ajone

Hello.

What happens when you die? That's what Religion is all about, because death is the great unknown - folk don't usually come back to explain about it to the rest of us.

So Religion tells us where we go when we die. But what good is that w/out a hook? What's the hook? Live like ____________ and die like __________. Our insecurities lead some of us to commit our lives to one theory of life. A guidebook for living so that we can die and go where our own personal messiah wants us to go. Religion tells us that we're right, as there are a whole bunch of others (ala "A billion Chinese people can't be wrong") that think and believe the same as we do. So we're not wrong, you are. Etc, etc. War, political innuendo, and so on, and so forth.

Religion is the same messages, massaged and strained. Theologically/historically, Muslims, Jews, Christians all sprouted from the same root - Abraham, I believe. Religious strife can thus be compared in equity to a sibling squabble - but with greater stakes. Hey, archaeologically, you in Ohio, your fellow specitan in India, Africa, France, and Tahiti also sprung from common soil. Coincidence? Think not, please.

WE're all human. That's a common bond. We should all LOVE each other by that bond, by default. But We're all human - our egos tell us that it's okay to pass poor judgement on fellow man/woman in the name of religious fortitude/fervor. Some of us have died and killed for this. Some of us live for this before we live for ourselves.

Love each other, brother and sister. Sound familiar?

How bout this: "Do unto others as you would have done unto you"

Sound familiar? It is the maxim of all religions. The problem is the unspoken (or sometimes VERY spoken): "and by the way, everyone who doesn't feel the same as you is SH!t." Sad. As we've all heard in some madman's old testament reiteration: "and I shall strike onto thee...(all who speak against me/SELF? may as well be)"

Religion = Truth? How?

Religion = Faith. I believe... What's wrong with FAITH? Deserved or blind? What's wrong with believing in something? Having conviction? Deserved or blind?

______ = Truth? Is it so important to know? And if you know for yourself, don't you dilute it by trying to force it onto others.

Here's the kicker: YOU = TRUTH.

You are a solitary entity. Believe what you wish, for yourself and your self alone. PLEASE. You will see that when you do, you will be a better person - for yourself and your self. And when you are that better person, you won't be. You'll want to be even better.

What is religion? A story? A life strategy? A fraud? YES/NO!

A better question is:




Who are YOU?

And by answering that, we are each better for ourselves. And by default, better for humanity.