There are no pictures in this essay… @_@ Well, I figured that anyone who takes the time to read this, isn’t going to be fooled by my clever photo placement. :p Anyway… <3
I’m feeling semi-intelligent today, probably from writing extremely technical articles for the past several hours. :) Anyway, here is a concept essay, on one of the issues that I normally am very reluctant to write about – Religion.
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Now, writing an opinion essay about religion is extremely dangerous, since it’s a subject that many people feel very passionate about. For expressing my opinion on religious matters, I’ve been yelled at, insulted, shunned, and even (on rare occasions) laughed at. Such treatment should not in any way be motivation enough for me to decide to write an essay about my personal viewpoint, but yet, it seems I have not been thus discouraged. Yet. >_<
I am fully supportive of the fact that different people choose to believe different things. In my own mind, I am accepting of everyone believing what they wish – it is no business of mine to interfere. However, I do tend to take it personally when people decide that they wish to use manipulation, bribery, and coercion in order to ‘convert’ an unwilling soul to join their cause. I believe that if someone is truly in need of a set of beliefs, they will seek it out on their own.
This opinion of mine is supported by many years of Jehovah’s Witnesses knocking at my door, and my mother always being sympathetic enough to let them in. In the beginning, I was very patient, and listened quietly when they spoke happily about why they could provide my family with the “good and righteous path” to salvation. However, over time, I began to pick up on several different flaws in their set of beliefs, and certain things that I did not agree with. When I started speaking up, they began to lose some of their charm. My inquiries were greeted with scorn, and sometimes a sad smile, with “You can’t understand, you’re only a child”. Over time, it seems that they came to my house with a certain steadfast reluctance, and did not smile so easily at me when my mother opened the door. I was slightly confused at this sudden change in demeanor, because in my childish ten-year-old mind, asking questions was the only way to learn. Over time, they began to tell me odd things, such as the fact that I was “A hopeless case, and doomed to eternal punishment”. I wasn’t surprised when they eventually stopped appearing during our scheduled family dinnertime.
Now, this serves as a perfect example to support my belief that it is not right to try to force others to adapt your set of beliefs. For example, if you believe that being a vegetarian is the only true way of life, are you constantly searching for meat-eating humans, bombarding them with pamphlets, and shouting that killing animals is wrong? Of course not, because that would be an intrusion into people’s personal choices about their way of life. If a person’s lifestyle is not immediately threatening to you, your family, or those you care about, I truly don’t think it is your place to try to force them in another direction.
However, objective as I am, I can understand the opposite side of this argument. Especially in Christianity, many people believe that to truly honor God, it is their duty to bring His ‘children’ (or lost sheep, as they are sometimes called) back to his side. This is the reason why many deeply religious individuals go on conquests into third-world countries, to bring knowledge of Christianity to places that have no exposure to organized religion. I am not in any way condemning the missionary lifestyle, as I have several close relatives that are currently in Africa, working for PBT (Public Bible Translators) Guinea. As I said before, what certain people believe is none of my concern. The bringing of knowledge is not what I am arguing against. Instead, I am more concerned with the people that are not accepting enough to be objective about the fact that not everyone is going to share their beliefs. I am a firm believer in knowledge, and believe everyone has a right to make their own decisions about which path they decide to take.
This, of course, brings me to my next point. I most definitely do not support any religion which allows its followers to use manipulative techniques in order to ‘convert’ people to its cause. I have had bad experiences with certain people in all religions, which subsequently brings me to my next point – Yes, there are corrupt people in every religion. No religious organization is without its flaws, and anyone who would suggest otherwise is being extremely blinded by bias. This is an incontrovertible fact, because of the innate nature of the human progression of thought. Every religion has to have a human “leader” (or group of leaders), who are given a considerable amount of power. Despite any precautions taken to ensure that this power is balanced, the chance of corruption remains. This is especially true when large sums of money are involved, or the chance to potentially change the influence surrounding thousands of people’s beliefs. This power is intoxicating to most individuals, as is the concept of total control. Everyone would like to think that they could assume this position with the best intentions, but if you had that kind of influence, would you truly fail to use it to your own advantage, even in the most subtle matters? If a personal need for financing arose, would you truly be able to resist the temptation to rationalize funding your own lifestyle with your responsibility to maintain your position? I have witnessed such corruptible actions, and understand that these are hard questions, which are only simple to answer if you do not give them sufficient thought.
As I said before, I have no sympathy for individuals who try to force other people to adapt their beliefs. Every human being should have the freedom of choice, and not be ‘tricked’ or ‘bribed’ into believing a certain thing. I don’t believe that ANY religion should market their set of beliefs as the “right” way, since this implies that they have clear definitions for right and wrong. I believe I covered this in a previous blog entry, but the concept of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ is entirely up to interpretation, and should not be utilized in this manner. If you are truly passionate about a religion, it is not advised to view people who don’t share your beliefs as ‘wrong’. The reason for this, is that their definition for ‘wrong’ could be associated with what you believe in, thus entirely disproving your definitions by their own beliefs.
I love to debate, yet I seem to be having some trouble finding someone to debate with who will not immediately condemn my many questions as “blasphemous”, “erroneous” or “wrong”. Finding truly objective people, who do not resort to “You just don’t know the truth” or “By saying that, you have just condemned yourself to (insert underworld respective person believes in)” seems to be a very difficult task. I admit, I sometimes ask hard questions, but without an ability to assess public opinions about a subject, how will I fully understand their argument?
I know that this is an extremely controversial subject, and that by posting my opinions about it, I am potentially incurring the wrath of many passionately religious intelligent people. I only ask that you try to be objective – this is simply my opinion essay about a concept. :) If by sharing my opinions this creates a rift in certain friendships, then I suppose it would only support my viewpoint that many people are not able to be truly objective when it comes to issues of religion. I didn’t even cover the point I was initially going to address in this essay – the fact of many beliefs being “subject to interpretation”. Oh well. I always encourage a healthy debate, and can usually take either side, as the situation calls. However, for this essay, I did choose a side, and chose to express my ‘opinion’. Perhaps tomorrow I’ll write another essay, disputing all of the points I called up in this essay. Now THAT would be a fun project. ;)
Hey, this is Jon; we met at PAX. I grew up Christian and studied a lot of theology. I’m now an atheist, but even when I wasn’t, I felt that those who dodged the sort of questions you talk about were doing both you and themselves a disservice.
I’m kind of confused, though. You talk about seeing problems and contradictions in what the Jehovah’s Witnesses were teaching. But later on in your essay, you don’t think it’s appropriate to say any religious view is “wrong”. Do you mean “morally wrong” or “factually wrong”? What about calling religious views inconsistent?
Factually wrong I suppose, which works better with the point I was trying to make. :) I think it is everyone’s right to recognize inconsistencies in religion (of which there are many), as long as they are able to bring up these inconsistencies in an argument without openly insulting the other person’s intelligence (or lack thereof). I think every person should have the right to assess a religion for themselves, and not be subjected to another person’s definition of the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ way to think. I suppose I should have clarified that better.. :p
Not a bad writeup on religion.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind.
Generally the people who will not engage in an intelligent discourse with you on the subject usually have no counter argument to what you point out as flaws in their system.
That is very similar to how all of these -teabaggers are acting at town hall meetings.
Regarding people in Africa, they do have religion. Its just not Christianity.
If you really want to burn someones noodle, you should explain to them that organized religion is a cult.
That is right, a cult. something that is generally condemned universally.
A cult by definition is a group of people gathered together by a like belief.
At the FD Forums we have had a number of conversations about religion. The number one problem is that it is organized. That there are people in charge (read; Religious Leaders) who in the process of passing on the word of God are actually passing on their personal definition of the word.
That is where the problem is.
In Religion, it is said that the body is the temple. By that reasoning, there is no need for a spiritual leader.
I could continue but it is not my place.
We will talk again.
zee
As a Christian, I have to say… I agree. I mean to say that people, throughout the history of the world, have been free to make their choices and to have another’s belief’s pushed upon you isn’t good.
As for corruption, you nailed it. And the sad fact of the matter is that a single person’s corruption can and will alter the lives of all those that have ever looked to that person for help, whether it be guidance or just as an icon.
To be passionate about something you need to love it, and to love it you can’t have been forced into it or pushed into it. If I can’t make someone else curious and excited about what I believe, then they will not believe it – plain and simple. This goes for religious beliefs as well as many other things from music to gaming and more.
If you’re open to reading a book I would recommend, Rob Bell has written one titled “Sex God”. It has little to do with sex and lots to do with humanity and how flawed we tend to be. Suffice it to say, it’s the only book I’ve read 4 times and look forward to reading again this winter.
Keep writing!
I just wanted to say that I agree with everyone. Corruption has been
here since the beginning. My question to guys is “is there only one
way?”. I mean for life to exsist did one thing happaen or did many
contridicting things happen. Let’s use science for an example “u drop
a ball”, will it always be pulled by gravity? If ur answer is no than
u must believe that nothing is possible. Have u ever tried to imagine
nothing. It is very hard to do. I have tried many times but still can
not do it. I always end up with something. Gravity is a perfect
example because no matter where u are in space there is a
gravitational pull. So how do we get away from this pull. By excepting
that its not real or that gravity doesn’t exsist. Do u believe in
gravity?
Let’s use science again. Can u creat matter out of nothing. I was
taught caused and effect and that you have to have start with matter
to make matter. So if there is life and matter what caused it? An
explosion? Maybe but u still need to start with something. Something
without a cause. Maybe an Uncaused caused. Something that just is.
Something that couldn’t have been effected by anything. Like a ball
rolling up hill in a manner of speaking. It just doesn’t make sense.
Its almost as hard as thinking about nothing.
My question to u is which do u like better? Nothing is impossible or
nothing possible! U decide. Nothing or uncaused caused.
Maybe on a later date we can discuss what types of uncaused caused
there are or u can teach me about nothing.
Hi, I found you through EHow (Same EHow name as I’ve used here). Nice job on this blog. I like Japanese culture a lot too. In fact, I believe I had a past life in Japan.
Anyway, I tend to write about spiritual matters and so forth as one of my passions. I like your perspective here. Many people assume that the mere mention of God is a solemn matter, whereas I tend to look at God as being able to be understood at times through absurdity. I welcome your comments on this effort at divine humor: http://hierocryptic.blogspot.com/2009/10/is-god-ever-especially-loyal-or-partial_12.html