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Pray for Life, Not Death

Journal Entry: Thu Jun 25, 2009, 8:11 AM
  • Mood: Pity
  • Listening to: Viva La Vida - Coldplay
  • Drinking: Tea, Always


I don't want to use this as an outlet to dictate my political agenda, since that's not the kind of person I am, but I do want to take a brief moment to ask, rhetorically, I don't expect any answers... Do you know what kinds of people "faith" is breeding?

All I ask is to kindly take a look at your reflection, and really ponder and consider the views that "faith" has caused in you -- because of your religion, do you view certain people differently? Does your religious body promote hatred in ANY way, from telling you not to be around certain kinds of people, to forcing you to pre-judge anyone that doesn't follow certain rules in your religion?

Take a really long, good hard look at this, and try to remember one simple truth -- it is God's right to judge, not humans. God created us, knowing we would condemn ourselves, knowing that EVERYone would screw up; it isn't our right to say who has more than others. Our job is to do the best we can, and try to help others do their best as well through kindness.

I say all this because I happened upon this article by chance, and if you take the time to read it (it's not long), you'll see the perversion that's come into some people's minds -- even those supposedly "Ordained by God". [link] Please -- Do your best to promote a society where this self-righteousness is put away, where it belongs.

If you're interested in hearing more of this awful man, I suggest going to [link] and listening to more absurdity. I ask, if you are a religious person, to pray for this man, and for people like him -- remember, always fight fire with water, not more fire.

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15 Comments

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:iconcarise:
~Carise Jun 25, 2009, 11:10:58 AM
Growing up, I went to a Catholic school (All the way til the end of High School), and for many of those years, I was activity involved in the church.

However, shortly after 9/11, the priest at our church took the opportunity of the Homily to talk about how, in short, we needed to 'bomb those Muslim bastards back to the stone age'. That was the last time I went to mass at that church. I've been a few times since then, but the attitudes of so many people, of us verses them, it.. just scares me. And, really, no one ever does think, as clique as it is, what *would* Jesus do?
:iconkaleeko:
*kaleeko Jun 25, 2009, 12:38:29 PM
That's very sad. :( Hopefully it was just an outburst on his part that he now understands and regrets, but unfortunately these days, that's a big thing to hope for. It almost seems these days people will find any excuse to act harshly they can get away with. It's my hope it will change, but... At least it's a massive improvement from the Crusades.

I also haven't been to church since I moved out, except when I attend my father's church (he's a Lutheran pastor), because he's the only religious leader I really trust not to speak harshly about anyone, even if I don't always see eye to eye with him on everything. To me, it seems like most of the religious world has forgotten the "peace" and "love" part of their texts, and instead focused on law... Even with my dad, when he was going to seminary and practicing his sermons, I'd help critique, and the biggest thing I always had to point out is that he forgot Jesus and forgiveness (I got nicknamed the 'Gospel Cop' for this XD). Ah well... There's no way to force anyone to change. There's just hoping. :-/
:iconlunatteo:
~lunatteo Jun 25, 2009, 1:19:18 PM
Um... no? I think it's not religion's fault. People need to stop blaming religion... it drives me a little nuts. Most religions are created with good ideals, morals and a common center of peace. It's the fallibility of people that caused hatred... not religion.

I really think you should take a look at some talks from our church leaders and prophet: [link]
They definately haven't forgotten the ';peace' and 'love' despite years of constant persecution... *shrugs* And trust me... I used to be Pagan/agnostic for a bit... I used to argue against faith and take a really cynical view of religion... until I realized how different this one was.

Oh sure, you get a few folks who say the wrong thing. And some realize it, some don't... but just because one person screws up shouldn't mean you condemn the belief system entirely... that's like never having pizza again because one delivery dude brought it cold or something.

--
"Is this you not arguing? 'Cause you suck at it."

PW: T'eo, Lorena, Ae'ran, A'deo
Canterbury: Luna, Blackmail, various others
:iconkaleeko:
*kaleeko Jun 25, 2009, 3:00:37 PM
I'm not saying religion itself is bad, and I also didn't condemn the belief system entirely -- in fact, I didn't at all... I'm saying people are losing sight of WHAT their religion says, and instead linger on trying to rid the world of people they despise by distorting religious views into persecuting others. Religion is a wonderful thing, if you find the right view for yourself, and don't force it on others... It's people that's the problem -- which is why I personally have removed ';people' from my religious equation; I don't need to be told what to believe, I already know, and I don't want the chance of going to a church who's pastor is slowly trying to preach his own personal agenda; it's happening WAY too often lately.

I used "faith" in quotes in my post, because I'm not talking about true faith, belief in God, I'm talking about faith in the respect that's blatantly rubbed in other people's faces like, "I'm an Ordained Pastor of God, thus everything I say is his true word -- and I think Barack Obama should die, thus so does God!" This guy truly believes that... His faith has distorted from a belief in the love of God to believing he is somehow an instrument of God's wrath and that everything he says is somehow divine -- thus believing in a God that is completely different than the one he SHOULD be preaching.

Maybe I phrased it wrong in my post; it isn't RELIGION that's wrong, it's the RELIGIOUS BODY... Thus, people. Religion isn't perverted until people make it that way... My point is that people are using religion as an excuse, and it needs to stop.
:iconlunatteo:
~lunatteo Jun 25, 2009, 6:33:15 PM
Then I suppose what I was replying more so to were the questions you started off with... I still don't feel, though, that being gun shy of all 'religious bodies' is a bad thing either.

Unfortunately the war of 'good' vs 'evil' is always going to be there... and any exploitation the evil side is capable of will occur. It's best just to shake your head at those who fall to it and move toward things that are good. Continue spreading the love and peace because that's ultimately how to win that fight. ;)

--
"Is this you not arguing? 'Cause you suck at it."

PW: T'eo, Lorena, Ae'ran, A'deo
Canterbury: Luna, Blackmail, various others
:iconkaleeko:
*kaleeko Jun 25, 2009, 9:26:08 PM
Heh.. Well, while I doubt anyone really took the questions seriously, I'm just encouraging people to look at their own views, and who they choose to associate themselves with, and really contemplate if they're thinking or doing the right thing. But then, most people alway thinks they're doing the right thing, anyways. Few people ever figure out how much you learn by questioning everything around you. :P

Yeah, good/evil thing sucks, but I can't in good conscience sit back and watch crap like this and not be compelled to DO something; the reason they're allowed to in the first place is because everyone thinks it's okay to sit back and watch it happen...
:iconkhiitan:
~khiitan Jun 25, 2009, 9:36:59 PM
I don't think its specifically religion's fault, its the people who take it and warp it to their own personal ends that creates these atrocities. A religion itself is dangerous in that it creates the illusion that a certain group has the right to dictate the lives of others under the premise that it is the word of [insert deity here]. On top of that, religion is a human concept and, given human nature, is likely to be inherently flawed and biased in one way or another.

That isn't to say that all religion is directly causing all hatred/evil/etc. Many if not most religions were created, like Lunatteo said, with the intention of establishing a good, solid, moral system. But it isn't something that can be used to literally interpret every aspect of corporeal life. That's why we get the crazy s*** that goes down when the excessively faithful try to live in the 21st century based on rules made back when many cultures thought the universe was geocentric.

...I think I had a point to make when I started typing this but I forgot it. :|
:iconkaleeko:
*kaleeko Jun 25, 2009, 10:14:51 PM
Agreed. :) That's basically the point I'm trying to get across... obviously failing -_- ... Religion isn't bad. It's what people do with it, that's bad -- and the fact that there's not a heck of a lot that can be done to change such extremism and hatred... It tears me to pieces inside. :(

I just want people to stop and look at what's going on around them to make sure they aren't becoming or accidentally supporting people like this Wiley Drake guy -- because I will say, it is VERY easy to be brainwashed. I've watched it happen to friends and family members absorbed into following extremist people like this and truth be told, they don't realize it, to this day. I never want to see it happen to anyone else. :-/
:iconlunatteo:
~lunatteo Jun 26, 2009, 5:04:05 AM
well, what can you do though? You can't stop them from their freedom of speech or agency... and arguing with someone who doesn't have a rational thought system doesn't ever get anywhere but making those involved angry or upset. Trust me... I used to do it for years.

But taking that example of hatred and going on to produce more love? That's not sitting back and watching it happen... that's being motivated to make a difference... I'm of the belief that one day, yes, we will all be judged. And they'll get whatever is coming to them then... they're likely the type of person who loves to get a rise out of people. And arguing with them doesn't get anywhere because of that. I actually had a 'friend' tell me he liked saying stupid stuff because he liked making me upset. Needless to say he is no longer my friend.

--
"Is this you not arguing? 'Cause you suck at it."

PW: T'eo, Lorena, Ae'ran, A'deo
Canterbury: Luna, Blackmail, various others
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