Happy Bass Day!
Another random title from me. Or, the first of many random to come.
I thought each day the past week what I should write about. When I first created this blog, I intended to comment more on things that could be considered more mature topics such as politics, major current events, religion, and other topics that might fit a more adult audience. I realized just now that is not really me. I am doing this for fun. I am doing this to just put my thoughts out there for my enjoyment and hopefully the enjoyment of one or two other people that enjoy my inane ramblings. So, ramblings you shall have.
Now, one thing I thought about most this week was religion. I don’t understand organized religions. I just don’t. I tried to believe what I was raised and taught to believe. I always doubted though. Always. I’ve been through some things and seen many other things that just leave me wondering why a god – any god(s) – would let people go through things like that. It always leaves me confused. I just can’t find any logical answer.
There were three pieces of news that happened in the past few weeks that left me just as confused and, honestly, irritated: Christmas flight terrorist, Irish blasphemy laws, atheist not to hold office.
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Most people these days have heard about the failed Christmas bombing attempt by Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab in flight. Well, it turns out it was attempted by a devout religious participant. I really don’t want to state specific religions in general as the only thing of relevance is the things people will do for their faith. Unfortunately, many violent acts are performed in the name of some sort of religion. History has shown how people, completely devoted to their faith, have done unspeakable things time and time again. It just confuses me why people that believe in a religion that preaches to love your neighbors and live in peace would take to acts of such violence. I can’t wrap my mind around that. I guess there are extremist in all things that truly believe that their way of life is the only acceptable way to live. They generally aren’t endorsed by the mainstream of their faith. It just makes me sad in general when people are hurt/killed by some person in the name of a religion. If people were to think like me, maybe our world would be a happier and safer place to live in.
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On January 1st of this year, a new law came into effect that basically made it against the law to say anything that could be considered overly insulting to any person of any religion. I just find this to be quite ridiculous. I am all for being respectful of what someone believes. However, I would not be happy being told I can’t say something negative about something I do not believe in. I really just don’t know how to address this. Where I’m from, this law would basically would make it hard for me to talk about religion to anyone at all. I live in such a openly religious culture that I don’t tell people that I don’t believe in any gods. It would just be considered blasphemous to say I don’t believe in their god. I’d probably be broke from how many fines I’d have to pay if I were having a very irritable day. One quote posted on the CNN Article says what I think just perfectly.
- “Blasphemy laws are unjust: They silence people in order to protect ideas. In a civilized society, people have a right to to express and to hear ideas about religion even if other people find those ideas to be outrageous.”
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I don’t remember where I first saw news about Atheist not being able to hold public office. It struck as quite an interesting note with me. I did a quick search to find that it was technically against the law for non-theists to hold office in many states. I always thought there was supposed to be clear separation of church and state… I guess we were all wrong. Didn’t you know?
Good thing is that while these may have been written into some state constitutions, they aren’t exactly legal. (God bless the 1st & 14th amendments! Oh, and article iv, section 3) I wouldn’t worry about it in general. I just found it amusing for my general education on how my fellow atheists are treated. I tend to think of myself as a minority. I don’t know anyone other than maybe a total of four people that don’t have faith in any sort of religion like me. I live right in heart of the good old southern bible belt. Heaven forbid anyone here know I am atheist. I would be shunned by the majority of people I grew up with. I sometimes wonder how I would take the oath in a court of law if I ever had to testify on something. Swearing on the bible means nothing to me. I guess I would just do it to make everything less complicated.
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Maybe my confusion about the entire of religion is obvious. I hope it is. People do silly things in the name of faith. People try to make silly laws to discriminate against those that don’t believe how they do. And religious faith in general: to believe in a concept that cannot be proven. (The argument stands just as well that it cannot be proven that there is not a god.) I was taught growing up to pray and do what is right and I would know the truth. I would get that warm fuzzy feeling knowing that I was doing the right things in my life by obeying the rules given to me. That fuzzy feeling was supposed to be the spirit testifying to me that the church was true and god was there for me. I just get fuzzy warm feelings when I have a nice shot of tequila.
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All that being said: I am going to hell. Oh, and I love my bass. =)
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