Huge Rant On Religion Coming Up
This is something that is going to be coming right off the top of my head. If it seems like there's no real continuity and strong thesis to be had in the following rant, it's because I don't intend to write an essay, although I'm sure this rant will be essay-sized. ;p
A number of things have happened in the last few days that have somewhat solidified my stance on religion and various moral codes. Just two days ago, I was approached by a group of three young teenagers that asked me if I could recite the Ten Commandments, which ones I've broken, and how I could save myself from those broken Commandments, etc. It was a bit funny, actually; I told them I was Catholic, yet they kept going on about how I should be saved by Jesus. Well, it didn't exactly help that I told them that I haven't attended church for a while, but yeah, it seemed extremely condescending for them to tell me that I'm basically unsaved.
Personally, I believe in what is common among almost all religions and different sorts of philosophies out there. I do say I am Catholic, but that is because I was basically broken in to be one. I somewhat distance myself from religion, because it seems that all that it does is institutionalizes and politicizes belief systems. For example, a lot of people from both the Catholicism and Protestant camps pick apart each others ceremonies and practices, as well as various issues such as the Tent Cities and priest molestations. These arguments are all fallacious and further prove how such institutionalization can ruin even moral codes (refer back to the consistent rejection of hosting a Tent City due to general unacceptance of those who MIGHT have had a criminal record.)
This goes on to my next point: atonement. Now, I'm not referring to a specific ritual that one might have to go through in a specific religion in order to atone for their wrongdoings, but rather a societal atonement, one that does not entirely "atone" for a past wrongdoing but instead lingers around within someone, driving him to do good deeds for the rest of his life. Referring back to the Tent City topic, I would say that the rejection of these "criminals," that is, if there were any in the Tent City population, is a highly hypocritical action for organizations that rally behind acceptance and forgiveness. Looking at this at a purely sociological point of view, it doesn't seem plausible that any sort of criminal would commit any wrongdoing in return for such a selfless act. Such a criminal would have an action linger around in his head for a long time.
Splitting off from the prior topic, I'd also like to mention a news item that is very disheartening.
Priest is barred from ministry
He was a priest at St. Alphonsus when I still went there regularly. He was a very good man, and you couldn't tell that he did any such actions such as molest children and whatnot. I just can't believe that someone who has benefitted society in such a great manner by having facilities built in various churches, promoting various values, etc. can be struck down for something that has happened many decades ago.
Societal atonement... I believe that if he did indeed molest a child, then he was driven to do great things after such an incident. I personally cannot judge anyone over what they have done in the past, much less something they have done 30-40 years ago.
I don't know how to wrap this up, so I'll just say... eat chocolate cake and have fun.
A number of things have happened in the last few days that have somewhat solidified my stance on religion and various moral codes. Just two days ago, I was approached by a group of three young teenagers that asked me if I could recite the Ten Commandments, which ones I've broken, and how I could save myself from those broken Commandments, etc. It was a bit funny, actually; I told them I was Catholic, yet they kept going on about how I should be saved by Jesus. Well, it didn't exactly help that I told them that I haven't attended church for a while, but yeah, it seemed extremely condescending for them to tell me that I'm basically unsaved.
Personally, I believe in what is common among almost all religions and different sorts of philosophies out there. I do say I am Catholic, but that is because I was basically broken in to be one. I somewhat distance myself from religion, because it seems that all that it does is institutionalizes and politicizes belief systems. For example, a lot of people from both the Catholicism and Protestant camps pick apart each others ceremonies and practices, as well as various issues such as the Tent Cities and priest molestations. These arguments are all fallacious and further prove how such institutionalization can ruin even moral codes (refer back to the consistent rejection of hosting a Tent City due to general unacceptance of those who MIGHT have had a criminal record.)
This goes on to my next point: atonement. Now, I'm not referring to a specific ritual that one might have to go through in a specific religion in order to atone for their wrongdoings, but rather a societal atonement, one that does not entirely "atone" for a past wrongdoing but instead lingers around within someone, driving him to do good deeds for the rest of his life. Referring back to the Tent City topic, I would say that the rejection of these "criminals," that is, if there were any in the Tent City population, is a highly hypocritical action for organizations that rally behind acceptance and forgiveness. Looking at this at a purely sociological point of view, it doesn't seem plausible that any sort of criminal would commit any wrongdoing in return for such a selfless act. Such a criminal would have an action linger around in his head for a long time.
Splitting off from the prior topic, I'd also like to mention a news item that is very disheartening.
Priest is barred from ministry
He was a priest at St. Alphonsus when I still went there regularly. He was a very good man, and you couldn't tell that he did any such actions such as molest children and whatnot. I just can't believe that someone who has benefitted society in such a great manner by having facilities built in various churches, promoting various values, etc. can be struck down for something that has happened many decades ago.
Societal atonement... I believe that if he did indeed molest a child, then he was driven to do great things after such an incident. I personally cannot judge anyone over what they have done in the past, much less something they have done 30-40 years ago.
I don't know how to wrap this up, so I'll just say... eat chocolate cake and have fun.
This entry was posted
on Friday, July 15, 2005 at 4:16 PM.
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