The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

When it comes to religion, I don't pretend to have all the answers. However, regardless if the answers are impossible to fully deduce while alive on this earth, I find it fascinating to ponder about such matters, because I'm a creative nerd whose mind likes to constantly be in overdrive. I grew up in a Christian household, have studied multiple religions throughout my life out of pure curiosity, and would today label myself as a humanist and/or an agnostic. While I believe many of these sacred texts provide interesting story material, which can help teach us many of life's important lessons, I'm hard-pressed to take them all literally, and have reached a point where I feel that, while I can't fully disprove the presence of a higher power, I can't fully prove it either. Due to this, I simply try to stand by the Golden Rule, acknowledge my mistakes and flaws, and continually try to improve upon them to better myself as a person, regardless of the potential reward ...

Considering I was once called "The Dude," in reference to Jeff Bridges' character in the film The Big Lebowski  due to my laid-back demeanor, it seems pretty safe to say that it takes a lot to anger me. However, it does happen on occasion, such as once this past weekend. Over the weekend, a devout "Christian" decided it was her duty to pass judgment on me, because, well, I'm in my 30s, don't have any kids, and am not making a great deal of money. I found this to be incredibly ironic, considering the fact that in the book of Matthew, chapter 19, verse 24, Jesus supposedly said this: "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." In the book of Luke, chapter 6, verses 20 through 26, he said: "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 'Blessed are you who are hung...

A study conducted by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) just recently reported that atheists and other religious skeptics are often times not treated equally in societies around the world. This is especially the case in some Islamic countries, where such individuals can be put to death. While the punishment may not be nearly as severe in some European countries and the United States, such individuals are still often times not treated equally. As the report states: "...In Greece and Russia, the Orthodox Church is fiercely protected from criticism and is given pride of place on state occasions, while Britain bishops of the Church of England have automatic seats in the upper house of parliament. While freedom of religion and speech is protected in the United States, the report said, a social and political climate prevails 'in which atheists and the non-religious are made to feel like lesser Americans.' In at least seven U.S. states, constitutional pro...

The more stories I read and hear about organized religion, the more difficult it's becoming to see myself joining any unless some drastic changes are made. Just recently, 92-year old Bill Brennan - a Jesuit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - was punished because last month he celebrated Mass with one Janice Sevre-Duszynska of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. That's right - Catholic clergy can get punished for supporting women priests. My question for the people whom felt Brennan and others like him deserve punishment is "What would Jesus do?" Call it a hunch, but I'm guessing Jesus wouldn't say, "Well, for priests who molest little boys, I feel we should hide that for many years and try to deny that ever happened. For the clergy who show support for female priests, however, I think we need to go public with that right away, denounce their atrocious actions, and punish them severely!" Something feels contradictory with these people'...

I got into an interesting (sort of) discussion with someone very close to me last week. Somehow, the discussion transitioned to homosexuality. I guess his wife, due to being a die-hard Christian, still isn't okay with the concept. This guy then said he doesn't necessarily agree it's a sin, but wanted to play devil's advocate and saying that these individuals would be condemned to hell unless they changed their lifestyle, because they'd die sinners. I'm agnostic, so I am rather convinced (unless I can be proven wrong) that it is virtually impossible for a person to either prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a God does or doesn't exist. Given that and having been raised a Christian, I can't understand the before-mentioned logic. According to Christianity, there was a man whom lived a perfect life and died as a sacrifice for man's sins. If people believe him to be the savior and ask forgiveness for their sins, they will live eternally in a paradise...

Chosen To Be… Dependent Upon The Uncontrollable In the perfect place, At the perfect time, Destined for glory, Destined for paradise, Born into this world, With no choice of my raisers, No choice of their wealth, No choice of my location, From birth until death, Told I was very fortunate, One of the very few, Who will experience such glory, Told I will be saved, If I believe in him, Told I will live eternally, If I worship him, Born into this world, With no choice of my raisers, No choice of their wealth, No choice of my location, Dependent upon the uncontrollable, We’re born into this world, All believing we are the chosen, Others damned for that beyond their control.

The Imaginary Moral Compass of Reality A story told, A lesson learned, For moral guidance, A teaching tool, That which can’t be seen, Only imagined, Actors witnessed playing the role, In an attempt to make valid, The backdrop is set, Characters walk on stage, The music begins, A persuasion of reality, On the edge of their seats, Their eyes widen, Wanting to believe, The story is genuine, When the lights dim, The actors leave the stage, Toss the beards to the side, Walk back to real life, To teach lessons, Bring people together, Provide hope, Instill faith, But the characters cannot be seen, The story only heard, Before the lights dim, And we walk into the real world.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard a person tell me with regard to belief in a God or a particular faith, "Well, I figure I might as well, you know? If I believe, what's the worst that can happen? I was wrong? Oh well. If I don't believe and I'm wrong, I'd be a lot worse off, so I might as well believe." I call that explanation, that thought-process, "The God-Fearing Complex". Most people whom believe in God believe in her/him/it to be benevolent (all-loving), omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful). So, my question then becomes, if this entity is all-knowing, wouldn't he/she/it be able to see right through the seemingly ingenuine faith? It doesn't take much for one to simply say, "I believe" or "I love". It takes much more effort to back up those words than to simply say them. So, if one says to believe in a faith just in case it's true out of the fear of not believing and being punish...

Why is it that everyone seems to have the answer and they claim that no one else does? Christians claim the answers reside in the Bible. Muslims claim the answers reside in the Koran. Mormons say the answers reside in the Book of Mormon. Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Joseph Smith. Follow one of their paths and you will see the lights of heaven shine down on you, but if you choose the wrong path to follow, then you'll be condemned for all eternity! I just listed four paths. Who knows how many others there are. So, what, we have a 1 in a countless numbered chance of being right on the path we follow? Is it basically a lottery? Luckily, I'm from Nebraska, and some guys from Lincoln won the $365 million jackpot not too terribly long ago, so maybe we're lucky there. But, that was a 1 in a countless numbered chance too, so maybe that was our one moment in the sun and we'll be SOL the rest of the way. Hmm, perhaps it is a good thing I moved to Ohio. If I live in the western world...

If there's anyone whom bashes on organized religion, it's me. I'm not afraid to question tradition, point out flaws or conclude that there's no such thing as a perfect religion. But, as I believe in balance, there are pros when it comes to religion, just as there are cons. Why is it useful and important? Because it'll save us from eternal damnation? Because it'll help us see our own destiny? Because the path of God can only be shown and seen through religion? No. It's useful and important because it gives people something in which to believe. It gives people motivation to do all they can in this life, for they will be rewarded in the next one. It gives people an outlet for all that's going on with their lives. It gives people answers to questions that will never be solved. It gives people a reason to live life, even in the worst of times. I'd say approximately 9 in 10 people believe in a superior power (God). Can you imagine if it was proven beyo...