I’ve found, through a great deal of introspection, that faith is a powerful word that carries with it a great deal of meaning and emotion, whether we all realize such or not. It is the singular word that embraces the core tenets of our lives, and as such, it is oft not spoken lightly. After all, who here wants their existence devalued, or worse, dehumanized, by having that faith misappropriated, misinterpreted, or misunderstood? It is a very personal matter that, to the best of my exploration, cannot be easily explained through words, or actions, or their eventual combination.
It is after a great deal of introspection, and after having been raised Roman Catholic that I have decided to place my faith in humanity.
The single thing that has frightened me most about my decision, and about the value of humanity as it now exists, has been the use of religion of all denominations as a tool of manipulation, power, and oppression. Again, that’s not to suggest that, on the whole, religion is without value, but that I am deeply concerned with how it has been used by the masses, the strong, and the powerful, to subjugate and diminish to contribution and potential of all else.
In the name of god, wars have been waged; genocide committed, and horrible acts justified. In the shame of the past, and in the heat of the moment, history is shrouded beneath a veil of cultural near-sightedness and religious fervor. Like government, religion participates in campaigns of disinformation designed, meticulously so, aimed at increasing their influence, power, and reach. Again, while not wholly true of all religious believers, religion and fear of god has been the tool that allows man to make attempts at elevating himself above all others.
It is not in the power of God that I hold doubt, nor in the logic of Science. But, rather, it is within the world of Man that I have both placed and lost my faith.
It is how, irrespective of empirical study, historical scripture, or bona-fide miracles, individuals have manipulated the idea of God in the interest of their own pursuits that shocks me more than anything else I’ve ever known. How Man has corrupted the pure image of a benevolent god in the name of ratings, crass commercialism, and the tyranny of the masses.
The propagandized, fear tactics used by some individuals in the name of religion, such as this
flyer (graphic and disturbing) sent to high school children in Kansas, or the Westboro Baptist Church (, in its entirety, are exemplar uses of religion as a tool of power over others that I have seen personally. It is not the place of any man, no matter how pious they perceive themselves to be, to speak in the name of God, nor as God’s interpreter.
(…the homosexual agenda strikes again…)
Or, maybe, it just makes sense. Maybe not.
The examples are numerous, while the point is the same.
In the end, I live each day with the true intent of making the world a better place. Some days, I do better than others, but it is among my moral convictions that I should never place myself above any other, nor allow myself to be dominated by the popular culture.
I have nothing but admiration for those who can unquestioningly place their faith, love, and life in the hands of a superior being. I envy the strength and conviction they each possess in understanding the supremacy of a supernatural being, and in holding steadfastly and true to their teaching. I hope that, someday, I might feel so intensely about someone or something that I may, with all of my passion, devote myself to that cause. The knowledge and conviction of being right, righteous, and content, must be powerful.
Given my life experiences, I’m hesitant to find truth or comfort in religion, both because of its history as well as its potential. It is a power much too great for me to wield.
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Religion is corrupt. (Thanks for the seed, there, Jim.)
Instead, I’ll live my life as I have, doing my best to brighten people’s day, help them through their troubles, and maybe impart a bit of wisdom about how to do the same to others. If there is a god that should choose to punish me because of the clothes I wear, the way I speak, or because I don’t attend church each Sunday and praise, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll be the first to admit, I screwed up.
If, however, there’s some guy who is so presumptuous as to assume he knows the word of God, and he tells me that I’m going to Hell because of who I am, where I come from, or what I’m doing, he can respectfully eat my shorts.