Hello.
Too often I read or hear things that provoke me to write things like I’m about to. It’s not that I have a temper, because I don’t, I just have an intolerance for some things. Wet socks, Toby Keith, root canals or any other of those things in life that really annoy me bring about the musings that follow. The latest thing to bother me? Something someone recently wrote that reaffirms my belief that people who are religious tend to exhibit a selfishness that is almost exclusive to so called followers of Christ.
I want to first say that I do believe in God. I’m not ashamed of it, but at the same time I can’t explain why I do. Maybe it’s the way I was brought up, or that by my saying I do, that I’m covering all my spiritual bases. I don’t know. I am not religious however. Religion, to me, is just the world’s biggest and most elaborate fan club. Churches are the spiritual equivalent of a Star Wars convention. You pay to get in (tithe), you hang out with people who are also fans of God, and occasionally you get free snacks. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with churches, or the people who go to them. It just isn’t for me. I like Star Wars but I’m not gonna dress up like a Wookie for a day just to feel better about myself or so I can be part of a fun little club.
Unfortunately it seems that in my limited experience on this Earth, that the ability to twist words and manipulate people’s beliefs are skills best honed at church. Well, church and or wherever anyone I’ve dated might be. You can say something is fact to someone who is religious and they will twist it to support their beliefs or use your words to attempt to make you feel bad. One of the two.
I was recently accused of taking part in “attacking someone because of their beliefs”. I respect beliefs, I just don’t respect someone who uses those beliefs to judge others or carry on with their sanctimonious nature. People should not use their religious beliefs to validate being judgmental or selfish.
How is it that the people who claim to love a selfless God can only talk about themselves or try to constantly get the point across that their life is super duper cool because of God? We all see your bumper stickers and your ‘quip-tastic’ signs on the front of your church. God is good. We get it. Now if you could go ahead and spend less time being sanctimonious and more time following the teachings of your God, we would all be a little happier.
The last thing anyone who claims to be so super close to God needs to do is talk about themselves and the trials and tribulations that got them to where they are. “My life was so horrible until I found God.” Or “If not for God I’d probably be dead or not be able to handle anything in my horrible pre-God life.” I have a feeling that those type of people were way more interesting pre-God. That and way less self involved.
The other thing that kind of gets me is when people constantly talk about their life before now, God or not. “Before I had kids I had a great life.” Or “Before I was married I did all these cool things.” Maybe you should have thought about that before you did either of those things. “But my life is so rewarding now with little Cody and my husband. I couldn’t be happier!” Yes you could. We all could. It’s just that you HAVE to be happy with the life you’ve carved out for yourself by deciding to mate. Just like everyone else who made that decision, or had an experience with a frat party indiscretion.
People who talk about the tragedies in their life, and how said tragedies make them question the existence of God, really need to understand that they aren’t the only people on this Earth. Life can suck and we all know it. Your tragedies are no more or less tragic than anyone else’s. It’s how one reacts to those tragedies that defines a person. Just talking about it does nothing. If you actually learned from it and you are a better person for it, great. Lesson learned. If the only thing you learned from your tragedy is that you have another tragedy to add to your ever growing arsenal of ‘pity me’ tales, then you learned nothing.
Does God make bad things happen? I don’t know. What I do know is that you can’t credit God with being all powerful and give him the credit for the good and the devil the blame for the bad. It’s all watched by God, no matter how much you’d like to blame it on the devil. Tornadoes, 9-11, tsunamis, death, life, everything is overseen by God. If you really believe that then don’t question it. Have some of that faith you keep talking so much about.
Before invoking the wrath of all religious people, let me make it clear that I am not referring to everyone who is religious or making the claim that all churches suck. Religion can be a good thing. Religious people as a whole are good people who just want a better life. It’s the ones who misuse their beliefs that I am talking about. I am talking about the shallow, self serving people with nothing more to offer this world than repeating the opinions of their equally shallow friends and family. I am referring to the people who mask their own disinterest in their own current lives so much so that they have to continue to talk about things that happened seven years ago because that is when their lives mattered. I am referring to the people who believe they have a God given right to judge all without seeing the fault in their logic. I am talking about those so overwhelmed with doubting their own faith they are too afraid to allow even the slightest bit of contrary opinion.
If any of what I’ve written applies to you, which for ninety-nine percent of the people reading this, it doesn’t, I just thought I’d share my opinion.
My blog. My writings. My outlet. My opinions. My wasting your time.
- Joel