People fled Europe, crossed the Atlantic and violently severed ties with the king who aimed to rule them from across the ocean. Some claimed a nice chunk of land and realized they could become rich growing a commodity that would sell. Only problem was, there was too much land and not enough labor to make it worth while. So they enslaved another race and created thousands of mini-kingdoms that produced enough of said commodities to make them rich.
A group of slaves could have banded together and killed their master, but it didn’t happen that often. Why? Because the kings stuck together and used violence to maintain order. They deprived them the right to an education. Why? Because a few thousand educated slaves would eventually figure it out, find a way to make their owners, their kings, sorry for what they did.
In the Middle East you have the same dynamic, only the work needed to produce the commodity isn’t done with people, but machines. Wells are dug and the oil is pumped out. So what’s next? How does a king keep these people in line in spite of the fact that they’re not needed to make and keep the royal family rich?
Religion! That’s right…Rasputen Inc. Get these people to believe that heaven is the goal, that they’re better off without freedom here on earth because the real party begins once they’re dead. And who will convince them of this? A man, just like themselves, who is living somewhat more comfortably than their followers. Better off than the people who hang on their every word, they’ll keep up the charade for as long as it works.
Deprive these people of education, as they do, and they’ll remain foolish enough to believe whatever the preacher tells them. Screw that! Heaven is perhaps the most overrated concept ever created by man. What about this life? What about here and now? Who’s died and returned to tell everyone about what lies ahead on the other side?
Well, that’s the hook. A man who lived a thousand or more years ago did just that, and we’re still buying it. I think it’s all bullshit. Christians in my family don’t, but then again, they’re not being told to kill their neighbors.
And on it goes…the everlasting battle to control men’s minds.
You could make the same case about NATIONALISM and the state’s use of the flag. Arundhati Roy writes,”Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments first use to shrink wrap people’s brains and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead.”
Chris, thanks for the ‘Zelig’ tip it was a great film and a novel idea for its time.
Ignorance of history, in a day when so many books are available, is no excuse.
Washington, tell me more. What ignorance are you talking about?
Where, if I may be so bold, do you get your inspiration from Chris? All of mankind, according to your history, is either evil overlords or soon to be evil overlords. And, if we follow your “off with their heads” philosophy, no man is immune from being corrupt or evil because the meek should slay the mighty…in order to become mighty themselves one supposes. Only to be slain by those who are made meek who were once mighty…
How did religion get to you so?
Washington, you’ve heard my interpretation of the American Revolution, the plight of slaves during the Civil War and my take on the subjugated masses in the Middle East.
Hardly a lifetime of historical study in but three subjects…though, each of them are unique in terms of breaking the chains of oppression.
Stick around a while and I’m sure you’ll see that my take on everything isn’t about the decapitation of those with more by those with less.
As for religion…I spent the better part of my teenage years as a born-again Christian, and my early 20s as a Buddhist…much of my life I’ve been in communion with God, just with different masks on at different times.
I consider myself a spiritual being, and never skip an opportunity to throw in my 2 cents.
I’ve had emails from priests, ministers and devout followers of several different religions email me with kind words, some with the exact opposite, but it’s really a personal thing for each of us. Sure the congregation is important, but the notion that anything other than the desire to live a good life and be a good person be the motivation for following one specific religion (let’s say, ‘I want to go to heaven when I die) is the specific thing that I reject in any that advertises such a gift in return for membership.
The carrot is goodness, wholeness…that the world be a better place because one happened to live here for a number of years…as opposed to a worse place. I think that’s what most are seeking, and it’s that desire that’s most often subverted by the preacher-man.
I could go on forever…the twins are howling…glad to know you Washington, welcome!
Ditto…though I fear we may disagree on most points-though again I find that the best example of what our Republic can stand for…well, that and the hot dog.
Chris you may not like religion, but many millions of people around theworld revere their religions whether you like it or not. The tragedy is that some of them do exactly what their religions say not to do, but that is not the fault of religion per se. It is the fault of the people.
So, then, how do you account for so many suicide bombers being lawyers, doctors, engeneers and Imams? Data shows that the most militant and dangerous of the muslims are the educated and well to do. The ones without education or means just propagate the abuses of Islam locally.
So shouldn’t we then be trying to destroy their universities and mosqes to prevent the training of future terrorists?
Paul – have you read my essay on ‘Born Again Christianity’? I think it’s clear that I have a close attachment with religion. Fundamentalist religion in any form is where I draw the line.
There are millions of moderate Christians, Muslims, Jews in America and abroad. They just tend to keep to themselves, whereas the fundamentalists always seem to be on one type of crusade or another.
I am a Unitarian Chris. That pretty much explains where I stand on religion and spirituality -if you know anything about Unitarians. 🙂