FOR A MUCH SMARTER TAKE THAN THE ONE YOU’RE ABOUT TO READ FROM ME, WATCH ANYTHING HERE.

               As I recently watched yet another 'preacher scandal' dominate the news, it made me shake my head at the absolute weakness of humanity. John McCain, who over the past six months has gone from maverick to conformist, had to scramble recently to separate himself from any sort of association with (and reject the political endorsement of) Reverend John Hagee, who apparently stated in a sermon that the holocaust was "God's will". Let's ignore the fact that just a few months ago, McCain was denouncing Obama for a similar (albeit more involved) association, or that he has become regular chums with nutjobs he previously called "agents of

intolerance"; hell, let's even gloss over the fact that, according to the beliefs of Hagee and those like him, EVERYTHING that happens (including the Holocaust) is God's will. The more important question is - why do these idiotic, ignorant, hate-spewing animals still have an audience? Simple. Because they have a bunch of brainwashed sheep following them who hold dear to their silly hearts a thing called religion - an idea whose time has passed.

              How has such a ridiculous tradition stood the test of time? There are a million different answers to this question, chief among them being fear and ignorance. What the educated among us should really concentrate on is how we can stop the perpetuation of these stories generation after generation. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good story. What I don’t love is a story that is taught and accepted not only as truth, but as a way of life.

                Today, if someone tries to start a new religion, we call them a cult leader, and rightfully so. Look at Scientology. Most people walking around, who aren’t Scientologists, think of it as a joke. This is probably due more to the actions of it’s celebrity brethren than what people actually know about it, but I’d argue that if it didn’t have those celebrities as part of it’s flock, it’d be even more of a punch line (deservedly so - I’ve been to the Hollywood compound and I haven’t been the same since. Also, L. Ron Hubbard just LOOKS like a cult leader in every picture I’ve ever seen). Why do new religions get such a bad rap? Because we live in an age of science, technology, and (I know this is debatable, but humor me) reason. Why, then, do we give Christianity, Judaism, and Islam a pass? Because they’ve been around longer? It certainly can’t be because they have a stronger basis in reality. A careful examination of any of these religions

by someone who isn’t already a ‘believer’ reveals more holes than Jerry Falwell’s rotting corpse (too soon?). Explanation of these holes to the believers will only encounter illogical resistance, until the point that they say “You know, you just have to have faith.” Fine, have faith, believe all you want. But it sure as shit shouldn’t get you a tax break, or political clout, or freedom from laws that the rest of us have to follow, or a soapbox on which to stand and judge others who don’t subscribe to your ‘beliefs.’ And under no circumstance should it give you the right to teach that fairy tale to children before they ever have a chance to think for themselves. What am I saying? If it weren’t for that practice, religion would’ve been out of business (and have no doubt, religion is the largest, most successful business in the world - it does even BETTER when times are tough) a long time ago.  

            I know this article may offend some people. I’d say I’m sorry about that, except I don’t want to lie. The truth is, I’m no sorrier for my words than John Hagee, Pat Robertson, or Jerry Falwell (no doubt burning in hell if there was one) ever have been for theirs. The difference is, what I say won’t really affect very many people. Nobody will read this article, believe every word of it, and then go judge other people based on it. Nobody is going to tell their children, at the most impressionable point in their lives, that they should listen to my words and accept them as truth. These words are just my opinions - nothing more. And that is the way it should be. You hear that, religious people? Nah, didn’t think you would.

An Idea Whose Time Has Passed