Matter of faith


A Pagan speaks out on religious rights
A slightly different version of this entry appeared in
response to this thread at Sunni and the Conspirators

Religion is one of those loaded topics that pops up quite often. In the last few years, I've had to defend the very idea of religion from "brights" who would just as soon outlaw it.

No, I am not kidding.

I even created this blog to show that you could be a person of faith (but not one of the Big Three), be passionate about the issues of the day, and still be a reasoning individual.

In many ways it's the same argument I've had time and time again with people about guns. Or global warming. Or representative government (there are liberals out there that firmly believe Republicans should be legally banned from holding public office, and of course libertarians are stealth Republicans).

In each case, dissent is not only a DANGER, but must be prohibited for the common good. To which I say codswallop.

I've a better reason than most to dislike the Big Three Monotheisms. To the groups, it's pretty much an article of faith that I am a clear and present danger.

But (and here's the important bit)…

There are individuals in those faiths. Most of those individuals don't see me as a danger. A little weird yes, but overall a pretty decent guy.

One of my little irrational beliefs is that the individual is more important than the group. I don't have "black" friends, I have friends who happen to have a different color skin.

I also have Diné friends and Hopi friends who have a much more unified culture than any group of "blacks" I've ever met.

Honestly, can we please do away with that whole "race" thing? Biologically speaking, there's only one race and that's human.

Yes there can be some cultural differences even in the same country, but for me at least, it seldom has anything to do with skin color. For a guy who grew up in Arizona, Boston is nearly another country. I've a much harder time dealing with East Coast types than others, and that's probably because I am not as good at reading their non-vocal cues.

I don't have gay friends, I have friends who happen to be gay. The individual is more important to me than any group identity.

Although there was one time I did go looking for a lesbian bar. It cost me a few rounds of drinks, but I learned some things that have been very handy over the years. Emphasis on handy.

I've friends who happen to be Christian. I've other friends who happen to be Jewish. Of course I have friends who happen to be Pagan. Quite a few friends who happen to be atheist actually, I think it has something to do with the libertarian movement. And probably a smattering of other faiths that I am not remembering before the caffeine kicks in.

Frankly I don't care what religion someone is. Or what their sexuality is. Or what their politics are. As long as it's not an excuse to control me and mine, why should it matter?

I've written about this several times on this blog. It's also one of my main discussion points when I meet new people and we disagree on politics, religion, or sex. I do agree that religion is one of those things used to justify far too much political control. That's another thing I've written about extensively.

But to lump all religious types together, regardless of their faith and despite their personal actions, well, it's hard to see that as anything other than insulting.

I'm not Jeremiah Wright, I'm not Robert Schuller, and I am not David Wolpe.

I'm not even Isaac Bonewits.

I'm not going to prove religion because it's a matter of faith.

I believe that by reaching for understanding, humanity taught itself science. The quest was more important than the guesses and assumptions that we used to get there. It could be a matter of brain structure, it could be acknowledging Something greater than ourselves. Ultimately it doesn't matter.

The question makes us reach beyond our minds and our little world. It's what makes us face the unknown.

Later we rationally go back and draw the map.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Tue - January 6, 2009 at 07:08 AM  Tag


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