Religion and Me

I am a very strong believer of the first amendment. Freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. While I may be critical of other amendments, my belief in the first amendment is usually prominent. While I am executing freedom of speech and press, you will probably hear me in a very critical sense against religions, specifically Islam, Christianity, and Judaism; specifically its fundamentalist members. So, I would like to clear some things up, once and for all: I harbor no ill will towards any person because of their religion. I am not a bigot. If I hear that a person is a Christian, I will not make judgments before I meet them. I do not assume they are a KKK member, nor do I assume that they wear a big ludicrous 50 Cent-style cross on their neck. I do not assume that they are homophobic, I do not assume they are a redneck. I assume nothing. If I hear a woman is Jewish, I do not assume that she is rich or greedy. If I hear a man is Muslim, I do not assume he is a BFFL of Osama bin Laden.

Allow me to elaborate. I have a very strong dislike for the president of Iran. He murders his homosexual citizens of his country and then he pretends as if they do not exist. (Link) However, it is not because he is Islamic or because he is a very conservative fundamentalist Muslim. It is because he has done and said detestable things.

“But,” You say, “You've made rash generalizations about the people of the South, the Bible Belt, and Red States as a whole. How is this not bigoted?”

Unlike in Iran, in America, and other such civilized nations, we have freedom of speech. No one is forcing you to believe in anything, say anything, or do anything. Your hate is your own choice. Sure, you may be raised to believe something, but with the so-called “Liberal” media, the internet, and Hollywood there is no way that anyone these days does not have the capacity to think outside of the box. Although, sympathetically, I do feel bad for the kids out there who are constantly being brainwashed by their anti-Choice, Fox News-watching, Creationism-believing, Bible-humping parents, because I am not kidding: there are an alarming number of families similar to this.

“We get it. You're not a Christian,” You say, “But, what do you believe in?”

Well, I'll be honest. My beliefs are personal and I do not feel that everyone should be put on display. I think having a crucifix in every room of a house is tacky. Wearing a Star of David is unnecessary as is putting religious quotes on a bumper sticker (on Facebook or on a car; I dislike them both). But, since my faith has been questioned, I'll be frank: I am an Agnostic with Atheistic-like tendencies. In a sense what this means is this:

There is not enough proof to prove that a God exists. Similarly, there is not enough proof to prove that one does not exist.

This being said, I personally do not think that a God exists. However, I do think that there is a possibility of one. I personally do not view it as a big issue whether or not I think that there is or is not a God. I don't think it's a big deal whether or not you think Jesus was white or black (Although, it's pretty obvious that he was middle eastern, so his skin would look similar to Saddam Hussein's). I also do not think that whether Jesus is or is not the Messiah is an issue. What is an issue are peoples' actions. It doesn't matter what religion you tell people you are if in the end you are a terrible person. Adolf Hitler was a proclaimed Christian, yet this makes him no better than if he had been an Atheist.

Allow me to make this simpler. Several months ago (or last week if you watch Fox News), Barack Obama's religion was being questioned. Was he a Muslim or a Christian? For what seemed to be weeks people disputed this. Ever since 9/11, there has been a huge fear of Muslims and Islam. The general public does not believe that they can trust someone like that. The general public has much prejudice. So, while everyone was asking similar questions, I knew that it did not matter. Maybe he was a Muslim, maybe he was a Christian. Hell, he may even be Jewish (Although this is unlikely). But, does it matter? It hardly matters what faith he is, but what actions he makes! He may be Islamic, but if he leads this country to success then, dammit, what's wrong with that?

Nothing is.

I do not dislike people of faith nor do I make assumptions based upon them. They are just "another person" until they make choices or comments which prove that they go against my personal morals. I do not personally think what I write and do is "hate", for two wrongs do not make a right. Without people pointing out the evils of Southern racism, schools may have never been segregated. When fixing this problem, no one thought of the poor souls of the Ku Klux Klan. I view homophobia as a big issue, which religious fundamentalists are propagating. I do not feel any hatred for these individuals, but for their choices or comments.