The Problem with Religion

Anyone who truly knows me, knows that I am far from judgmental. I believe that there are differences among people which necessarily include different interpretations of what constitutes morality and ethical behavior. I am not overly religious, I have my own beliefs which influence my behavior toward others. Does that make me better, righter, juster than anyone else? I doubt it, but that is how I conduct myself in society and in my treatment of others.

I do not like to stand upon the proverbial “soap box” often, tend to avoid it as often as possible. My glass house can shatter as easily under the fire of rock as the next person. That being said, forgive me if this blog seems some what evangelical, but there is something I feel compelled to get off my chest.

I see a problem with religion. “What on Earth is wrong with religion?” you may be asking yourself right now. My response is: people. I have noticed many examples in society that I can share with you which demonstrate what it is that I am speaking of.

In the United States, not unlike other areas of the World, religion has become increasingly interwoven with politics. So to my friends overseas, as you may be thinking right now “big deal politics and religion often go ‘hand in hand’” the tragedy here is that in the United States it was never intended that religion be so involved in politics. There is good reason, and the founding fathers were very wise indeed when they insisted upon a separation between church and state. Throughout history there have been example after example of evil and destructive things done by men in the name of religion. I will not digress and go through them all, we would be here for an eternity and my fingers would likely fall off before reaching the end.

The religious political factions in the United States demand that a woman not be entitled to make a decision that affects her own body and her very own future. These people would very much like to see a day come where abortion is completely unavailable under every circumstance. These same people would very much like to see a day come to pass where their “hard earned tax dollars” are no longer being “wasted” on supporting others who are in need of support, perhaps many of whom happen to be single mothers who were unable to obtain an abortion. These people support the death penalty. Apparently it is alright to kill a person, so long as they are above an unspecified age and no longer in the process of cell division.