Posts Tagged ‘freedom of religion’

Ok, I may be in the minority here, but I thought the book “The Da Vinci Code” was a good romp—the perfect bathtub book. I did not consider it radical or true, it was a novel, for pity’s sake! All the screaming and crying from the Vatican on down amused me on one hand and made me think the world was getting too stupid on the other hand.

Now, an Egyptian writer is having the same effect. Dr. Youssef Zidane has a book entitled “Azazel” about the turbulent early history of the Christianity in Egypt. The problem is, in Egypt, any “insult” to a religion mentioned in the Koran, is considered blasphemy and punishable with prison. It is likewise a novel, although set in the history of the 5th century; does the idea of fiction actually escape people nowadays? Have we gotten that stupid?

(And is it silly of me to wonder why one can imprison a man for writing something that insults Christians who dislike certain aspects of their own history, and yet it is ok to KILL Christians and Jews because they are not Moslems? I guess, it is alright as long as you don’t insult them WHILE killing them with bombs and guns, or whatever murder weapon you use?)

Possibly…goodness knows truth certainly evades folks. They have had so much nonsense shoveled at them AS fact that they now read a novel as true history. Me? I can’t wait to get my hands on an English translation. Gods only know how long I will have to wait, however! After all, I am still waiting to see the film “Agora”….set historically in the same time frame, in the same place, and portraying some early Christians in just as bad a light.

But Hypatia was a real person, and she was killed by a Christian mob. So, apparently both fact AND fiction are pissing people off these days. People who like to point fingers at others, but don’t want to closely examine the history of their own behaviors! This is why both freedom of religion and freedom of the press are so important folks…..I am sure there are some who’d like to throw Dan Brown in jail, too. Outrage in the name of any religion is still outrage.

(links in this posting are things that inspire me)
No, I am not an atheist. But I am wistful for a godless existence. That admission will likely get me unlisted from blogrolls of pagans around the web, lol. Actually, it is not the concept of deity existence that bothers me so greatly—-it is what a believing (dare I say credulous) mankind does or does NOT do because they expect their deity to do it for them. What is this presumption that any deity would want us to continually act like aberrant children constantly needing smacked back into good behavior? Would not any reasonable “parent” deity want us to grow UP? If I were that monotheist deity, I’d seriously have ulcers and want a vacation!

I share with atheists and agnostics the dismay over the craziness induced by religious belief. I am horrified at the increasing politicization of religion in America—-we have plenty of proof that it was a bad thing in Iran, Afghanistan and other places in the Mideast. And yet, Americans apparently embrace the idea that politicizing Christianity will not go down the same path of intolerance and chaos?

Once upon a time, religion was considered an improper topic of public conversation. It was a private matter ‘twixt you and your deity; that was how well-mannered folks dealt with it. Now, everyone is expected to wear their affiliation loudly on their sleeves at all times. For myself, in spite of what C.S. Lewis thought about pantheism, it is my most natural spiritual leaning. I feel a sacredness in the world around me, and yet I feel mankind is utterly and absolutely responsible for choices made. I do not expect any deity to swoop in and save us from ourselves. In fact, if I were a deity, I would be insulted at being reduced from ideal and inspiration to errand boy and fire department!

There is also a current trend in America to denigrate science while favoring some of the stupider ideas of angry sky-god belief. Rampant fundamentalism sneers at science as a failed religion in its own right; and thus keying off of that idea, I must point out that science can also self-criticize and self-correct without repairing to burning anyone at the stake. Science has its crack-pots, too. Scientists are human just as are the various adherents of several religions. And all humans can and do make mistakes—whether in religion or science.

Ironically, I was reminded of this by the signage on a local church, one that unfortunately puts up rather stupid aphorisms that make me want to run screaming to the hills rather than join their congregation. This week’s reader board said: “God is perfect; only people make mistakes.” Well, really? God is our presumed creator—how did a perfect God make such imperfect creations, then? If he did it for sport, then he is a sadist and now worthy of my worship; if he did it by accident, he is incompetent and certainly not perfect.

Personally, I don’t worship perfection. I may reluctantly ascribe to belief in certain deities (several Hellenic deities, for instance), but I can say without hesitation…I do not believe in perfection. I believe mistakes teach us to do better on the next try. I believe in the sacredness of continual effort, and personal responsibility. I believe in walking in the beauty of the world, and attempting to leave it better than I found it.

I don’t believe in pie in the sky and god(s) piecing it out to favorites. I believe in going forth to the daily battle of life with a good and open heart and taking my lumps and owning my errors AND triumphs. I don’t blame gods for my failures, nor thank them for victories; I thank them for inspiration and the ideal of trying until you succeed. That isn’t good enough for the reader board posters on my driving route. Oh, well, send me singing to your Hell….where-ever that is!

I know a fair number of Christians whose noses get a bit out of joint because I rail on about the noisy, bigoted Fundamental asshats who think freedom of religion (you know, as promised in the Bill of Rights?) only means THEIR religion. Well, folks, police your own flock then and rap the asshats on the knuckles—I’m sure there are some testy old nuns out there (what with being investigated as possible heretics and all) who could give you the ‘how to’ lessons.

The week has just been example after example of “good Christians” trying to hold shut the floodgates of free thought and free practice of religion other than the love of Jesus. My thanks to the Wild Hunt blog for keeping me apprised of the situations ongoing. I have already blogged a time or two about this, and it isn’t ending any time soon.

I wear, constantly, on my left wrist, a heavy silver bracelet that is my visual link to Kybele–the Great Mother. I am clear across the country from an American site dedicated to her, but I hereby declare I intend to tithe to that house from my Etsy profits (such as they are). The Maetreum of Cybele is located in New York State. They have their necessary 501c rating, and yet the county refuses them tax exemption as a religious group. It is pure discrimination, as the reason for refusal has now come out as “because we can’t open the gates for other such groups!” Right, far be it from an American county to actually allow freedom of all religions. Since the county is now getting set to lose in court, they are trying to seize the property for non-payment of the much contested taxes. Please, if you can, go to the link and give them a donation to help pay legal bills so they can hold onto their property and get their tax exempt status.

And down in Louisiana, in Jefferson Parish (the same parish where black folks trying to get out of flood waters during Katrina were SHOT at by white sheriff’s personnel ) the sheriff wants to make sure none of those evil witchy sorts from partying on a dedicated pagan campsite. Because, you know, they can’t be having any of that kind of thing in their perfect little white Christian enclave. The sheriff can be as “vehemently opposed” as he likes; he is still violating a Constitutional freedom. If you live in Louisiana, please write to all your state and federal officials and inform them you would prefer if your law enforcement personnel did NOT act like KKK yahoos. They used to harass the Jews in places like Louisiana…where I lived (thankfully briefly) as a child. Now they have a new, smaller, and perceived as powerless target: pagans.

But even the college campus scene is rife with morons; and I am not speaking of Bible colleges here. Purdue, for pity’s sake! Seems that someone there doesn’t think non-believers should have a display case advocating the right to be free OF religion. Wow, Jesus, love him or leave campus, what? Yeah, that’s tolerant.

Yet, just tell a Christian they don’t have to Gawd-given right to RUN the National Day of Prayer as they want and they scream like stuck pigs—-oh, the martyrdom, the martyrdom!! Franklin Graham is still screaming about how being dis-included means Satan is taking over America. Apparently, his God is a bit of a wussy who needs total and complete brain-washed acquiescence to EVERYthing at every instant of the day.

Frankly, I think if the Fundy screamers are any example of “imitating” Christ, Thomas a’ Kempis is spinning in his grave. These new Fundy “martyrs” seem a bit washed out if you ask me. Martyrdom used to mean going to the lions in the Coliseum, now it is enough that someone, ANYone have a different religious opinion. I’m going to go martyr me a Fundy by contributing money for the legal battles of the Magna Mater! Bite me, Franklin Graham. (But, oh, watch out, wuss-boy; I bite back.) And my Goddesses are armed! (Say “hi” to Athena!) And furthermore, below that–an anti-Westboro protest!

Westboro Baptist Church? You can bite me, too….and good for the high schoolers challenging their nasty anti-semitic and anti-gay hate message!
That is what I call “policing your own!” Go Hunter! Go love and tolerance, not hate and small mindedness.

(And if you wish to comment, don’t forget to scroll down enough to fill out the spam filter; otherwise your comment will not appear—even to me.)

Oh my, belly dancing, drum circles and bonfires! Could anything in the world be more horribly frightening? Could anything be more threatening and dangerous? Could anything need more vital attention for the long term good of all residents? Apparently not in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. A pagan group plans a four day gather at the end of May and the sheriff wants them to know he has his eye on them. He can’t stop them if they don’t break the law, but he surely doesn’t like them being there. And this is at a dedicated pagan park and campground.

Gee, does this sheriff get his shorts in a knot over what goes on at Baptist Camp, say? Or at the local Catholic bingo hall? Of course not. It’s us damned pagans, by Gawd, who need watching and worrying over. Cause yeah, Louisiana has nothing else to worry about at all. Nothing better to concern law enforcement, right?

Not the methamphetamine use in Jefferson Parish…just for local starts of “items to be concerned over.”

Not hurricane season coming to possibly devastate New Orleans and the Gulf Coast again.

Not a sunken offshore oil rig pumping 5000 barrels of oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico, where the tide will carry it to Louisiana’s fragile coast.

Not oil burning on the surface from said oil well, with plumes of smoke spreading.

No. Just worry about a bunch of pagans at a pagan park having a bit of fun over a long weekend. That sounds perfectly prioritized. And Mr. Perry Rushing? You are a silly, silly man so busy “vehemently opposing” such simple observations. I recommend you add the Bill of Rights to your reading list. Freedom of religion means ALL religions, not just yours.

Oh, and any readers who want to take me to task and accuse me of “hiding behind the Bill of Rights” as occurred last time I discussed such a topic? Ask yourselves what you would be hiding behind if it didn’t exist, ok? Oh, and yes, fuck off.

At long last, American Sikhs can again serve in the US military without foregoing the requirements of their religion! Huzzah!

My first landlord, when I was in the Army and a new Army wife as well, was a Sikh. He was a fine honorable man; his tradition honors military service. I am very happy that Sikhs can again serve without degradation of their religious beliefs.

Ok, once more with feeling! A message forum is now up and will be soon appended to this blog with a widget to jump there! Till then, the hyperlink will take you there for a look.

If you wish to register, hit the “contact” button here on the blog and let me know what screen-name and password you would like; I will register you. Do not use your customary name; people have found themselves harassed in offline life for speaking out about the current assault on the wall between Church and State.

This forum is for the specific purpose of urging support of Mike Weinstein’s Military Religious Freedom Foundation (financially or otherwise), and urging people of ALL religious walks to protect TRUE freedom of religion—ANY religion, or NO religion. You do not have to be pagan to participate, but since I expect many pagan participants, there will be talk of using magic to protect those under assault from imprecatory prayer attacks and other forms of Religious Right coercive behaviors.

I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong, I am very thankful indeed for a host of things —-I just don’t “do” it on a Thursday in November.

But reading the headlines today; I do find some things that render thoughts of thankLESSness.

On the topic of a Catholic bishop telling Rep. Kennedy he isn’t fit for communion? Yeah…the last time we let religion rule civic life this way, it WAS called the “Dark Ages” and for good reason. It is over-the-top irrational to expect Rep. Kennedy to vote the Catholic line on isues like abortion—it amounts to “establishment of a religion” by forcing ALL his constituents to live by the precepts OF his religion. But then, perhaps the Catholic Church has just decided to quietly step aboard the Dominionist Bandwagon? I don’t know what it is about America; the wall between Church and State is under pretty continuous attack, yet most folks don’t notice till their personal toes are trod upon. Wake UP! Iran and Afghanistan didn’t wake up one morning and find the mullahs in control….it began with small things. I am NOT thankful to see this trend in American religion.

And then, the headline about rains in Mecca in the season of the Haj just made my inner Snark lick her lips. “Raining on their parade” she said. Don’t worry, I slapped her. I am more worried about the massive crowds providing a vector for deadly flu strains this year; and I dont’ think rain will help. I am not thankful that people are cold and shivering in the Arabian desert on the most important religious occasion of their lives.

And the headlines scream that Obama is going to explain why he is not getting our asses OUT of Afghanistan on December 1st. Merry Freaking Christmas, Barry?

We already know you are committing more troops. Great, are you giving in to generals possibly under the sway of people who do things like paint medieval Crusader knights on F-16s, or let the Bagram chaplain drive around in a vehicle with a huge glowing cross onboard? Because committing more men to a combat zone where superiors proselytize and threaten anyone not “Christian enough” is insult to the injury of sending them where the natives want them dead!
Not the “change” I voted for, Mr. President! No, I am not thankful for this decision.

And finally? Our elections have been dirty; some of the counting has been suspect. But we don’t know jack about “dirt” and elections….until you try to literally bury the competition with a back hoe. Definitely not thankful for savagery of this sort!

Mike Weinstein, the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, will be in Seattle the weekend after next! I am very excited by the prospect of meeting him for a brunch. One does not meet a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee every day, nor someone with the courage to confront dearly held mis-perceptions .

It is exceptionally important, in my opinion, that in military life where so many other freedoms that civilians take utterly for granted are somewhat necessarily abrogated to get the military mission accomplished; that freedom of religion does not become one of those set-aside liberties. There are, at certain posts, a certain “flavor” of religious fervor that can be rather oppressive if you are of another faith or agnostic or atheist.

I utterly applaud and support Mr. Weinstein’s efforts at keeping this Constitutional freedom alive in the lives of those who protect ALL other liberties for us, against any foreign force! I urge any of you with a few pennies to spare (or sacrifice a latte, come on, folks!), to click the little icon at the upper left of this posting box and toss some coins to Mike to further his efforts.

Thank you Mike! Thank you to anyone who gives him a financial hand, too!

I can’t begin to tell you how many conversations beginning with this phrase went south in a hurry.  A recent one, where the variant was “Well, maybe she is not really…” was likewise unpleasantly terminated.  By me.  Forcefully.

The first such verbal debacle I recall as an adult was in the Army.  A  Protestant of the particularly annoying proselytizing sort  was telling me I was “much too well read and refined” to be a Catholic.  Apparently, I didn’t look “dumb Mick”  or “Dago” enough to be a Papist.  In retrospect, he was right….I was too well-read to keep buying the Catholic inconsistencies; in fact I was not cut out to be any sort of Christian at all.  But at the time, I contented myself with telling him that he might have something there, because most good Catholics would simply forgive his presumption and walk off.  I, on the other hand, I said confidentially three inches from his ear, had a burning desire to grab his gabbing tongue, and cut it off.  He was correct, that was too blood-thirsty to make me a good Catholic.

Then there are those who stay politely clear of religion, but know more about medicine or my personal condition than I or my doctor.  “You’re not really allergic to those foods,” they begin, with jocular laughter and a hearty thump on the back, “You’re just being PICKY.”  Right.  I am being picky, that is why I no longer touch foods I dearly LOVE to eat, like tomato sauces and baked potatoes.  So, yeah, picky…that’s it.  It couldn’t possibly be real that I stop breathing when my throat closes, hell no, I am just picky.

And then there was the “You’re not really a feminist, you bitch!  You are one of those lezzie freaks who just wants women for yourself, so you “shelter” them from so-called abusive husbands so you can get a chance at ‘em”  Right, sure.  Couldn’t have had a damn thing to do with her being black and blue from forehead to hip, could it?  And “so-called abusive”?  Wow, I wonder what qualifies as real then?  I suppose it would be un-feminist of me to also suggest that it is not lesbians who look for vulnerable women to prey upon sexually, but men, most of the time?  Or how feminist (and mature) is this response? “Fuck off and die!”

But not to worry, women have said stupid things to me as well.  Like the skinny little bit of fluff that a strong wind would blow over saying to me when my plate arrived at a group dinner, “Oh my God, you’re not really going to eat THAT, are you?”  Apparently, rare steak is not lady like.   And there was too MUCH food there, too.  Yep, I really AM.  Or the boss I quit on and who, as I was picking up my stuff to leave, said “You’re not really going to quit just because you think I broke labor laws?”   Yep, I really AM, cause I don’t ‘think’ labor laws were broken; I know it, I argued to utter futility and then I was done.  Because if I stay and watch you browbeat other employees any more, I won’t just quit, I’ll HIT you and quit.

Another boss, when I was a beekeeper, leaning across a table to say to me, “You aren’t really one of those Communist Democrats, are you?”  Yes, yes, I am you reactionary illegal immigrant hiring ass!

And then, when I finally told a long-time friend that I had left the Catholic Church and admitted my own paganism to myself and my family, who said “Oh, honey, you aren’t really a heretic or pagan; you’re just pissed off at the Pope, it will pass.”  Nope, it won’t pass.  Yes, I am pissed off at several popes.  And yes, I really am a pagan, and if it makes you feel better to call me a heretic, too…well, go right on ahead.  Whatever floats your boat….but mine is sailing other rivers these days.

And the most recent of these conversations wasn’t even about me.  Confiding to a friend that I had to apologize for distraction, I told her I was concerned over a lesbian friend who was in a break up.  And yeah, you guessed it, the voice on the phone said, “Oh, yeah…she has a kid from a marriage, right?  You know, she isn’t really a lesbian….she should re-examine how she feels about men now.”  Right.  I had to go very quickly at that point.

If any of you readers think someone is not gay or lesbian simply because they once were in a hetero marriage, let me point out that the dominant paradigm is shoved down all our throats from infancy.  As humans, we do tend to try what we have been “taught” first.  But enough times of it not working, we finally get the courage and strength to try something else.

Likewise for Christian religion in America—-it was ours from the cradle.  But like all babies outgrow cradles, some of us outgrow Abrahamic religions.  Don’t tell us we don’t have a “real” religion because it isn’t YOUR religion.  In fact, don’t tell me or anyone else that we have to have ANY religion, because if someone doesn’t want any gods at all, it really isn’t your damned call!

Don’t tell me how to eat, or how to feel, or how to fuck.  Because if your burning need to tell me “You’re not really….” anything at all just because you like your idea of me better than my reality, I will feel likewise driven to tell you that “Yes, I AM!” and further more, I will tell you what you are, too.   You will be an asshole!

Oh, my, my, my…Bill O’ Reilly has his shorts in a twist again….this time at my home state and the good Governor Gregoire.  Seems that since the capital, Olympia, let public property be adorned with a Nativity Set (and I must say, an abidingly homely one), they also let an atheist group put up a small sign declaring the idea of gods to be fictional.

The phones are ringing off the hooks, mail is pouring in everyone bitching about this to no end…..oh, the war on Christmas and Christians, oh woe, woe, woe.

Oh, bullshit.

I am proud that the State of Washington found the fortitude to follow the CONSTITUTION.  You know, that “goddamned piece of paper” that George Bush has ignored?  It says “No establishment of religion” by the government—that means no governmental functionary can favor one or the other in a public capacity.  That means if they are polite and kind and let Christians put up a creche scene, they need to likewise let atheists, pagans, Jews and anyone else so inclined do the SAME.  Duh, you dimwits screaming about this…..FREEDOM OF RELIGION MEANS ALL (OR NO) RELGIONS.

I am sick of the war on common sense, the war on the Constitutional rights of Americans who think instead of acting like sheep, the war on Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, and many other “wars.”  There IS no war on Christmas; it is not war to say to Christians: “This season is special to MANY people for many reasons; some secular reasons, some religious and you do NOT get to tell one and all to celebrate it YOUR way alone.”

Let me remind everyone, the last time religion ruled the world for Europeans, it was called the Dark Ages.  If you think religious rule in America is such a good damned idea, take a good look at Iran right after they dumped the Shah.  And if you think it can’t happen here, wake up and smell the coffee.  Or the batshit crazy.  Get over your persecution complex, if you have your panties knotted over the idea that America is not only composed of Christians who have to have only their displays of faith and seasonal joy displayed.

So much for enjoying MY season, eh?  Dragged out of seclusion by the burning stupid.

Oh, and by the way, to all the Christians who are filling Gregoire’s phone mail box with negative notices about this?  Do something like Jesus would do, instead of bitching, WORK for what you say you believe in.  Go help homeless families on the streets of Washington cites.  Like the family in Lakewood, Washington, forced to sleep in their car.  And they woke yesterday morning to find their two month old baby DYING.  Gee, focus on the death of innocents in REAL families,  instead of plaster statues of families and I will be a lot more impressed.  The new manger is a car in Lakewood.

And lest you think that there is nothing whatsoever wrong with favoring one religion over another, I direct you to this link to follow and read.  With dismay, if you are not already brainwashed.

http://blog.au.org/2008/11/25/hell-in-little-axe-an-oklahoma-moms-chilling-battle-with-religious-bigotry/

::::::stomps off feeling utterly depressed and snarky, not to mention snarly:::::::::