Post by Josh Parsley on Mar 9, 2007 11:55:10 GMT -5
I Hate Religion
Amy McCarthy
Posted: 3/9/07
While saying religion is the worst thing that has ever happened on earth most likely is punishable by death in West Texas, I believe it is certainly the truth. Jesse Morrell of Open Air Outreach ministries may not be the best example of religious fanaticism, but he certainly exemplifies everything wrong with religion.
Hate, discrimination and even death are completely justifiable through various religions. When we look back through history, more blood has been shed in the name of religion (not necessarily God) than any other cause.
The Crusades and even the war in Iraq have been fought with religious undertones. President George W. Bush famously told reporters he was "driven with a mission from God," and God told him to "fight those terrorists in Afghanistan" and "end the tyranny in Iraq."
If God actually exists, I'm sure he would take issue with an unjust war being blamed on Him. But God isn't necessarily the biggest issue in my "war on religion"; it's the way people interpret the intent of religious texts.
In the United States, African Americans and homosexuals have been oppressed by Christianity. Up until the 21st century, the Bible was used to justify everything from lynching African Americans to denying them the right to vote. The Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacy groups often preach their hate under the guise of "God's word."
More recently, though, homosexuals have borne the brunt of religious hatred.
With people like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Paul Volle and most repugnantly, Fred Phelps of "God Hates Fags" fame, blaming everything from Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 to the downfall of the United States on homosexuals and calling homosexuality a "disease" and "mental illness" only is fueling the hate fires.
It is no secret the United States is extremely homophobic, and we actually had to enact hate crime legislation. It seems like it would be a no-brainer punishments should be stronger in cases in which someone is killed for no reason other than his or her sexual orientation, race or religious affiliation.
In 2001, the American Religious Identification Survey found 76.5 percent of Americans considered themselves "Christian."
Is it coincidental a majority of Christians in a nation equals profound bigotry against homosexuals? Absolutely not. Christianity explicitly opens the door for hate against homosexuals.
While religion may justify oppression and hate, I am not closed-minded enough to believe every follower of any given religion is full of hate. I would even venture to say the number of "good" Christians far outweighs the bad. The problem is, though, the good Christians don't get the good press.
In a lot of cases, we don't hear about the good things Christians are doing because the Christians who are hating people in the name of God "outshine" (sadly enough) their actions.
But, not everything about religion is bad. When organizations use their congregations to feed the poor and provide care to the sick, then "God's" purpose has been fulfilled. I think religion provides space for a lot of good work to be done, but the good certainly is overshadowed by the bad.
Even with the good Christians do, is religion really necessary? Should God have to tell us to feed the hungry and provide medicine to the sick?
No. We should feed the hungry because they're hungry. I think that's the only justification necessary for being a good Samaritan.
Morals certainly can exist outside of religion, and I firmly believe they should. Moral codes should be simply that and should not contain hatred or discrimination.
With Christianity, though, morals seem pretty contradictory. You should turn the other cheek, but take an eye for an eye? Love your neighbor - unless he's gay.
It doesn't make any sense to me. Religion has certainly done good things for society, but it's not at all necessary for good things to happen.
I definitely don't have anything against personal relationships with God and spirituality. What I do take issue with, though, is dogma. Doctrines of hate and separation are unacceptable.
As an agnostic, I certainly do feel there is a distinct possibility God exists, but no God I ever could believe in or worship would hate anyone, least of all someone who was born homosexual, black, Muslim, Buddhist or even atheist.
So, to all you religious fundamentalists, put your hatred and ignorance aside. God never told you to hate anyone; it's just easier for you to hate than understand and accept.
To all you Christians who are actually doing the work of God, thank you. Mother Teresa, Feed the Children and other organizations who have taken the Bible to heart rather than taking it up as a sword to inflict hate are among the most important people on the planet.
It is them, not Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson or Fred Phelps, who will inherit the earth.
Pending God exists, of course.
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Amy McCarthy
Posted: 3/9/07
While saying religion is the worst thing that has ever happened on earth most likely is punishable by death in West Texas, I believe it is certainly the truth. Jesse Morrell of Open Air Outreach ministries may not be the best example of religious fanaticism, but he certainly exemplifies everything wrong with religion.
Hate, discrimination and even death are completely justifiable through various religions. When we look back through history, more blood has been shed in the name of religion (not necessarily God) than any other cause.
The Crusades and even the war in Iraq have been fought with religious undertones. President George W. Bush famously told reporters he was "driven with a mission from God," and God told him to "fight those terrorists in Afghanistan" and "end the tyranny in Iraq."
If God actually exists, I'm sure he would take issue with an unjust war being blamed on Him. But God isn't necessarily the biggest issue in my "war on religion"; it's the way people interpret the intent of religious texts.
In the United States, African Americans and homosexuals have been oppressed by Christianity. Up until the 21st century, the Bible was used to justify everything from lynching African Americans to denying them the right to vote. The Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacy groups often preach their hate under the guise of "God's word."
More recently, though, homosexuals have borne the brunt of religious hatred.
With people like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Paul Volle and most repugnantly, Fred Phelps of "God Hates Fags" fame, blaming everything from Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 to the downfall of the United States on homosexuals and calling homosexuality a "disease" and "mental illness" only is fueling the hate fires.
It is no secret the United States is extremely homophobic, and we actually had to enact hate crime legislation. It seems like it would be a no-brainer punishments should be stronger in cases in which someone is killed for no reason other than his or her sexual orientation, race or religious affiliation.
In 2001, the American Religious Identification Survey found 76.5 percent of Americans considered themselves "Christian."
Is it coincidental a majority of Christians in a nation equals profound bigotry against homosexuals? Absolutely not. Christianity explicitly opens the door for hate against homosexuals.
While religion may justify oppression and hate, I am not closed-minded enough to believe every follower of any given religion is full of hate. I would even venture to say the number of "good" Christians far outweighs the bad. The problem is, though, the good Christians don't get the good press.
In a lot of cases, we don't hear about the good things Christians are doing because the Christians who are hating people in the name of God "outshine" (sadly enough) their actions.
But, not everything about religion is bad. When organizations use their congregations to feed the poor and provide care to the sick, then "God's" purpose has been fulfilled. I think religion provides space for a lot of good work to be done, but the good certainly is overshadowed by the bad.
Even with the good Christians do, is religion really necessary? Should God have to tell us to feed the hungry and provide medicine to the sick?
No. We should feed the hungry because they're hungry. I think that's the only justification necessary for being a good Samaritan.
Morals certainly can exist outside of religion, and I firmly believe they should. Moral codes should be simply that and should not contain hatred or discrimination.
With Christianity, though, morals seem pretty contradictory. You should turn the other cheek, but take an eye for an eye? Love your neighbor - unless he's gay.
It doesn't make any sense to me. Religion has certainly done good things for society, but it's not at all necessary for good things to happen.
I definitely don't have anything against personal relationships with God and spirituality. What I do take issue with, though, is dogma. Doctrines of hate and separation are unacceptable.
As an agnostic, I certainly do feel there is a distinct possibility God exists, but no God I ever could believe in or worship would hate anyone, least of all someone who was born homosexual, black, Muslim, Buddhist or even atheist.
So, to all you religious fundamentalists, put your hatred and ignorance aside. God never told you to hate anyone; it's just easier for you to hate than understand and accept.
To all you Christians who are actually doing the work of God, thank you. Mother Teresa, Feed the Children and other organizations who have taken the Bible to heart rather than taking it up as a sword to inflict hate are among the most important people on the planet.
It is them, not Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson or Fred Phelps, who will inherit the earth.
Pending God exists, of course.
media.www.dailytoreador.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=cdf79d4c-6adf-4c5d-996a-b81518581399