Thoughts...

Thoughts on Religion....

 

Thoughts…

 

Why have I taken this time to sit down at this electronic device to write out these forthcoming words? My only conclusion is I am trying to find better understanding on my thoughts and questions about everything.

 

Religion is a strange subject. I have encountered first hand what institutional religion is like. Throughout my youth my dad was a pretty regular church attendant. He always wanted me to go with him every Sunday and coaxed me with candy and treats. You could get me to go anywhere if something sweet was involved. Church really bored me and I didn’t like being there but I went to please my dad.

As I got older I wanted to meet new people and when I got old enough youth groups where open to me at church. This was very exciting for me but it didn’t turn out the way I thought it would. No body really wanted to talk to me, I was the youngest one there, and the new kid. Everybody already had a group, a click, just like everybody else. I was shut out and not invited in. I kept trying, sitting there every Sunday, waiting for something that never seemed to happen. I was looking for god, and he never came. I always heard about these moments in peoples lives where they suddenly understood everything, they saw god, they gained faith. Well it never happened to me...

I believe that institutional religion is all based on fear. The fear of the unknown. The BIG question. “Where do we go when we die?” If I don’t act right on earth then for all eternity demons will be poking hot spikes up my a*s tearing me apart over and over again and it will never stop. That doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, but if you act right and follow the word of god, when you die all your dreams will come true and you will be reunited with all your dead loved ones. Now that sounds nice! Institutional religion is a big fairy tale to smooth out the fear of the unknown question of death.

Humans seem to have been doing this forever, creating stories to better understand things. The first ever recorded story is about a sun princess that creates the world, Inanna. As far back as the beginning of language humans have been trying to make sense of life and death, good and evil. But when do we ever step back and look at this question without fear? Never. Humans get scared and start making things up to make themselves feel better and smother all reason and logic. Humans kill and start wars and other people suffer and die, all in the name of god. The thing that scares me, the fear that makes me want to look the other way is the fear that this will never change. Holy wars and suffering will keep going and going, forever. Everybody thinks they are right when nobody is right to begin with. Nobody is justified if they kill in the name of god.

Now you might be thinking “Hey! I am religious and I don’t kill and murder in the name of a god!” Well what I am trying to say is that not everybody who follows a religion commits crimes like that, but what do you really do? Why do you follow the word of god? Do you as a person really find personal and spiritual growth from your religion? Or are you just acting in fear to appease a higher power? What is your purpose on this strange place called earth and this weird thing called life?

 

(Thank you for reading my thoughts. Now I challenge anybody who has read this to write back to me. Take the time and think about these questions I have posed and write back. What is your purpose? What are your ideas? You have listened to my thoughts and I am trying to gather more information to get a better understanding on how people think about this subject.)

Reviews

[The Mad Prophet]

Sounds like fun, and they don't call me the mad prophet for nothing. I will post a good segment as a note for this piece. Other then that I have to agree with most of this. However, I am Pagan. I have a spiritual sense, and it is not based on fear. I do feel enlightened, but I know I am not going to heaven or hell. Besides, why would you want to spend an eternity anywhere. Heaven and Hell sounds like a similar place. I mean after lond years of Hell, you would adapt, it's human nature to adapt.

I have a lot to say, give me a sec :)

[Adela Muresan]

Well, first of all I think your work is great, displaying deep thoughts and a little anger towards the concept of Christianity.

I do believe myself that religion works trough fear, because the people who created it knew that the mob may be governed only trough fear or love, and the fear-way is a lot easier than the other.
Since the antiquity people have manifested a wish to believe in some kind of divinity that governess nature, universe, emotions etc., and if they are convinced by that divinity to kill (like in the holly wars) than they do it�

A.M.

[J.Black]

Oh nice thoughts you have conner!
I actually think about some of the same stuff you ponder about as well.
Well done.
x

[electricsatori]

Well as an atheist I've got my own theories why people need an invisible friend to survive. I've come to the same conclusion. Fear. Just a different form of fear. Mortality Salience. Big word meaning fear of death. Anxiety about the fact that when we die we're gone. No soul, no heaven, no reincarnation. However, if I have an invisible friend then I have to have a soul, because after all, if my invisible friend is real then so is that invisible thing called a soul, right?

[mrowepat]

Nice write, Conner. Though I enjoyed it, I did feel like you were holding back a bit. Perhaps to not anger or show contempt for the religious???? It's funny that you sent me a friend request recently. I've been away from the cafe lately trying to get my head around my next essay, which will be dealing with the ignorance of the religious, especially young earth creationists.

I will look forward to more of your work. I pop in from time to time.....

[Simplicity]

Hm...very interesting. There were a few grammar mistakes, but it was readable, and it held my attention.
It's true, now that I think of it. Humans do make stories to explain things and smother their fear, even if it rules out logic. No one knows their purpose on Earth, not even the wisest man/woman. I've mulled over the question a lot, and I always come out blank. Asking that question is actually very pointless. It's almost like asking, "Is God real?" or "What will happen when I die?" You never know. That's what creates fear in the human mind.

[Berserker[Diktator Von ..]

Thanks for allowing us the opportunity to read some of your thoughts!

Berserk

[sue]

Here are some of my thoughts;

The mind can only materialize love, freedom, truth, beauty, health, wisdom and all of the other ideas we label as virtuous. For example if you truely try to love someone the first thing you will notice is that this other person becomes more important to you than your own fears and your fears will start to disappear as love grows and takes their place. Then your world starts to materialize around you out of love not fear. And the things and the people who make up this world become manifestations of your love. The manifestations may change as this plane of time and space and other ego's work over your world, but as long as you are a witness to the love behind your material world your mind will keep creating a situation in which love can live and grow.