HIRPreaching

The better half and I watched Bill Maher’s documentary, Religulous over the weekend, and I can’t seem to get it out of my head. I never saw Passion of the Christ, but I get the feeling that this movie was for me, what that meant to so many Christians. Except, you know, for the fact that one movie was fiction and the one we watched, is one of those pesky non-fiction flicks.

What really gets me is when I think about how these religions perceive God. First off, we can all agree, that with so many different religions, not everyone can be right. I mean, it’s just not possible. If the beliefs were taught as ideas, as Chris Rock said, then everyone would be better off. But every side thinks they’re right, and everyone else is wrong. Even religions themselves have different sects, so they’re waving the same flag but arguing over if the flag is going from left to right or right to left. So they can’t all be right, but at the same time, they CAN all be wrong. We understand that much when it comes to politics, most of us anyway.

Then when I think about many of the stories I’ve heard, from the different faiths, I can’t help but think about what a bad parent God would be. Believers think God picks favorites, can be pretty violent, wants us to follow strict rules without exception or explanation, sometimes cares who wins sporting events, cares more about specific parts of his land than others, and never takes out the trash or washes dishes. Who of us would like to parent like God, or have a parent like God?

I see some of the attraction to religion, and that’s community. Ask me what I believe, I’ll tell you I’m agnostic. But ask me what religion I am, and I’ll still say I’m Jewish. Weird huh? But for me, my Judasim really isn’t about the Torah or arguing about when the Messiah will come. It’s connecting with where I come from. Its’ partaking in some of the traditions that my parents did before me, and those before them. It’s a way to bond with people. Sports does that too, as does politics. I know, because last week at Target, I was received a smile from a stranger, simply because we both were wearing KU shirts. I know because, as bad as it sounds, I’m slightly less likely to want to ram the guy that cut me off, because I saw an Obama sticker on the back of his BWM.

I once posted here that we should treat religion as we do our favorite teams, and I still believe that. But till then, I’d really like for a Nascar driving to be sponsored by an Agnostic organization. I can’t think of a better way to reach millions of Christians on a Sunday.

Now here’s something I don’t do often, but I admit, I just might be wrong. That possibility does exist, well, about God. There really could be some supreme being that made this universe happen. I’m not wrong, however, in thinking that every religion has it wrong. Being someone who believes what I do, which technically makes me agnostic, also pretty much means that I’m against the idea of organizing those with like beliefs. If we went out, got our little tax exemption, and gathered on a regular basis to preach about our beliefs, that’d be a pretty giant step in the direction of hypocrite city. Been there, didn’t care much for it. Expensive real-estate.

But at the same time, that’s almost what we need to do. Maybe its time to start arguing for my side, in a similar fashion to the way the religions argue theirs. Anytime I write a blog, tweet or Facebook some thing critical of religion, I end up wondering if I’ve offended anyway. I mean, I know I’ve offended some, but I wonder who. It’s actually not my intention, but at the same time, why shouldn’t I voice my opinion? Every day I see countless bumper stickers that voice some ones opinion. I drive by multi-million dollar churches that stand for the opinions of some. My money tells me that in God we trust, even if, as I learned in Religulous, our Forefathers thought more like me. So let me be clear, my intention isn’t to look down on anyone, even if it sounds like that (hey, did I basically say “I mean this with no disrespect”) but I don’t think I should bite my tongue for the sake of what’s socially acceptable. I no longer think that we’d be better off if everyone just kept their religious beliefs to themselves, because those beliefs carry too much weight.

I’ve often heard from those that oppose affirmative action, speak about how they feel that the best man or woman should get the job. Sure this makes perfect sense, in a perfect world. I’ve also read those posters at work, the ones that mention how, among other things, religious beliefs can’t be used in the treatment of employees. Yet, some how, the religious beliefs of politicians isn’t just open for debate, it’s used as tool to gain voters. What the hell is that all that about?

And I saw on Youtube, a comment made on some Religulous clip that those who don’t believe will “find out soon enough.” That’s not good enough. I’m more concerned with my life on earth, making things better for the Kyd and everyone that comes after. So I can’t wait to find out later. Yeah, and by the way is complete bull shit. If so many people really felt that way, well, Sarah Palin would welcome those fictitious “death panels.” If death was so great, it’d be really easy to cut health care costs. All those who believe, please feel free to decline any and all health care.

That won’t happen, because death is freakin scary. The unknown, sure, that’s scary, but more so the known. It’s knowing that all decisions will now be final, and that all of our on going conversations are done. That we won’t see someone else get married, or kiss our loved ones goodnight one more time. It means we won’t see the sunrise, or at the very least, you might not. Maybe you’ll see everyone up in a place called heaven. I can imagine Tupac and Biggie doing a song with Frank. Michael Jackson as a black man, singing with skinny Elvis, and those loved ones we lost, along with all the previous generations. And those generations would probably ask Tupac and Biggie to turn down the music, some might not like that dark Michael fella, or question why the white Elvis is singing negro music. Because, really, what are the odds that our bigotry stays behind?

Maybe there’s something after our time here, since no one has come back and told me, I’ll just follow Red’s advice: Get busy livin’, or get busy dying.

He also said, “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” Maybe its time to speak up. Maybe, if we could all just imagine a world with no religion. It’s easy if you try. With no religion, do we think those “extremist” are really going to attack us? With no religion, is the United States of America spending so much time on foreign oil, “delivering democracy” (along with some bibles). Really, imagine a world with no religion. That isn’t to say imagine a world without God, if that’s what you believe in.