Bane of my Existence
Religion is the bane of my
existence. Since the inception of this corrupt institution humanity has been
divided by what I call The Exclusion
Principle. People affected by the consequences of religious ideologies have
embraced the mentality, “you are with us, or you are against us”, and those who
are convinced by the delusion they have freed themselves of the neuroses caused
by the indoctrination of their youth will only find they react and act toward
the people with the religious attributes they despise most with a similar
attitude.
Exclusion: The act of
excluding something or somebody
Principle: An important
underlying law or assumption required in a system of thought
We all yearn for acceptance
because of the animalistic desire we have to belong to a herd. A herd has now
become a family, and some people are born to a herd that has a different
opinion about life and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, if only one
individual in the herd is unable to agree they are ostracized from the group.
The security, comfort, protection, and support the herd provides are soon replaced
with the solitude of a lonely world. Our natural response to such rejection is
to identify people with similar beliefs and attitudes as negative for the
progression of our own life; in doing so we perpetuate The Exclusion Principle.
Religion: people's beliefs and
opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities,
and divine involvement in the universe and human life
I will say this as clear and
concise as I know how; Religion is the bane of not only my existence, but all
of our species as well. A concept derived from our ignorance to the machinations
of the cosmos. Myths created by people who stared at the heavens and could not
help but ponder, “How was all this created?”; these have evolved into institutions
which preach segregation and damnation for any who think, act, or speak
differently than most of the herd.
Our eternal similarity-the fact we are the same species-is what should bring people together. Our eternal differences are what should help us learn and progress. Yet, our species has relied on the fantastic delusions of a being, or many, in the heavens who are responsible for the past, present and future conditions of life. People have submitted their own power to an invisible authoritarian figure, and rely on the guidance from this voiceless entity to determine our course of action. What is the result of our choice? How have the consequences of our neuroses impacted our species?
Science has taught us to
analyze and evaluate our natural world. The information we learn teaches us
about the mysteries of reality and replaces the myths of our ancestors.
Change and fear are constant companions associated with discovery. Yet, we must
embrace the evolutionary step that will propel us far from our paranoid and fearful
religious ideologies.
I am an atheist because of the mind I was born
with. The brain I have is very logical and rational. Most of my life has been
dedicated to thought because of this. Religion is a concept I could never
understand. The myths of our ancestors were incredible stories, but since I am
a natural born story teller I recognized early this is all they were, a story.
Science and reality always
overcome religion and philosophy in my mind. In my own personal life I have
experienced The Exclusion Principle from
not only the community, but my initial herd as well. The rejection of the herd
I was born to caused me to react in the same fashion. Choices were made and
consequences both negative and positive were endured. Behaviors and language
with negative connotations and perceptions have been adopted by me due to my separation
from the herd, and my acceptance by the outcasts of society.
Constant conflicts arise
because of the differences in lifestyle, education, experience, and attitude. Respect
is earned not given. Yet, religious people are not willing to compromise, nor
communicate effectively. When someone is insulted they have every right to
express this has been done, and to do so with whichever words in the English
language, (or their spoken language), most aptly describe their current
condition. People affected by the consequences of religious ideologies have
embraced the mentality, “you are with us, or you are against us”, and those who
are convinced by the delusion they have freed themselves of the neuroses caused
by the indoctrination of their youth will only find they react and act toward
the people with the religious attributes they despise most with a similar
attitude.
I am an intelligent, strong,
bold, and brave atheist. I will not be disrespected, insulted, or offended by
anyone, and I will not succumb to the callous behavior caused by The Exclusion Principle. If I am hurt by what you say or do, I will speak my mind and inform you
in the most direct way I know how to tell you to stop. In a state of heightened
emotions you can expect the words will not be as well thought, and as kind as
they are now. However, I will not react violently anymore unless my
own survival is at stake. We evolved vocal chords and patterns of speech in
order to communicate with one another. This has removed the necessity for physical
altercations due to verbal disagreements.
Religion is the bane of my
existence. The corrupted institution should be burned to the ground from the
foundation up. A scientific and progressive society will be built on the ashes
of our infamy.
