Christianity – Why I won’t be a part of it…Pt I

I’ve already posted a couple of times about Christian fundies and how much I dislike them, so this post just adds fuel to the already huge fire.

This post has been prompted by a report on the BBC website about two seperate groups of monks in Jerusalem who ended up having a mass brawl outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The BBC page linked below contains the whole story, along with footage of the event. It doesn’t really matter to me why they did it or what sparked it off. There is no reason good enough. As supposed devout Christians, they follow the Bible. Really, do they?? I think they need more lessons in how to read, not to mention the meaning of humility! I always thought Jesus is supposed to the be the role model for Christians? Isn’t that what’s shouted from every pulpit? So, what on earth were these monks thinking whilst punching and kicking each other? It beggars belief.

It was sickening to watch and just reinforced my disgust with the way people behave who are supposed to be leading the life as exemplified by that famous, mild mannered pacifist; Jesus. It’s a crazy world! I know they are of different sects, but please. These guys are not only monks, but also supposedly Christian!! Yet again, we have violence in the name of God.

If I wasn’t put off by lots and lots of other things about Christianity, this would certainly make me think twice about associating myself with the religion. No matter what reasoning you use, there is absolutely no excuse for people – who should really know better – doing something like this. When was the last time you saw Buddhist monks kicking seven bells out of each other?

How very, very sad.

The BBC news item is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7718587.stm

Jim.

Religious Fundies Part 2!

See, I told you not to get me started on religion and fundies. Here’s the rest of a rant and a bit of personal info, sort of…There is plenty more to follow, but not today…

And another thing…One of the most infuriating things about christian fundies is the following argument: Now, I have heard this used myself or I wouldn’t have posted it…The bible is the the word of god. Why? Because it says so in the bible. Hmmm, notice any minor flaw in that reasoning folks? Yet, it is used with absolute conviction by those who think it is a valid argument. Riiight. You know you’re onto a loser as soon as that old chestnut is rolled out. I mean, how can you have an adult, lucid and reasoned debate with, or ask a genuine question of someone who really believes that kind of rubbish?

I spent a lot of time trying to be and dare I say desperately wanting to be a christian, for a number of reasons I won’t go into here. I failed. Miserably (at first). One of the reasons I failed is because I could not get anyone to answer a few simple questions about christianity that had plagued me for a long time. Not one person could help without resorting to using the bible as a source of their answer! That’s the whole point though. Not being a christian, I couldn’t accept the bible as the final word, so I wanted them to answer me without it. They couldn’t. What were those questions? Well, I’m reluctant to post them here for fear of opening floodgates of all the responses I’ve heard before. I have heard them all, many times, and have yet to be convinced. Ok, I’ll offer you one thing here so that you understand; I asked my questions of a number of ordained and unordained ministers of various christian denominations. I also asked them of someone who runs a large and popular christian apologist website. Nobody could help me.

Perhaps my saying I was looking for answers that weren’t forthcoming is slightly incorrect in some ways. What I truly wanted was a reasoned answer that used logic and not the bible. You see, I didn’t have (their) faith and therefore couldn’t use that as a reason to believe certain things. So, I wanted help from the perspective of someone who could reason with me rather than dictate doctrine to me. I didn’t get it. I came very close though, and spoke via email, telephone and in person to some incredibly nice people who really tried to help. They couldn’t in the end. Because they couldn’t seperate their beliefs from the facts and/or logic of the answers I sought.

In the end, I walked away and followed a different path. I was bitterly disappointed at first as I desperately wanted to feel this conviction that everyone I came into contact with seemed to have about their beliefs. Ultimately it wasn’t to be and I came to accept my lack of faith and beliefs in this particular religion as being the right thing for me.

One of the things that really turned me off christianity was the way in which I was expected to swallow the ridiculous and nonsensical garbage spoken by those people who just cannot think for themselves. Yep, the fundies. The ones who are so far down the line of being blinded by their contradictory beliefs, they can no longer hold a lucid conversation. They spoil it for the rest of us/them in my opinion. Let’s face it, christianity has a very bloody history and it wasn’t the moderates or liberals who spilt most of it!

Jim

Religious Fundies!

What the hell is the problem with people? There are too many religious fundies on the streets of our cities. These are the ones who are totally intolerant of anything or anyone outside their sphere of reality and acceptability. It’s sometimes too easy to tar everyone with the same brush and I’m well aware (before anyone kindly points this out to me) that these freaks belong to the minority. I hope!

Let me give you an example of the worst kind of bigotry and inaccurate drivel some of these people are capable of. There’s a town not far from where I live that’s known to draw people who either live on the fringes of the mainstream or who have some interest in such things. I’m not going to go into more detail than that as it would be pointless. Suffice it to say, the people are described as being “quirky” on the town’s official website. There is something definitely different about the town and it’s one of the most enchanting places I have ever visited. I once had the misfortune of working with a fundie. I was talking to her one day about this place I’ve mentioned and she shuddered and pulled a face. When I asked what was wrong she replied “oh, you mean the town full of satanists!”. I was floored. She was, of course, referring not only to the general trend in the population being slightly “different”, but also the completely debunked and groundless satantic ritual abuse scandal of the late 80’s and early 90’s. This nonsense was actually spoken by a very intelligent, articulate and well educated primary school teacher! Now, isn’t that scary and rather ironic?! Where these freaks get their “information” from is beyond me. Presumably, those who share her bigotry boycott this town. Good job, I say!!

I’ve met a few fundies over the years and boy are those people horrible. They make out they’re literally holier than though, yet do not have a single humble or charitable bone in their entire body. It’s sickening to listen to them.

I really shouldn’t write about religion as I tend to go off at the deep end these days.

I used to be a fundie, you see.

Jim