Slightly ranty I know, but I just wondered if other people not of faith ever have to deal with this shit.
I’m not a religious person but I am fascinated by religion and have respect for anybody of faith, no matter who/what they believe in…
Now I try to live a good life. I’m honest, don’t steal, help people whenever I can, have respect for other people and other cultures, races and genders (ladies, boys AND ladyboys)
The problem I have is when because I say the moral choices I make are based on my own core set of values, ie what I think is right, rather than religious doctrine or fear of God, I am often derided.
Why do many people of faith refuse to respect the choices of people not of faith? I know this is a generalisation but the vociferous few seem to be leading the charge against us.
How is it worse to still do the right thing when you know (not think, KNOW - in the same way others KNOW and not think that there IS a God) there is no deity looking down on you judging your every move?
I also have devout christian friends that go clubbing, treat women like shit, take every drug under the sun and STILL tell me that regardless of how I behave the fact I don’t believe means that come judgement day I am bang in trouble.
By definition I would be a better Christian than them if actions counted more than saying I believed and still…
Seriously, these people tell me earnestly they worry for my soul - in between lines of coke - because they can apologise in church once a week and be let off.
Other quite devout people I know frequently tell me that I am missing something or searching for something because I don’t have God in my life.
This I don’t understand either.
How would they know? They, for the most part have never lived in any other way than with God in their lives and don’t have a point of reference. To be honest, they’re not always the most cheery of souls anyway and tend to act horrendously every once in a while, feel horribly guilty for a week, and then go back to telling others how they should live, eat, use their body etc…
I live a free life where every action I take and consequence of said action is bound not by the wrath of what I percieve to be an imaginary entity, but rather by my own values of right and wrong.
I have no-one to blame, no-one to look to, no-one to invoke but myself and maybe family. I think that makes me a stronger person. Others might disagree but then I’m not trying to convert you to atheism.
I appreciate this is a total rant but in this day and age if I can respect your right to believe in something I feel is totally made-up and was pretty much an ancient form of social control, why can’t you respect the fact that my only faith is in me and in the people I love and trust?
Also, at what point did it EVER become a positive that someone is scared of something?
‘Oh John’s a great guy - A God-fearing christian’. Why is being God-fearing a good thing?
Also I love it when Christians laugh off Scientology saying - ‘have you any idea how absurd that sounds? Thetons and aliens etc?’
Yeah… And the immaculate conception, walking on water and Lazarus suddenly getting a little better are all soo believable. If you believe what you believe in with no proof, you HAVE to respect other’s rights to believe in other, equally outlandish stuff.
Not saying this to have a dig, but if I can accept your rights to believe in what essentially I feel is a crock of horseshit, I don’t see why you can’t stop being a Mr Butinski when it comes to me living me life and the way I choose to do it.
Discuss…
PS. Please don’t think I am tarring all people of faith with the same brush. Everything I spoke of here came from personal experience and I have also met many wonderful people of all faiths.
Boy, girl, aforementioned ladyboy, christian, muslim, jew, gay, bisexual, sheesh erm… goat fucker (as long as its consensual), black, white, yellow, green - It is my firm belief that all these distinctions can put to one side as the world is simply divided into two peoples.
The cs and the non-cs.
I try to spend my life getting away from being the former, though I still have my moments.