"Religion is the opiate of the masses."- Karl Marx. Ok, so what if all of this is just a trip or a dream? I'm Alice stumbling down a rabbit hole into a world of fantasy and wonder. Maybe all this Bible stuff is just a construct. I mean there are so many denominations, sub-denominations, and sects. Is just one of them "right"? Right and wrong seemed to be so simple once upon a time. Now, as I look out at the world, it is colored grey like a rainy morning in England. The Book of Mormon may have historical and linguistic inaccuracies, but Mormons are usually the nicest people one could meet. And why are some of the most socially conscious rappers Muslim? (Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco et al) Aren't they all terrorists? *sarcasm font*
Why do churches pass offering plates every Sunday? I thought that God didn't desire sacrifice and burnt offerings. Why are some Christians obsessed with owning guns? Aren't Christians supposed to go the extra, give away the outer garment?I wonder what these "God and Guns" people are going to do with their gats? Kill communists, I don't know.
A favorite Christian pastime is "bitching" about the government, especially President Obama. Excuse my language, but this activity annoys me that much. They tweet and post their complaints on Facebook continually but do nothing. First, the recession started in 2007 so if you want a government scapegoat, go after the former President Bush. But remember the rule of causality vs. correlation. Some of the wisest words I have heard in my lifetime were from a speech by columnist George Will at Roanoke College. He said, "The government can't save you. If you want salvation, get religion." These people who complain the government "have religion" so why can't they be happy in God and not get worked up about the government. Humans are too flawed to be messiahs.
Humans need to belong. That's why we have families, cities, and Liger Appreciation societies. We find pleasure in the the company of our fellow creatures. Individualism can feel good for a while, but we need someone to confide in. So is religion another community or club? Maybe. It brings people together who find truth and comfort in common beliefs. But if you don't believe in what I believe, does that make me right and you wrong? Every human believes in some form of objective truth, but it is subjective to that person's own personal philosophy.
"What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us. Just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home."-Joan Osbourne
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