably no God. Just stop worrying and enjoy your life."
Now, I'm all for these ads, because to me, religion in general just doesn't make sense. Andrea and I recently saw Bill Mayer's movie "Religulous," and I sided with Bill during the entire movie. Logically and scientifically, religion doesn't make sense. Bill even interviewed a priest at the Vatican (two actually--one on the street and one in the conservatory), and both of them basically said, "Whatever, it's all a big crock anyway." Most religious people he interviewed were quick to dismiss him and judge him (as they oft do). There were very few exceptions that listened, laughed, and prayed with/for him. That, if I believed in it, would be my idea of religion. Accept that others have different views, don't judge them, but treat them with respect. Different viewpoints does not equal sin (if it exists). If that were the case, education as we know it would cease to exist, because that's all education is--varying viewpoints.
But I digress...
Conservative groups in Washington are also vamping up their campaigns to keep Christ is Christmas. Really? Keep Christ is Christmas? That would imply that he was once there. Christmas is a secular holiday, people. There is evidence that "Christ" wasn't even born on December 25. And for hundreds of years, Christmas has been about Santa Claus. Don't believe me? Research the history of Santa Claus. He's ancient. Even the most religious of families teach their children to believe in Santa Claus, only for them to find out when they're 10 (if they're lucky) that Santa doesn't exist. Now, if you've believed in someone your entire life only to discover it's a scam, why do some people continue to believe in God? Because they've been instilled with the fear that they will go to this horrible awful place and God will somehow strike them down. Well I'm here to tell you, I've said some blasphemous things in my day and I'm still here. There are so many people in the world who don't believe in God and they're still here, still healthy, even. That doesn't mean I'm a horrible person. I have enemies, sure, but it's probably because of trivial things like miscommunication, rumors, or jealousy. That's usually the reason I dislike someone. Had I been open and honest with a person at first, I may have found out that he/she wasn't as bad as I wanted him/her to be.
Also quoted: "It's the ultimate grinch to say there is no God at a time when millions of people around the world celebrate the birth of Christ," said Mathew Staver, the group's chairman and dean of the Liberty University School of Law. "Certainly, they have the right to believe what they want but this is insulting."
What?! Atheists getting called derogatory names and being insulted isn't, well, insulting? But I forgot...it's Holy, right?
Wait, there's one more: Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll from earlier this year found 92 percent of Americans believe in God. Either it's a skewed number, or else the 8% who don't believe in God are very loud and ever present.
And another thing--I don't dislike people because of their religious views. To each his own. I respect your views just as I expect you to respect mine. Being religious doesn't make you better. You could go to church everytime the door is open, but if you're out getting laid by every person that walks by and badmouths "friends" when they walk out the door, I'm going to disrespect and dislike you so hard that you'll have icicles forming on your asshole when I walk in the room. And why should you care if I disrespect and dislike you? Because I'm the shit, for one thing. And for another, you're God-fearing and God-loving, right? Practice what you preach, sistah.
Of course, I'm only joking about me being the shit (at least a little anyway).
Another interesting item:
American Family Association president Tim Wildmon was quoted: "It's a stupid ad," he said. "How do we define 'good' if we don't believe in God? God in his word, the Bible, tells us what's good and bad and right and wrong. If we are each ourselves defining what's good, it's going to be a crazy world."
You know, Tim, in my world, right and wrong is defined by, ya know, the law. And that may not be the best example because, to my knowledge, they still make testifiers swear on the Bible. That would mean nothing to me, but I'd tell the truth anyway, because it's the right thing to do--Bible aside. But I would define "wrong" as being something that hurts someone else in any way, shape, or form. And of course, it's tricky. Life would be a lot easier if "right and wrong" were more clearly defined. And reading between Tim's lines, I would deduce that if people don't believe in God, who are they to determine right from wrong. Clearly, those people have no boundaries or morals, right?
This all boils down to one thing-
Religion is a way to keep the population under someone else's control. Look at history. The weaker citizens (weaker in income, education, whatever) have always yearned for someone else to look up to. Enter Jesus. As long as something is done "in the name of God," then it must be right. How many Holy Wars have existed? How many people murdered "in the name of God/Allah/Jehovah?" Why is that "moral?" Islam is no different, in terms of proclaiming things in the name of God. Christians have had their fair share of murders throughout history, as well. "Convert or die." Independence? No such thing. You must be a follower. You must do as I say. When it's a mortal man making such claims, it's a cult. It's evil. But a fictional character? It's Holy.
I went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, was in all the performances, did all the Youth Group things...When I turned 16, I thought, "What in the world? None of it makes sense." And I hadn't even gotten to college yet. I've tried going back to church. One preacher said we were going to Hell if we cursed. See ya there, pal. And others--they were just as ridiculous. Methodist, Baptist, Nazarene, I've been to Mass and researched Judaism extensively (and of all the above, the latter makes the most sense to me, by the way).
I just don't understand how this makes sense to people. It's about how strongly one believes? I can have as much faith and belief that I'll be a millionaire in 5 years. But this isn't NeverNeverLand. I live in reality, and seeing as how I'm just a secretary, that AIN'T gonna happen. I can work as hard as I want, and short of whoring myself out on the streets in the Quarter, there's not really a plausible way of making that belief a reality. So how can I dedicate my entire life to living according to an invisible entity's laws? I can't.
And for those of you whom I've offended, I get forward after forward after forward in my email and even cell phone saying that if I believe in God, I'll forward this to 10 people or else it means I'm the devil. So if you've chosen to read to the end, then it was voluntary and there's no need to be offended (just as I am never offended at the forwards--they're just annoying and I delete them anyway). You were forewarned.
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