My mother read my previous two entries last night and called me up at 11 PM to discuss them. She had two important points to add:
1) God is love.
2) Of all human pursuits, religion serves one of the most spiritually-important purposes of all: To remove us from ourselves.
We discussed the failure of many people to realize the gravity of selflessness. I certainly don't fathom it, I fail at it day after day, but at least I try. People go through the motions and believe that it's enough. There are people who are too fearful, too busy, too preoccupied with social/familial acceptance to question anything. Belief systems that force-feed their followers, have prejudice and exclusion inherent in their core structures, disallow questioning and curiosity stifle the human spirit. I truly believe that when people, driven by fear, invest in such a belief system without questioning it, a portion of their spirit dies - even as they convince themselves of their salvation.
My mother pointed out to me that the result of spiritual selflessness is ministry. Some people are inexplicably called to it. Many people need it to thrive. It is an amazing thing.
We also discussed the recent lawless riots of Guinea --- which ignite such uncharacteristically violent, hateful thoughts in me that I can't read about the event without fuming. I find myself blaming men and despising them and despising myself for despising them. I have S, one of the most driven, clever, intelligent, loving people I know. I have a remarkably thoughtful, fascinating, selfless father. I am often around men and women so remarkable that biological sex and sexual orientation don't even enter my mind. It's irrelevant.
Islam was also a large part of our conversation. This belief system is an example of one with prejudice and control inherent in its structure. Somebody [astutely] set me straight if I have come to an incorrect conclusion, but its purpose is the very first one on my list: To allow a person or a group of people to wield power over others. Men over women. Believers over nonbelievers.
Women punished for being raped? Humans the property of other humans of the same species - an attitude ordained by God?! Violence and murder ordained by God? It makes me want to rail idiotically at a sentient Supreme Being, ask it why we didn't evolve with the ability to reproduce asexually, or something, ANYTHING, to prevent this schism and the suffering of millions. But truly, the blame falls upon humanity. Only humans could be the source of such corruption.
We both agreed that any belief system that proposes that the only way to "salvation" is religious adherence, and that all unbelievers are doomed, is skewed. I am ashamed to feel derisive horror (never a good feeling) when I recall the gist of some exchanges I've had with particular evangelists. "Oh, you poor, doomed soul! Fear not, I am here, to change the way you think! To alter your views! To save you! I, your rescuer, have come! Do away with doubt and pesky, unsettling curiosity! This is the only way to be redeemed!" I hear superiority. I hear gentle disrespect and velvet-cloaked prejudice. I hear a desperate fear. The benevolence of evangelical ministry is sometimes drowned out by these things - if it is truly present at all. I'm not sure that I myself could perceive the attempted imposition of something as personal and private as spirituality upon another person as benevolent.
1) God is love.
2) Of all human pursuits, religion serves one of the most spiritually-important purposes of all: To remove us from ourselves.
We discussed the failure of many people to realize the gravity of selflessness. I certainly don't fathom it, I fail at it day after day, but at least I try. People go through the motions and believe that it's enough. There are people who are too fearful, too busy, too preoccupied with social/familial acceptance to question anything. Belief systems that force-feed their followers, have prejudice and exclusion inherent in their core structures, disallow questioning and curiosity stifle the human spirit. I truly believe that when people, driven by fear, invest in such a belief system without questioning it, a portion of their spirit dies - even as they convince themselves of their salvation.
My mother pointed out to me that the result of spiritual selflessness is ministry. Some people are inexplicably called to it. Many people need it to thrive. It is an amazing thing.
We also discussed the recent lawless riots of Guinea --- which ignite such uncharacteristically violent, hateful thoughts in me that I can't read about the event without fuming. I find myself blaming men and despising them and despising myself for despising them. I have S, one of the most driven, clever, intelligent, loving people I know. I have a remarkably thoughtful, fascinating, selfless father. I am often around men and women so remarkable that biological sex and sexual orientation don't even enter my mind. It's irrelevant.
Islam was also a large part of our conversation. This belief system is an example of one with prejudice and control inherent in its structure. Somebody [astutely] set me straight if I have come to an incorrect conclusion, but its purpose is the very first one on my list: To allow a person or a group of people to wield power over others. Men over women. Believers over nonbelievers.
Women punished for being raped? Humans the property of other humans of the same species - an attitude ordained by God?! Violence and murder ordained by God? It makes me want to rail idiotically at a sentient Supreme Being, ask it why we didn't evolve with the ability to reproduce asexually, or something, ANYTHING, to prevent this schism and the suffering of millions. But truly, the blame falls upon humanity. Only humans could be the source of such corruption.
We both agreed that any belief system that proposes that the only way to "salvation" is religious adherence, and that all unbelievers are doomed, is skewed. I am ashamed to feel derisive horror (never a good feeling) when I recall the gist of some exchanges I've had with particular evangelists. "Oh, you poor, doomed soul! Fear not, I am here, to change the way you think! To alter your views! To save you! I, your rescuer, have come! Do away with doubt and pesky, unsettling curiosity! This is the only way to be redeemed!" I hear superiority. I hear gentle disrespect and velvet-cloaked prejudice. I hear a desperate fear. The benevolence of evangelical ministry is sometimes drowned out by these things - if it is truly present at all. I'm not sure that I myself could perceive the attempted imposition of something as personal and private as spirituality upon another person as benevolent.
I promise I'll post the tattoo entry as soon as my soapbox collapses.
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