Religion, church, and heathenism

Hi, I’m Violet Gin, and I’m a former Church of Christ member.

WHEW, I’ve been waiting a long time to say that, good to get it off the chesties. A confession if you will. Bet the church never thought that the all-important confession would rear its ugly head in the form of a member no longer want to be a part, did they?

Because let’s be honest. It’s not mostly not about God, it’s mostly about “they.”

As seems to be a going thing with me these days, I will refer to a conversation with a friend about religion, God, Church of Christ, and general heathenism.

Him:

And be proud you're a heathen..it could be worse. You could be restricting yourself from living for something that could be entirely made up by people thousands of years ago. You know thousands of years ago they were still struggling with wooden wheels, didn't have electricity, nor knew that germs existed. But they sure knew how to tell others how to live.

Me

(as per usual, with my novella answer):

Sometimes I think that future generations will look back on our religious beliefs in the same way that we look back on ancient peoples who used to offer human sacrifices. Lots of head scratches and WTFs going on in that mofo, FO SHO.

I mean, guilt for sex? For being attracted for someone of the same sex (even though, in nature, it exists outside of humans)? For independent thought, and questioning things that don’t make sense? And believing that dinosaurs were real?

It's not that I don't believe there's a God or an afterlife, I just don't believe in anything very solid these days. And I'm not alone - A LOT of people in my age group feel this way. My beliefs are fluid, and I like them that way. I believe that, sure, there could be a creator and it MIGHT JUST BE A WOMAN. Or god forbid (haha), a non gender specific being of some sort.  *GASP!*

Or we might just turn into stardust energy after we leave this strange and beautiful place and become part of the atmosphere.  I don't know, and I'm too busy living to worry about it anymore.  Religion leaves no room for us to be human, and given that, I can't commit.  I can't commit to torturing myself over every bad thought and thing I do, because I am an essentially good person and I KNOW THIS. 

And also because I like sex, sex jokes, cursing, and the way eating a banana is very much like sucking cock way too much.  Not necessarily in that order. Actually, probably in that order, really.

And religion - ESPECIALLY CHURCH OF CHRIST - teaches you to guilt yourself over everything.  EVERYTHING.  And I'm still working on getting that guilt out of my head, to this very day.

Nooo thank you.

Sure, I believe that there are certain things that are inherently wrong. Murder, rape, pillaging, all that jazz.  Yes, I still pray – but it a VERY different way than I used to. I think the more important part is to be nice and try to just fucking get along and not do too many fucked up things.  And also, that if you don't believe that, then it's OK and I shouldn’t judge, as long as you don't partake in any of the aforementioned "inherent wrongs."

Because that's one thing the church does a LOT - judge. People who might hear me say this will judge me for it automatically, because that's what they've been programmed to do, and I just can't ascribe to that.

Peace out.