I am an atheist -- I have no religion. But what is ‘religion’... my simple little dictionary says a couple of salient things: “details of belief as taught or discussed” and “a particular system of faith.” Well, I was taught by my parents and teachers (particularly the dear Sisters of Mercy) to be a good person, be kind to others, to not be destructive, “don’t be mean, dear, be nice.” So I suppose that my ‘religion’ is goodness... perhaps to strive for the sweet goodness, kindness and generosity of my dear Grandmother Cartwright... who lived through hell as a child and came out of it with such a goodness of the heart and spirit, to raise a large family full of kindness.
I say ‘spirit’ instead of ‘soul’ for soul is a word used by religions, and I simply mean the being that one is. I am not always the good person that I can and should be, but as I get older and realize all the horror that is going on in the world, I know that I must strive to be as good as I can to those around me. I do not say ‘love’ all others as do all the religions, for they have almost ruined that word. The word ‘love’ is sacred to me, when I really love I love forever and with all of my spirit. I love my family and a few others with all of my being. But I do not need to love everyone. I do need to be good to all beings and I can at least hope for peace in this world. Perhaps I believe as the Dalai Lama does, “Treat thy neighbor as thyself,” for, although he is one of the kindest, best of humanity, he is not, nor does not have a “god.”
I do not pray to anyone’s ‘god’ for I know that all of the many ‘gods’ out there are simply a thing made up in someone’s mind to get what they desire, either from the earth or from the other people on that earth. If the other people of this earth wish to create a persona to worship, it is fine with me, as long as they do not use that ‘god’ to attempt to do acts of horror on other people or societies, or even to persuade me to believe as they do.
I have been reading President Obama’s speech at a prayer breakfast for Congress. I was impressed and brought to tears at times by his comments. I do not believe in his god, but I do believe in the strength and faith he has for our country and I am so sad that some of the supposedly religious old white men who have come to call themselves leaders of our great land condemned what he said and, as usual, attacked him for his words.
I was impressed by most of what he said, particularly this:
“And so, as people of faith, we are summoned to push back against those who try to distort our religion -- any religion -- for their own nihilistic ends. And here at home and around the world, we will constantly reaffirm that fundamental freedom -- freedom of religion -- the right to practice our faith how we choose, to change our faith if we choose, to practice no faith at all if we choose, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination.
“There’s wisdom in our founders writing in those documents that help found this nation the notion of freedom of religion, because they understood the need for humility. They also understood the need to uphold freedom of speech, that there was a connection between freedom of speech and freedom of religion. For to infringe on one right under the pretext of protecting another is a betrayal of both.”
And so, I am ashamed of so many of the purportedly religious old white men in Congress who roundly criticized what President Obama said when he spoke of the fact that the early Christian religion had committed much the same crimes as the fanatic Muslims have recently. Perhaps they should go to their fabulous church and kneel and pray that their supposed ‘god’ give them a little of that ‘love’ for all others that they constantly profess to believe in. Ah, but I must not say this, for I have just said that I believe in goodness and kindness for all. Ah, but it is so hard to love most of the members of Congress. No, I cannot love them, but I suppose I must learn to attempt to think kindly of them, and definitely not to swear at them when I write and tell them how absolutely disgusted I am at the selfishness and lack of real work for the people they do while saying they are there to help all of us. Often they seem to simply ‘work’ to line their and large corporations pockets, and do other such unkind and unchristian acts.
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