Today I am going to break one of my very own rules and talk for a minute about religion. I know, I know, I have preached about not discussing or taking a stance but in conversations simply to keep the peace, but today I guess I am feeling a bit feisty. Maybe it is the seasonal changes or just because I am having a hard time stomaching all the ignorance out there, either way I am saying to hell with it.

Speaking of the season and religion as a big Christmas celebrator; it drives me nuts when I hear “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Well actually, no that is incorrect, if you actually studied theology you would know Jesus was actually probably born in July not December, the church just stole another pagan holiday and slapped there name on it. So, maybe before you spout your religious information you might want to know what it is you are actually speaking of, sheep!

There that feels better, one thing off my chest. You see, it is not that I am not religious or a zealot spiritual, it is actually quite the opposite. I would like to believe that I am very religious, so when I see people halfheartedly participating in religion without the proper education on it, well it just makes my skin crawl.

I remember growing up we had friends that were so sure that when the end of world came they were going up to heaven and we were not, since we attended a different church than they did, now that is mighty christian of you; and thank you so much for the heads up! I now know to watch out for your kind of Zealots!

I must admit, it boggles the mind when you think about how much blood has been shed over religion. So many atrocities have been done because of differences in religion, all in the name of God. Honestly, I am pretty sure in the grand scheme he is not happy about any of it. Which is why I think this next generation has completely abandoned religion all together, or has converted it to one soft rock concert. News flash all those christian singers are still doing tons of drugs before they go on stage, and have just as many alcohol problems as the hard rockers do, if not more. They are just hiding it behind a cross and would be good intentions.

As a musing, that is the only good thing that can come from religion at this point. Trying to help others in an organized fashion, because let’s face it the rest of the people it is just “Sunday networking” laced with potato salad, bundt cakes, super cute dresses, and hats if you are southern Baptist.

Not to mention just another place you can create a clique for the ladies to outcast others. Oh and don’t forget the free baby sitting for your little monsters in the youth ministry where most of those youth minsters will be diddling them, for years of therapy for them later on. You know I speaking the God’s honest truth now. Sadly it was just a few years back we realized that my very sister was molested, by a church do gooder that was taking care of her at the church youth groups as a child. Talk about unlocking a core childhood memory. That is primarily where they hide, since everyone is welcome with open arms. The sick part is I had one of my churchy neighbors tell me after confiding this in her, ” well, that is why people go to church, we all know we are sinners; and it is to help us get better.” No that kind sick is need of help called therapy or prison. Church is for people that have endured their sickness and need love and support to recover.

I wish I did not feel the way I do toward these institutions, but I do now more than ever. I know they should be places filled with community, love, brotherhood and reflection. However, the more reflecting I do and the older I get, the less I want to be a part of these institutions, and no longer want to be one of the sheep lead by a Shepard I really do not trust. This is true for so many things in the world, not just my spiritual flight, but also daily living as well. I feel like this is why we find the world in the state that it is currently in right now.

I wish I had a good answer for how we find our way out of this mess, how we can trust again or believe again. It is like that feeling when you figure out that Santa Claus was just your parents and the magic is all gone; but you have to keep the secret going because your brothers and sisters still continue to believe. It feels wrong, but it is so nice to see people happy that you just don’t care. The only difference now is that people are not happy, or they only momentarily appear to be happy, for a little while, and it does not last. So is it worth keeping that big dirty secret quiet?

Maybe if more people actually read the entire bible themselves, instead of just having it interrupted for them that would help? A passage a day even; but even then it has been rewritten so many times over the years, is the message still the right one? Was it interpreted correctly from language to language, version to version? Like one of my college professors said once, “It is really like the biggest game of telephone from the dark ages; where hopefully the underlying message is what you get from it.” Food for thought, right? Well then, say a little prayer for me!

Blessed Be,

Veronica J