RELIGION
Thats a big 8 letter word. If you thought using 4 letter words can create anger, violence, and fear, then imagine how an 8 letter word can bring 2X the anger, violence, and fear!
Now first of all, I have travelled the world to about 24 countries now and have been in the presence of many different religions. Some of my statements in this blog may be blanket statements on not specifically pertain to you or your beliefs.
As human beings we generally like to know the answers to everything. Everything needs a name or an explanation. We can not just let something be unknown. This is ever prevalent in what happens to us when we die. I can say with 100% guarantee that I have absolutely no idea what happens when we die other than being buried or burned to ashes. My thought process stops there, because I can physically see it. Now anyone that knows me knows that I have a very large imagination. I tend to lean towards the more scientific ideology that we are atoms and molecules. The same atoms and molecules that the stars, universe, and that flower next to the road swaying in the breeze are made of. So our physical being, I believe, goes back into our surroundings. As for the "soul" of the human I have no idea what happens. I don't even know if we have one. The "soul" could be yet another name or title given to something that we cannot see, but in an attempt to feel less inadequate as humans, that maybe exists or maybe does not. So, I really don't think about it. I have had two friends that momentarily died and came back to life, but neither of them had any great stories about a heaven or hell. I was rather disappointed because I was really interested in finding out if I should start planning for an afterlife.
Now how does religion fall into this topic of conversation? From the beginning of time almost all of the mainstream religions have all preached the same thing. Its actually quite simple and I can explain it in two parts. One part is when you're alive and the second part is when you die. Ready? Here it goes...
1. When you're alive do the right thing not the wrong thing.
2. When you die, IF you did the right thing you'll go to "heaven", but IF you did the wrong things then you'll go to "hell".
I have now successfully told the entire morals of religion in a few sentences. I didn't need an entire book to do so. I don't need to have different versions of the book or updates and revisions. Now think about this, If as humans we didn't need an answer for everything and really just concentrated on the present, then the explanation would become even shorter.
1. When you're alive do the right thing not the wrong thing.
Now critically think about this even more, and you will realize that you don't even need a book to tell you to do the right thing. We have highly specialized brain functions that allow you to understand that doing the right thing to yourself and others makes you, and others, happy. You don't need to answer to anyone else or be fearful of anyone else over your own personal actions. Take responsibility for your actions, and you only have yourself to blame. This is very difficult for humans. Many people want to thank a God for the good things in their lives as well as try to figure out the lesson from the bad things that their God gives them. I personally don't understand this thought process. I believe if you do the right things, then good will come to you. People are more likely to help you on your life journey if you are believed to be a good person. Makes sense right?
All in all, religion helped create order back in the day, and taught people to do the right thing out of fear that they could be struck dead at any given moment. Most people, no matter how bad their lives may seem at any given moment, would still rather be alive than dead They followed these holy books as a means of staying alive to enjoy their lives.
Now religions kill each other, create resentment towards each other, don't accept everyone equally, and worst of all they do this all under the idea that it is what that particular religions "God" wants. I will never understand how in a religion that you are born into and have no choice that you would willingly kill someone of the same religion but different sect if ordered to, or you would cast hate onto an individual for simply not loving the same gender as yourself. There are countless examples of where the core beliefs of religion, of loving and accepting everyone as equals, has gone astray.
This brings me to the point that life is grand! Superb! Incredible! but that is only if you, yourself, and nobody but you, makes it that way! Like I stated above about what I believe happens to us, grasp every moment and every breath you have and make the best of it. Treat others with respect.Don't worry so much about what we don't know, but in turn make the best of what we DO know. Why worry about what may come tomorrow when we don't even know if we will be around for that moment?
I personally cannot partake in a large demonstration of hatred, intolerable differences, judgmental masses of people, all in the name of "doing what is right", but I can partake in LOVE. Love is one four letter word that we should all use. Love is my religion. Will you join me and help spread the love?
Thats a big 8 letter word. If you thought using 4 letter words can create anger, violence, and fear, then imagine how an 8 letter word can bring 2X the anger, violence, and fear!
Now first of all, I have travelled the world to about 24 countries now and have been in the presence of many different religions. Some of my statements in this blog may be blanket statements on not specifically pertain to you or your beliefs.
As human beings we generally like to know the answers to everything. Everything needs a name or an explanation. We can not just let something be unknown. This is ever prevalent in what happens to us when we die. I can say with 100% guarantee that I have absolutely no idea what happens when we die other than being buried or burned to ashes. My thought process stops there, because I can physically see it. Now anyone that knows me knows that I have a very large imagination. I tend to lean towards the more scientific ideology that we are atoms and molecules. The same atoms and molecules that the stars, universe, and that flower next to the road swaying in the breeze are made of. So our physical being, I believe, goes back into our surroundings. As for the "soul" of the human I have no idea what happens. I don't even know if we have one. The "soul" could be yet another name or title given to something that we cannot see, but in an attempt to feel less inadequate as humans, that maybe exists or maybe does not. So, I really don't think about it. I have had two friends that momentarily died and came back to life, but neither of them had any great stories about a heaven or hell. I was rather disappointed because I was really interested in finding out if I should start planning for an afterlife.
Now how does religion fall into this topic of conversation? From the beginning of time almost all of the mainstream religions have all preached the same thing. Its actually quite simple and I can explain it in two parts. One part is when you're alive and the second part is when you die. Ready? Here it goes...
1. When you're alive do the right thing not the wrong thing.
2. When you die, IF you did the right thing you'll go to "heaven", but IF you did the wrong things then you'll go to "hell".
I have now successfully told the entire morals of religion in a few sentences. I didn't need an entire book to do so. I don't need to have different versions of the book or updates and revisions. Now think about this, If as humans we didn't need an answer for everything and really just concentrated on the present, then the explanation would become even shorter.
1. When you're alive do the right thing not the wrong thing.
Now critically think about this even more, and you will realize that you don't even need a book to tell you to do the right thing. We have highly specialized brain functions that allow you to understand that doing the right thing to yourself and others makes you, and others, happy. You don't need to answer to anyone else or be fearful of anyone else over your own personal actions. Take responsibility for your actions, and you only have yourself to blame. This is very difficult for humans. Many people want to thank a God for the good things in their lives as well as try to figure out the lesson from the bad things that their God gives them. I personally don't understand this thought process. I believe if you do the right things, then good will come to you. People are more likely to help you on your life journey if you are believed to be a good person. Makes sense right?
All in all, religion helped create order back in the day, and taught people to do the right thing out of fear that they could be struck dead at any given moment. Most people, no matter how bad their lives may seem at any given moment, would still rather be alive than dead They followed these holy books as a means of staying alive to enjoy their lives.
Now religions kill each other, create resentment towards each other, don't accept everyone equally, and worst of all they do this all under the idea that it is what that particular religions "God" wants. I will never understand how in a religion that you are born into and have no choice that you would willingly kill someone of the same religion but different sect if ordered to, or you would cast hate onto an individual for simply not loving the same gender as yourself. There are countless examples of where the core beliefs of religion, of loving and accepting everyone as equals, has gone astray.
This brings me to the point that life is grand! Superb! Incredible! but that is only if you, yourself, and nobody but you, makes it that way! Like I stated above about what I believe happens to us, grasp every moment and every breath you have and make the best of it. Treat others with respect.Don't worry so much about what we don't know, but in turn make the best of what we DO know. Why worry about what may come tomorrow when we don't even know if we will be around for that moment?
I personally cannot partake in a large demonstration of hatred, intolerable differences, judgmental masses of people, all in the name of "doing what is right", but I can partake in LOVE. Love is one four letter word that we should all use. Love is my religion. Will you join me and help spread the love?
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