Uncouth PerspectivesNot on the rug, man.

Those were my thoughts. But I tried to be good. I said to Jaz, “If I talk to him, I will destroy his world.”

She laughed, and, honestly, I did know if it was quite true. It had been a while since I had gotten into a good religious debate. But, I held myself back.

That is, until, “AND YOUR GOD KILLS BABIES!”

I’m walking up, and there is a crowd around him. Some are for him, some are against him, and everyone is screaming at everyone.

Mmmm… fun.

Jaz pulls and pushes me into the fray and, admittedly, I want it.

He is postured quite humorously… He knows what he believes and he’s willing to fight for it..

“Blah, blah, blah… Blah, blah…. that is why you must be a ‘Born Again’ Christian to be saved–”

“Excuse me..?”

“How can you atest to that, when the theory of ‘born again’ christianity has really only been around for the last century or two, and was not popular evangelized until the mid 1900′s by Billy Graham, who became at odds with the fundamentalists over it?”

“Uhm, well, er… In John 3:3–”

“I know what John 3:3 says, but those are not the same things.”

“Uhm, well, er… you’re asking me some very deep theological questions, and I appreciate it. I will admit I do not have a lot of knowledge. I simply want to share my experiences.”

Well, unless I am just a lot more haughty than I think, I hadn’t even begun to delve into “deep theological questions.” Those who know me, know I really do not like doing that. It’s really about daily life and living.

However, this “I do not have a lot of knowledge” is the same person who early stated he has read the Bible 23 times and now reads it once a month.

Not very closely?

I then let him talk his schpeil at me for a while, only adding comments or small questions here or there, while the crowd continued to yell at each other. That’s quite a surreal experience. Those close, though, seemed to be enthralled. I guess I was doing really good–I just wanted him to think.

However, he then brought up the rapture theory. Oh dear, I guess he had it coming. As most of my discussions with believers of the rapture theory, that part of our conversation ended with me holding his Bible and pointing to a scripture, while he vehemently shook his head repeating “No, No, No, No..”

Well, he admitted he didn’t want to learn anything and simply proved it.

“Well, I would really like to thank you. I want to tell you, I did not do this to attack or belittle you. I want you to know what you profess to believe. Research the rapture theory. I’ll be back to talk to you.”

I don’t think he believes me.

That, and, I do not ask that much of him. He asks me to give up my life and soul to his religion, which has a horrific history of death, oppresion, and senseless culling of the masses.

I just ask him to learn his religion.

When I was younger, I had a deep set fascination and perhaps even romance with the idea and personification of death. It did not help that I had such wonderful authors as Piers Anthony (On a Pale Horse) or Terry Pratchett (Mort, Reaper Man, etc.) to fuel my lonley fantastical desires.

As I have grown, I have become more aware of that fact that I do not wish for an eternity of silence, darkness, and my own thought, as I had so deerly pondered and imagined in early days.

I also realize that I find the idea of a personified death reather silly. Still cool, though, very cool. If you ever want to send me Grim Reaper-esque stuff, I’m always taking.

However, death has been a constant topic of mine over the last couple of weeks as another trip into Isaac’s study of religion has intensified. A lot of people, if not all people, fear death. And, I suppose rightly so.

In talking with a newly made good friend of mine, she was inquiring about some of my beliefs as an atheist. And she made the comment unsual, which is one of the reasons I so enjoy talking with her, that she thought atheists would be less likely to commit suicide.

See. I said unsual. I hope this is the case, but from my experiences, it is not. The average person I speak with believes (or professes the belief) that atheists cannot and do not appreciate life, and with a stark future staring ahead of them, suicide is much easier.

Aside from the fact that atheism is not a belief system (and to try to stereotype as such is wrong), I fit firmly with my friend’s perception better. If you think that you are going to die, a death that is permanent and unfulfilling, life means that much more. And trying to leave it is a horrid, horrid thought.

I can proudly say that I do not want to die. I want to live every single day, as happy as I can be. I embrace every facet of the beauty and fruit of reality.. because who knows when I will be without it?

Does the stark idea of my belief in death scare me? Absolutely. Does it make me less of a person, unhappy, or scared to live? No one bit. There are some nights when I think about it, and it makes me sad. Those nights, it would be good to have someone to hold on to, but my lonely bed is as empty as ever.

But, at least I’m alive to know that it is empty.

We are left with the images of the devastation wreaked by the terrorists and a persistent, nagging question: when will it happen again?

To answer that question, I wonder if we really need to look beyond our own border. America does have its infamous militias. These inbred, bucktoothed, self-proclaimed protectors of America (protecting what, exactly? The right to bear children with your cousin?) already have at least one building in Kansas City to their name. Unfortunately, we can no longer expect these people to be satisfied with outrunning Roscoe P. Coltrane and getting Daisy all molared up off some high-powered corn whiskey from the local still. Now they also would like to advance their political agenda and send America back to the 1950�s, or worse.

But the group that really scares the hell out of me is the right-wing extremist faction of the born-again Christians. (I�m talking specifically about the abortion-clinic bombers and doctor-killers, and not about the zealots that wander around college campuses and get into theological arguments with drunken frat boys.) These folks could be our biggest homegrown terrorist threat because they hide themselves behind religion and their Constitutional rights. When all else fails, they hold up a Bible and use it to justify their actions.

Isn�t it interesting how dissimilar these groups appears on the surface, yet how much they have in common when you look a little deeper. Think about it: they hate what America has become, they think that they are the chosen people to solve the perceived problem, and they believe the end justifies the means. The common thread is a violent reaction to the source of their hatred; namely, the rest of us.

It is also interesting how often violence is committed in the name of religion. The Middle-East terrorists hate us because of our perceived loose morals and decadent lifestyle, but really it all comes down to America�s support of the Israelis in their fight with the Palestinians over the same holy land. Like anything else, the Koran can be interpreted many ways and the fundamentalist, hard-line groups like the Taliban use it as a justification for their oppressive modus operandi.

In similar fashion, the Bible-thumpers pervert the Word of their Lord to their own foul purposes. They use the commandment, �Thou Shalt Not Kill� as justification for terrorizing and, ironically, sometimes killing abortion workers. Never mind that most people find early-term abortions to be morally acceptable. These wild-eyed maniacs do not really care about what anyone thinks� except themselves.

Frankly, having someone�s religious views pushed on you is onerous in itself. Violence certainly compounds the problem. But perhaps the worst part is all of these fanatics are really missing the point of what their religion tries to teach them in the first place. After all, isn�t religion really just a framework for how to morally better oneself in a civilized society? And at the heart of this philosophy is forgiveness and love for one�s fellow man. The violence is just a symptom; the blatant hypocrisy is the disease.

bigot n. One fanatically devoted to one’s own group, religion, race, or politics and intolerant of those who differ.

I am tired of it. I am tired of feigned superiority. I am tired of grasping onto beliefs that are not true. I am tired of hate. People hating each other for stupid reasons.

Like what, you ask? Like God, for example. Yes, God is a stupid idea to die over. Here is what I mean. We should be worrying more about living, than what is beyond what we can grasp. So what if someone else believes that if they achieve spiritual enlightenment, they will attain Nirvana, and you believe that if you pray to Jesus Christ for forgiveness, you will get to go to Heaven. You should be more worried about how to get food into your belly and how to walk. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying “Don’t believe” or “Don’t worry about beliefs.” I, of all people, support knowing and having beliefs. What I mean is, why do we HATE over them. Do you think what is going on in Isreal is REALLY a religious “My god is better than your god” thing. To a small extent, it is. For those who have an understanding, however, Islam has claimed to be the next step in progression. Judiasm, Christianity, then Islam. The struggle there is more about “this is my home, go find your own.” And the whole God thing comes in handy as a nice excuse.

I have a small secret I would like to share. We are all people. We all need to eat. We all need to breathe. We all need to defecate. Literally, shit happens. Our beliefs are important, but the world is full of different ones. It should not be about how better your God is, or how better your apartment is, or “I get to go to heaven, and you get to burn in hell, neener neener!”

It’s funny. Someone hates another person for their race, we call them racist. Someone beats another person over the head with his/her religious belief, and we call them Christian.

I had a lot of fun. Ate good food. And had fun company.

I found it interesting, though, at one point the TV was on and we were all watching it. For those who do not know, I do not watch TV. So, it is always odd when it’s “get around the TV time.” Granted, this was for the Simpsons, but still.

Anyways, the episode the the Simpsons we watch kind of struck me. It was about Lisa finding a skeleton to an angel and everybody in Springfield getting all raptured about it.

A lot of the episode was trying to mock the fight between “Science” and “Religion.” At one point, the skeleton moves to a hill top (on it’s own) where it has written on it “The End will Happen tomorrow at sunset.” Lisa does not believe this. Everyone else gets all dressed up (You know, I find it funny knowing that if people thought that judgement day was here, they might just get dressed up. Isn’t is about your soul and God, not your clothes? And didn’t Adam and Eve start out naked? Whatever.) and wait for the event to happen. Lisa is firm in her belief that nothing will happen. At sunset, the statue rises up and starts talking. Lisa gets scared (as does everyone else) and holds onto her mother.

The whole thing turns out to be an advertising sham for a new mall, but here is my point.

The ending message in the show was Marge saying to Lisa “You got scared there, at the end.” as if saying “You started to Believe, didn’t you.”

Sorry, I have a problem with this. For those, like myself, who will not have blind faith and will not believe something just because someone else says that it is true, I completely stand firm with Lisa’s denial of the existence of an angel, until proven it was. However, I also agree with her getting scared. People who really live to learn through their experiences would have also gotten scared. If it is happening, there is not much denying the fact, now is there? I would have been scared like her, if the statue floated into the air and started talking. That does not make her stance bad, or flawed, or make her “almost” a believer. It makes her exactly what she was–someone who learns through their experiences in reality.

People who claim to live through their experiences, but will not accept something you show to them are just trying to hide from themselves and reality. They are not truly trying to live.

I thought I’d share this conversation with everyone in lieu of a rant, because I think it speaks for itself. Also, I want to note in this conversations, I did say that this is only one of the reasons I am an atheist. I do want to remind you that I am having a discussion with a 15 year old. However, just for the record, I have had very intelligent conversations with many teenagers about this and other similar topics, both atheists and Christians (and, hey, even more. Yeah, I know it’s a shock, but there are other faiths out there). However, most of the conversations I have with teenagers don’t sound like they are simply saying “BaAaAh” “BaAaah” “BAAAAAAAH!”

(CENSORED): why are u athiest

UncouthRanting: To be simple: I am an atheist because I do not believe in a God. I have found no religion that has a dogma that I find compatible with how it is to really be human. I have found no experience that indicates a necessary existent being. I am happy living life hear and now. Also, check out my website… www.uncouth.net

(CENSORED): 03/28/01 – 04/02/01

Atheism is never nailing yourself to a cross to get people to like you.

- Jesus did not die on the cross to get people to like him. I thought you might want to know that.

UncouthRanting: I did not say he did.

(CENSORED): ok

UncouthRanting: (BTW.. those are by Jeff, not myself)

UncouthRanting: Here is what that means.

(CENSORED): I think I get what it means

UncouthRanting: What do you think it means?

UncouthRanting: (For reference, I have done almost two years of Bible study and am working on completeling a Religous Studies Certificate… I am not just rebelling to rebel.)

(CENSORED): Well……. maybe you should post sayings on your website from people that know what there talking about.

UncouthRanting: That is part of what I am doing though. I do not want to lead people by the collar and say “This is what I mean, get it!?” .. I want people to think for themselves.

(CENSORED): Yes, but when the statement is soooooo far off its like your telling lies to get people to become Atheist.

UncouthRanting: But the statement is not soooo far off.

(CENSORED): Like I said though Jesus did not die on the cross to get people to like him.

UncouthRanting: The statement is saying that people:

a) Do not need to profress Christanity just to get liked

b) People do not need to whine about their “sacrificies” to get liked.

Be a good person. That is what counts.

UncouthRanting: I never said he did. Nor does that statement.

(CENSORED): what kind of sacrificies are you talking about

UncouthRanting: I’m talking about any sacrifice you need to tell people about to feel better about yourself. It’s not who you are.. not what you have done to get liked.

UncouthRanting: Er.

UncouthRanting: It IS who you are.

(CENSORED): Are you talking about christians or another religion because true christians do not tell people about thier sacrifices to feel better about themselves.

UncouthRanting: If we are talking honestly, then it must be said that True Christians are few and far between.

UncouthRanting: And that is my point.

UncouthRanting: Many, many people profress to be Chrisitians.. but are only professing that to get some sort of self worth and social acceptance. Not because they believe.

(CENSORED): That may be true with some people but that is not always the case.

UncouthRanting: I guarantee you that there are more people professing to be Christians then truly, actually believe the whole of the Bible and Christian doctrine.

(CENSORED): That depends on the person.

(CENSORED): either they have asked Christ in there life or not.

(CENSORED): I have met people that you have described to me.

UncouthRanting: That message is to those people who profess to be Christians but have not accept Christ. I am not a believe myself. But I do not judged those who believe, as long as they are true to themselves, happy, and do not harm anyone else.

(CENSORED): I am a Christian and i have asked Christ in my life but sometimes i slipp up and do the wrong thing but that does not make me a non-christian.

(CENSORED): I ask Christ to forgive me of my sins everyday because it is impossible not to sin.

(CENSORED): for*

UncouthRanting: You see.. that is one of the many reasons I cannot be a Christian. While we are human, and do things wrong, I do not see this as bad. I see it as a chance to grow and to learn.

(CENSORED): That is not a reason why you could not be a Christian………

(CENSORED): He still loves you even if you sin

(CENSORED): even if you think its a chance to grow and learn.

UncouthRanting: I cannot support a doctrine that says people are evil.

(CENSORED): You are taking bits out of the bible to make an excuse to not be a Christian. let me explian……..

(CENSORED): It is explaining in the bible that the devil will tempt you and you will sin everybody sins its are nature! and that is why Jesus died for us on the cross………not to get people to like him.

(CENSORED): so we can ask for forgiveness

UncouthRanting: 1) What will it take for you to understand that I did not say that Jesus died to get people to like him?

2) What about that does not say that human’s are evil? Sin is going away from God. Sin IS evil.

3) I don’t need forgiveness for what I do. I live and learn. And I am a damn good person for it.

(CENSORED): THAT IS WHY HE DIED FOR OUR SINS SO WE CAN ASK FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS!!!

UncouthRanting: It always supports the truth of a doctrine that you need to yell it at someone.

(CENSORED): just trying to prove a point so you would stop repeating ourself

UncouthRanting: You don’t need to yell to prove a point. Just prove it. However, I am repeating myself because you are repeating yourself.

(CENSORED): I don’t get it, you think that by sining you become a good person by learning from the sins?

(CENSORED): and by forgiving your sins makes you not learn from them?

UncouthRanting: No, I don’t believe I am sining.

(CENSORED): well what ever you call it

UncouthRanting: I do not believe that I am evil. I believe human’s make mistakes. I believe humans can do wrong. But I do not believe that they are inherently evil.

(CENSORED): 3) I don’t need forgiveness for what I do. I live and learn. And I am a damn good person for it.

(CENSORED): i don’t get that

UncouthRanting: I do not need someone else’s forgiveness. The things that I do that are right, I do proudly. The things that I do wrong, I take accountability for. And learn from them.

(CENSORED): I get why you don’t need someone else’s forgiveness because you don’t believe in him. I probobly would think the same thing if christ was not in my life.

(CENSORED): I find this really interesting, where do you think we came from?

UncouthRanting: I honestly don’t have an answer for that. I currently support the idea of evolution, but I know science has been putting some serious holes in it of late, so.. I do not know.

(CENSORED): why do we still have monkeys?

(CENSORED): if we evolved from them

UncouthRanting: As I said–I do not know. I am not a biologist or an anthropologist.

The Bible has shaped and influenced a lot of American culture and society.

The stories can be shown to affect thoughts, actions, perceptions, and more in people around us. I find it interesting when I pick up a copy of Weekly World News (I love it!) and find an article entitled “Bad Girls of the Bible?” This article covers four “bad” girls:

Eve – Seduced by the Serpent and tempted Adam into eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Lot’s Wife – Turned and saw Sodom and Gamorrah destroyed.

Delilah – Prostitute and cut Samson’s hair.

Jezebel – Seduced Ahab, king of the Israelites, into worshipping Baal and Asherah.

I’m not going to get into what I think of these stories right now (I will definitely give you my thoughts on the story of Adam and Eve at some point!), but I will say that I find it bothersome that we have to point out the “bad” girls of the bible. What about the “bad” men? What about just the fact that there are bad people in the bible? It is not necessary to highlight how “bad” women are.

“But, women are vile creatures! They are temptresses! They play with your emotions! They are dirty, sexual creatures!”

The important thing here is to look at what is really going on. Stop worrying about someone else, and start worrying about yourself. If women are such dirty, sexual creatures, why do you have sex with them? (And why are you having sex in the first place? If these are your thoughts, you still need to grow up!) If they play with your emotions and are temptresses… just remember this, who let them? You happiness will start when you take some accountability for your actions and learn that there is only one person worth judging–yourself. Even if every woman was a “temptress” you would have to give your permission to be tempted, and more likely than not you are just as guilty of doing what you claim they are doing.

Editor’s Note:
Check out http://witcombe.sbc.edu/eve-women/1evewomen.html for some great background to the story of Eve!

I’d be me…

I love the fascination that some people have with asking questions that have no bearing in reality to delve into who a person is. Instead of using communication and finding out who a person really is, what they believe in, there are people who will turn to these questions–questions that do not truly give you an insight to who this person is.

When we ask questions, they should be based in reality. There should be a clear objective. I don’t want to know what kind of tree someone would be (nor do I want to think about what kind I would be… I’m not a tree nor will I be one, so it’s just a waste of my time.). I want to know what someone thinks morality is. I don’t want to know what someone would think if they were a rock (You got me.. someone actually asked me that), I want to know their views on sex.

It is more important to me to find out the core of a person’s beliefs and values (and, oh my, maybe even learn something in the process about myself and my beliefs) than ask nonsensical questions that provide us with no real information and no real understanding of ourselves, our world, and our reality.

Familiar words?

Not for a many.

There is a hatred of these words in out culture. There is almost a need to be angry or upset about something. And if there is nothing to be upset about, then be upset because there is nothing to be upset about!

I was having trouble thinking of a rant this evening and I realized I was just sort of content. My one real goal is to get into my warm bed and snuggle with my pillows. True, I have to write this rant. I have a list of things weighing on me to do tonight and tomorrow morning. And a lot of things weighing on my mind. But, I am content. I just want to fall asleep and dream of actually snuggling with a person. And I found it hard to sit down and write a rant.

And then it came to me in a conversation I was having. I also thought back to a conversation I had earlier in the day with one of my roommates about people who are never happy.

They always find something to complain about. Then they always find someone else to try and fix the problem. Then they can complain that the problem is not getting fixed. And then they can complain that the person who is trying to fix it in useless. It’s all about complaining.

It’s all about the focus on the problem and not the solution. If you are always looking at the problem, that is all you will see. Trying orienting yourself towards the solution and you will find life worth living. There is always an option, always a path to take.

In short, content is not bad. Stagnation is bad. Lack of growth is not good. Being happy with things is good.

Let yourself relax once in a while…

For me, I’m going to get into my warm bed with big pillows and dream of snuggling…

Be honest.  Say what you feel.  Do not hold back.

Never open. Never true. Never feeling.

When are we going to stop? Why is this even necessary?

Stop.

Let’s start over.

How about a compliment? How about trying to say what you really mean?

“You know, that really doesn’t suit you.”

“You are a really good person…”

“I’m really infatuated with you.”

But, alas, no. We fail to tell the people who we care about the most what we really feel. Or for that matter, people we hardly know. I was talking with Seana again last night. We were talking about friendship and how a true friend will tell you when some type of clothing does not look good on you. And vice versa.

And never a compliment for people. We expect good and anticipate the worst. Unless something is fantastic, we never say so. If something is good, or even great, we just go “oh, okay, that is how it is supposed to be.” Not a “hey, that’s really cool” or “good job!” or “you look great.”

And, forget talking about relationships. So many people get infatuated (and let’s call it what it really is…not love or whatever) with a lot of people, but never say anything. They sit, paralyzed in fear, suspense, self hate, or even bound by rules, and never say anything. They sit and seethe with animosity towards themselves and others… and are never happy. What about fear of rejection you ask me? Perhaps if you are infatuated with the wrong people, you need rejection. It might just put you on the right path.

It all comes down to a couple of things I harp about. You have to have self worth to be able to truly appreciate other people and what they have to offer.

You have to be able to communicate. Say what you want and maybe you will get it.