To muster the courage to speak the truth...
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a man who loves war. I see killing other people as senseless and accomplishing little. Nevertheless, if my country called on me to fight to defend the rights of my family, friends, and freedom, I'd be first in line to sign up, not because I believe that it would solve anything, but because I believe there are some things worth fighting for.
I don't have a family of my own. I don't have children or a wife to leave behind, so maybe it's easier for me to make that claim, but I think if I had those things it would only serve to cement my conviction deeper, because I believe in a place where everyone has a right to practice what they believe, so long as it does no harm to those around them.
I look around me and see lives being taken in the name of various gods. The "Muslim" Jihadists, the "Jewish" Israeli Fundamentalists, about thirty "Christian" cults I can name off the top of my head, look in almost any part of the world,in any religion in the world, and you can find a group killing in the name of deity.
A favorite quote of mine is "There's nothing more dangerous than a killer who thinks God's on his side." Now, I pose the question to you, which is more dangerous, a man who kills with the blessing of his god, or the man who know?
In our High Schools and Universities we post pro-religious materials, to counteract general feelings of unease generated by religious monsters who don't perpetuate the morals of the religion they claim to fight for. I say this is foolishness, and will accomplish nothing if those who truly follow their faiths don't stand up and count themselves among those who live their religion fully and truly. The exemplary lives of the faithful, in any religion, is the best way to teach religious tolerance.
Now, I don't think that prejudice is due to those who live well their beliefs. I believe it's due mostly to sensationalism in the American media, and the need to post every depressing, atrocious, and sick act commited anywhere in the world over the airwaves. So why are the innocent punished? Because it's easier to believe what you see on tv than what you see with your own eyes. It's simpler to just be told what to think. I'm guilty of it too, I suppose.
My hope is that I will be ready when the day comes to show myself as an example, because take it from someone who's been there, it isn't easy being a pillar of religion day in and day out. In fact, it gets downright annoying.
I don't have a family of my own. I don't have children or a wife to leave behind, so maybe it's easier for me to make that claim, but I think if I had those things it would only serve to cement my conviction deeper, because I believe in a place where everyone has a right to practice what they believe, so long as it does no harm to those around them.
I look around me and see lives being taken in the name of various gods. The "Muslim" Jihadists, the "Jewish" Israeli Fundamentalists, about thirty "Christian" cults I can name off the top of my head, look in almost any part of the world,in any religion in the world, and you can find a group killing in the name of deity.
A favorite quote of mine is "There's nothing more dangerous than a killer who thinks God's on his side." Now, I pose the question to you, which is more dangerous, a man who kills with the blessing of his god, or the man who know?
In our High Schools and Universities we post pro-religious materials, to counteract general feelings of unease generated by religious monsters who don't perpetuate the morals of the religion they claim to fight for. I say this is foolishness, and will accomplish nothing if those who truly follow their faiths don't stand up and count themselves among those who live their religion fully and truly. The exemplary lives of the faithful, in any religion, is the best way to teach religious tolerance.
Now, I don't think that prejudice is due to those who live well their beliefs. I believe it's due mostly to sensationalism in the American media, and the need to post every depressing, atrocious, and sick act commited anywhere in the world over the airwaves. So why are the innocent punished? Because it's easier to believe what you see on tv than what you see with your own eyes. It's simpler to just be told what to think. I'm guilty of it too, I suppose.
My hope is that I will be ready when the day comes to show myself as an example, because take it from someone who's been there, it isn't easy being a pillar of religion day in and day out. In fact, it gets downright annoying.
posted by Matt at 10:28 PM
1 Comments:
Matt,
Your words are absolutly beautifal, even when you are talking about things unplesant. I miss you and your smile from across the street at your grandparents house.
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