Rant: Religion...

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RiverSpirit456's avatar
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Oh man...that title ^^;

I would like to begin by saying that this is simply my opinion. It is neither right nor wrong, it simply exists, and I decided to share it. If I offend anyone, I apologize as that was never my intention.


...If there's one thing I've learned, both from experience and from my parents, it's that there are two things you don't want to talk about: religion and politics, because more often then not, both will start a huge debate. It's almost impossible to remain calm and mature when really talking about these things...but a few of you guys asked my opinion on religion, and I decided, why not? ^^;


I am not religious. My family never went to church, and although religion was a part of my elementary school, it was not significant enough to really make an impact on me. As I grew up and became more exposed to it, I gained both a respect and a bit of a...hatred...for religion/religious people.

I respect religion because it brings hope, guidance and joy to a lot of people. It's a community where people can come together and share an experience that feels deep and meaningful. There are some amazing morals in religious stories (be generous, do unto others as you would do to yourself, etc.), and I actually do enjoy some religions' histories. I also know how much of an impact it's had on our world history and culture, and I respect a lot of the art that has come from it. I mean, look at the masques in Istanbul, or the cathedrals throughout Europe. The paintings, the sculptures...it's been the basis for a lot of amazing things.

But I also find that I really...well, I don't like using the word "hate" because it's so strong...but yeah, I do kind of hate religion too.

There's this very frustrating, close-minded thinking that you have to spread your beliefs, "save" as many people as you can, and I just really don't like that. Can't people believe what they want to believe? Can't we just accept that cultures have their own way of doing things, they're own way of living and we should just let them be? But nope, many religions believe they have to get rid of others "wrong" way of thinking in favor of their "right" way of thinking. That's just...so stupid. (expanded on in EDIT2 below...)

There is no "right and wrong". Humans created those words so we would have a moral code and prevent anarchy. On a distant planet, it could be completely fine to murder your neighbor because they annoy you. On that planet, it could be polite to greet each other by flipping people off, or cheating on their partner. We don't know, because humans are so incredibly insignificant when compared to the literally immeasurable vastness of the universe. How the hell would we ever know what's "right and wrong"? In fact, it's incredibly egotistical to say that we were created in the image of some super powerful being and that we matter because of that (I don't mean that religious people are egotistical, but more the entire human race. I mean, really take a step back and think about what scientists, philosophers, and religious people have thought throughout history. At one point, Earth was the center of the universe, and humans were believed to be the most intelligent beings ever. In many stories, something tries to destroy earth because humans are special in one way or another. We have an ego, and it's really the idea that we were created in a super powerful being's image that's egotistical, not religious people). We don't matter, and that's fine! Can't we just live and enjoy our time here? Do we really need answers? Yes there have to be rules and there have to be morals (I do not agree with hurting others by any means), but nowhere in those rules should it say "you should believe this." Should is a bad word...

That is my problem with religion itself, but what I really hate are the fanatics who take it to the extreme. These are the people who believe others are inferior because they think or behave differently. They are the people who say it's wrong to be homosexual or believe in another religion, and they feel justified hurting other people because God said it's not right to be a certain way.

I know not all religious people are like that. I don't like to group people into categories... as if everyone in one category could possibly act the same way. No, I just know there are most definitely people out there who take religion to the extreme, and they are the reason that religion and God have gained a negative connotation for me...I can't think those words without a slight stab of grief and anger now...That's just me though.

If you are religious, all the power to you. Please live your life however you would like to live it. I hope it didn't sound like I was bashing those who are religious, because that isn't the case. If you are Christian, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist...if you are any religion, I completely respect that. The only time I'd have a problem is if you came up to me/another nonbeliever and said, "you should be Christian, Baptist, Muslim, etc." I'm fine with religion as a way of expressing yourself spiritually and connecting with others, and it's fine if you try to convert people gently (offer them an opportunity to try it out and see if they might actually like it/start to believe. Don't try to force it...). I'm fine with the morals of being kind to others, being generous, respecting people...but the second it becomes "this person is wrong because they don't believe what I believe"...excuse my french, but you done fucked up.

Also, if you disagree with homosexuality, science, or another religion, you are completely entitled to your opinion. You can disagree all you like, believe what you want to believe because that is your right as a person... but NEVER hurt anyone because they believe differently. Don't ever go to extremes, don't ever think that someone should be tortured because they're a certain way. Hell, I hate Hitler and his close-minded, awful thinking, but I would not wish torture on him...no matter how cruel and evil he was, no creature deserves that. 

My policy has always been that people can do what they want so long as they're not hurting anyone. If you want to dress up in a fur suit and pretend your a mystical animal, watch a kids show/read a children's book when you're 30+, love someone of the same gender, or believe the earth is actually flat and that the government is lizard people...who cares? You aren't hurting anyone, so there's no reason to get upset about it. Go ahead and believe whatever you want to believe!

The universe is so vast and we don't matter, so why not make the most of your life? 

Just...please don't hurt anyone...the human race has made enough suicide attempts...we don't need to add to it's grief...



I hope people realize that my mind, and many others nonbelievers' minds, are open to the possibility. We just really don't know what is real and what isn't, because there's no evidence for or against any of it, so we decide not to have concrete belief in anything and live our lives simply...open. Is there God/god/gods? Who knows?

If so...if I or someone else who doesn't believe, die and are sent to a bad place...well, it was our choice, right? I'd like to think that we'd still have led a happy life, and made our time on earth worth it. I want to leave something good behind, I want to leave having helped people, and honestly the afterlife (if there is one) doesn't mean much as long as I can do that. For me...I guess life on earth is heaven...despite all the terrible, horrible things that exist here...despite everything wrong with the world and all the confusing things...there's just so much beautiful here to appreciate and to experience. The reason happiness and contentedness is special at all is because it's fleeting, and balanced with sadness and grief...to experience either, you need the other...so really, enjoying those sweet moments here on earth, where I just feel like crying because I exist...isn't that paradise?



EDIT: Someone brought up in the comments that I contradicted myself about how we don't matter, yet our lives matter... ^^; What I meant was this:  I know the human race will disappear one day. We're only an eye blink, and I like to think I've accepted that...but while we're here, and while we're on our planet, we need to make the most of it. Just because we don't matter doesn't mean we shouldn't give a crap. People still need to care for one another and make the right choices, because humans matter to other humans. We don't matter to the universe, but I most certainly matter to my Mom, and she matters to me...So yeah, we both matter and don't matter.

EDIT2: Another thing some have brought up is how harsh I sounded about religious people wanting to "save" nonbelievers. I know that many religious people are simply compassionate and care for where others end up. It's highly admirable that they would want to help so badly... It's just that the fanatics who take it the wrong way and become less compassionate and more...violently insistent, have made me bitter toward religion...those people won't change, and it sucks that they seem to take up the spotlight, as they are the last people who should represent anything to do with religion...I know that they aren't what religion is about, but my mind just...makes the connection too quickly.



Mood: Stressed with too much I want and need to do.
Reading: Inkheart
Watching: Gakkou Gurashi (School-Live)
Listening to: Glad You Came - Boyce Avenue acoustic cover
Thinking: Oh Starclan, please don't let there be huge angry religious debates in the comments... ^^;
© 2016 - 2024 RiverSpirit456
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arraylameer's avatar

Oh my gosh this is like my EXACT belief! It hurts, I rant these exact words to my poor parents! Don’t worry there not religious. I wouldn’t do that to them… or myself