God and Guns

I wanted to use this as my status on Facebook just now, but I second-guessed it:

"I'm already seeing the "pray for Paris" all over FB. Please understand that so, so many of these terror attacks are inspired by extreme religious beliefs. When secular folks like me see the words guns and God in the same sentences we are scared. We are scared for legitimate and undeniable reasons. I hope that more religious folks will see the danger in religious extremism and condemn people in the US and around the world for using their religious beliefs as reasons for hate."

See, I'm still a little brainwashed by my Christian upbringing. I don't want to offend or upset Christians because so many of them seem to think there is some sort of war on Christianity in the US. It's too bad because the truth about religion (not just Christianity) is hard and hurtful and painful and needs to be shouted from the rooftops as far as I'm concerned. Bad people using religion to murder, enslave, and terrorize is nothing new or modern. We just have better weaponry now to aid those folks dead set on inflicting terror around the world. Please excuse the pun.

I shouldn't be so hard on Christians because right now it seems that Islamic extremism is quite possibly our greatest threat to global safety. I only wish that the people in this country screaming for more religion and blaming society's perceived downfall on the lack of Jesus in school could take off the goggles for a moment and truly see what it looks like to live somewhere ruled by religious dogma. It generally isn't working out well.

Why? I don't think there is anything wrong with believing in a god. However, no religion is free from judgement. Most major religious dogmas teach their followers that they are somehow better and superior. Believers are encouraged to judge and punish the behavior of non-believers. In the wrong hands (or in the hand of someone who has a gun in the other hand) this belief becomes a pathological excuse for the destruction and massacre of others.

War, murder, persecution, and destruction happen for a myriad of reasons beyond religion. Let me make it clear that I don't believe all religious people are bad apples. They aren't; I know and love very many religious people. However, there needs to be constant awareness and vigilance about the power of religion and what it can do when it seeps into our government and law.

We must be careful about heading into conflicts and wars that only stoke the causes of religious extremism. However, we cannot be silent and allow any religion or religious group to force their beliefs onto others.

As I always say and will continue to say: Love is my religion. Kindness is my dogma. Gratitude is my alter. Peace is my prayer.

To those in Paris and around the world suffering because of violence: no prayer is enough to make it better. I don't have a solution to the problem of terrorism or violence, but I will continue to rally behind the causes of justice through tolerance (NOT acceptance). I will continue to firmly believe the motto of "Do no harm, but take no shit."

Where that leads us, who knows? Please, y'all, love your neighbors.