May 18, 2006

TBF: Religion

Heresey (The Downward Spiral)

He sewed his eyes shut because he is afraid to see
He tries to tell me what i put inside of me
He got the answers to ease my curiosity
He dreamed a god up and called it christianity

God is dead and no one cares
If there is a hell i'll see you there

He flexed his muscles to keep his flock of sheep in line
He made a virus that would kill off all the swine
His perfect kingdom of killing, suffering and pain
Demands devotion atrocities done in his name

God is dead and no one cares
If there is a hell i'll see you there
Your god is dead and no one cares
If there is a hell i'll see you there

"Will you die for this?
Will you die for this?
Will you die for this?
Will you die for this?"

God is dead and no one cares
If there is a hell i'll see you there
(Your god is dead)
God is dead (And no one cares)
And no one cares (Drowning in his own hypocrisy)
If there is a hell (See you)
I'll see you there (You there)


Religion is commonly defined as a group of beliefs concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief. It is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system" In the course of the development of religion, it has taken many forms in various cultures and individuals. Occasionally, the word "religion" is used in the more restrictive sense of "organized religion" that is, an organization of people supporting the exercise of some religion, often taking the form of a legal entity.

There are many definitions of religion, and most have struggled to avoid an overly sharp definition on the one hand, and meaningless generalities on the other. Some have tried to use formalistic, doctrinal definitions and others have tried to use experiential, emotive, intuitive, valuational and ethical factors....

But here I'm going to really examine why religion has become more than a set of beliefs but instead becomes a base reason to claim wars, condemn those who have alternative lifestyles, and try to remember why we believe, not just what we're told but what it means to have faith in anything/ everything...

So tonight The Brian Factor tackles: Religion

I recall growing up and going to Sunday school and learning about God, the Devil, why we're here and what it's all about, but as I got older I saw people using God as the reason for their own agendas: people would claim it was God's idea to collect money, that it's God's will to condemn homosexuality, or, most recently, invade countries. Well, not directly but recall two words: Manifest Destiny and then get back to me.

It was reasons such as this that I washed my hands of organized religion and stopped going to church. I believe in God, I believe that God wants people to be happy, and I also believe we face moments of pain and humility to teach us and to inspire us to grow as individuals. I believe in karma--"what goes around comes around." I believe that I'm better than no man, but also that no man is better than me. I see everyone and anyone gay/straight, man/ woman, the young and the old... to me they are equals. I believe that we must be true to ourselves, that the commandments hold truth: we shouldn't steal, shouldn't kill, honor our parents, etc. I believe in these things, and while the church agrees with my beliefs, their message isn't as broad; they prefer to keep it within their ideals.

I see the church and I see corruption and deceit as men of the cloth, who devote their lives in servitude, that a handful would engage in inappropiate acts with children and instead of turning in those responsible to the police, that they'd simply move them to another town and attempt to cover it up. I recall that once, long ago, men of the cloth were allowed to marry and have families but that ended when one of the popes decreed that all men of the cloth shall abstain from marriage. Somehow, something tells me that if they knew what the end result would be they'd probably allow them to marry again.

I have faith and I believe that staying humble and always appreciating life as a whole is what God wants from us, and if God really has a problem with homosexuality then why doesn't he do something about it himself. (Before you jump to conclusions follow me here.) As I recall, God sent a massive flood to wash away the sinners away and left Noah and his Ark to survive it to start over. Also God sent the plagues of Egypt to punish the Pharaoh for not releasing the Jews. So as I see it, if God didn't want or like something that badly, God would do something about it personally. The truth is that man does not like homosexuality; men and women see it as a grand sin. Granted, the BIble says that homosexuality is a sin, but the last time I checked the Bible was written by man....

I see the bible as a collection of stories and ideals to help guide us into becoming the best we can be, not to live entirely by the word and to forsake your real feelings.

We as people have different ideals and we all want different things in the end. What really pisses me off is how people have to be corralled into following one set of rules, one religion, one ideal. I've noticed that we're all different; besides, the last time I checked, every religion is the same in the big picture: live a good life, be there for others and respect the creator of the heavens and Earth. It's just the details that are different and they don't have to be. If you love God, then God loves you; and if you don't agree with the Christians, the Jews, Muslims, etc., remember that it's all the same God. The only differences are just the little things, and if you can't get over those little things then you can't move foward and all that'll happen is that you'll run around in circles forever.

Religion's not about death, power, or to fulfill our personal agendas or to impose our set of beliefs onto the world. It's to guide and to inspire us, to help us grow into the people we want to be. And to those who abuse its principals... what goes around comes around.

I avoided writing this for so long cause I knew it was something very powerful, and I know that many of you have similar feelings or have the exact opposite feelings about what I wrote. But in truth, God gave me the ability to write, to compose, and to share my thoughts and feelings, so in reality I am doing what I was made to do. So if anyone has a problem with that...

Don't take it up with me... TALK TO THE BOSS!!

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