Living in Fear

Though publicly most religions promote peace, love and harmony; they're actually rooted in fear and paranoia.

While we all have foibles, most people involved with organized religion would be much better individuals were their reaction to seeing a holy book, "What in the world is that?"

Fearing the unknown, they choose to believe a tale that eventually puts them in heaven for all of eternity. Because of this fear, they're forced to champion positions with which they would otherwise likely disagree.

Discrimination against gays is the best example. Were someone not telling you, "That same-sex couple is sinning" you wouldn't think an offense was in progress because their actions harm nary a sole.

When somebody else must tell you that a specific behavior is sinful, it means the fear has taken control of your life. When your judgments are not your own, something is wrong. Ask yourself, what other non-harmful behavior could the elders convince you to believe is a sin?

If you witnessed a thief ruthlessly bash an elderly man about the head with a brick, rob him and then leave him for dead, a rush of adrenaline would shoot through your entire body. You would be sickened to your very core. You would instinctively have the desire to enact immediate revenge.

If you saw two men walking down the street hand-in-hand, you would feel no rush of adrenaline. As your instincts would not alert you there is a problem, you would be forced to remind yourself that the men in your presence are committing a horrible crime against humanity just as you would be forced to remind yourself that your "lovely" wife had asked you to pick up a carton of milk after passing by the refrigerated section of the supermarket on your way to select a six-pack of something that would ease the pain associated with the fact that heterosexual marriage was legal when you tied the knot.

It's a shame too, because, and trust me, I know; a life without fear of the irrational is a life worth living, whereas, a life wasted worrying about what could possibly be on the other side is, well, just that: wasted.

The fear also forces you to credit your good deeds to a higher power. Would you not act nobly, an overwhelming majority of the time, had you never even heard of the religion your mom and/or dad told you was the one true god-based non-profit organization?

In other words, you treat people with respect because you're a good person, not because you're afraid you'll eventually be punished for your earthly transgressions. After all, were you to carefully read the Old Testament, you'd discover that you’re either committing loads of victimless crimes, or allowing others to get away with them. Unless, that is, you’ve recently slain a person or persons entering an establishment filled with readers of tarot cards.

Let me ask you... Since you're likely ignorant of some Biblical crimes you either commit, or allow be committed in your presence, are you a sinner of epic proportion? Or, in instances where you assume your Bible doesn't offer an opinion, are you simply choosing right over wrong and therefore choosing correctly?

I have a feeling it's the latter, for when watching a fictional program or a very real newscast, that either dramatizes, or shows the aftermath of, a morally questionable act, you likely never say to your loved one, "I am unable to pass judgment without guidance from my creator."

I bet you were convinced most atheists vehemently dislike all followers of organized religion, and here I go telling the world that most of you are good and would be even better were you to think for yourselves!

Look at me bridging the gap!

So stop living in fear and listen to your gut. Your gut wouldn't tell you that homosexuality is a sin.

But it would tell you that the persecution of a same-sex couple is an act most vile.

The bottom line is: had you never opened your holy book of choice, you would be far more moral than you are today, and, unlike your holy book, would likely be correct in your interpretation of right versus wrong.