Saturday, May 21, 2011

Doomsday! I don't think so.

So this is doomsday. What rubbish! For years, centuries, religion has been hijacked by fringe elements in society. These elements use any "holy book" to justify the craziest and often the most deadly hateful actions. From crusades to jihad, Jonestown to polygamous slavery in the beautiful Rockies, bombing of health clinics to stoning women for adultery.

When will we realize that the "holy books" justify nothing but good behavior toward each other, that life is more important than death or inflicting such on others, and we ought to judge no one.

The books were written in a time and place for a people living in that time and place. Some of the items in the books present us with timeless truths in an easy to recall format: blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for example. Usually, the more recent writings offer corrections on the older writings, and indeed, there are things written in the books which have been corrected by great teachers and society since then: refinements on marriage that have freed women from slavery to a husband, same sex relationships, and more. We are a living breathing society, ever striving to come to grips with the world in which we live. We take time honored truth and apply it to our times, with nuances that adapt to our time.

Most of all, it is not at all helpful for "prophets" or "clergy" to twist the truth contained in the "holy books" to manipulate people who depend on them for leadership.