I don't have issues really with what people believe, but how this belief causes them to behave, namely towards other people. My problem is not with whether someone believes in Jesus, Mohammed, Shiva, Buddha, or the fucking Flying Spaghetti Monster, but how these beliefs are accepted shields for prejudice, and even violence. For instance, prejudice and open hatred of homosexuals is perfectly acceptable in most of the country, even espoused by legislators and the President himself. Bigotry of this magnitude would not be acceptable in any way if it did not have religious text to back it up. Religion often just gives a license to hate, despite some religions attempts at behaving otherwise. The Old Testament and the Qur'an both authorize and endorse holy war. Since Christianity still uses the Old Testament text, it has taken up the same vein, despite the fact that the guy the religion was founded on was one of the most love-espousing revolutionaries in history. His qualms were not with sinners, but with those that thought themselves better than others due to religion. The only times he was recorded as being "angry" was at religious bullies taking advantage of laypeople and wielding their power inappropriately. Yet somehow, his pacifism was morphed into a Christian jihad. |
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Take, for example, a letter written to the Freedom from Religion Foundation, valiantly defending Christianity:
"Satan worshipping scum… Please die and go to hell… I hope you get a painful disease like rectal cancer and die a slow painful death, so you can meet your God, SATAN….So you fags and dykes take it easy and watch where you go cuz whenever you least expect it god will get you…..
P.S. Fuck you, you communist whore.. Get your black ass out of the U.S.A. … You are without excuse. Creation is more than enough evidence of the LORD JESUS CHRIST'S omnipotent power."
Whew. In one excerpt, this person managed to justify violence, malevolence, homophobia, racism, McCarthyism and ignorance by simply wielding a deity's name. Religion in itself may not be evil, but it can produce toxic effects. Yet, I know that some atheists and members of the GLBT community can be just as militant and vile in response to religious persecution. So, it's not religion I want to destroy, but its destructive nature.
Basically, wherever someone's morals come from, I just wish we could all agree to treat each other with respect and dignity, and yes, love. Whether you love someone because of Jesus, or because you're just a basic humanist, it shouldn't matter. Religion, as much as it divides, does have some power to unite a people under a moral code.
We are going to have to share this world, regardless, and if there is a God out there, wouldn't he/she be more impressed with treating your fellow creations respectfully? Since, I have no doubt, religion will never be abolished, couldn't it just be amended to be nice and loving to others?