Intelligent design for dummies

Will humans ever see the end of religious wars? After watching Nova’s documentary on the Supreme Court case involving the Dover school board I am convinced that we are still in a religious war. On the one side we have religion (mainly Christianity) and on the other side we have everyone else. Once again we have the religious side saying “you’re either with us or against us”. When will these ignorant people realize that their actions and behaviors are having the opposite effect on other religious people? People who lie and deceive in the name of religion are going straight to hell. I believe there is a God and I believe he or she is very intelligent and would not stand behind anyone who is promoting fear and ignorance in his name. Religious extremism has been throughout history stood as a safe haven for criminals, molesters, perverts, thieves, liars, people who are insane. Why would an intelligent designer elect these degenerates to speak on his behalf?

Looking objectively at all religious extremists from Pat Robertson to Osama bin Laden it’s easy to see many similarities. All of these extremists use fear as a leverage device and faith as a mask. Throughout history fear and faith allowed followers to do whatever was necessary to “enlighten” others. This is terrorism and religious extremists are terrorists. But I have no doubt that the same people who refuse evidence of Darwin’s theory would also refuse a definition in a dictionary. These people do not see how burning a mural, creating hostility, and threatening the life of another human being could be considered as terrorism. My joy comes from knowing that these extremists will follow Pat Robertson and Osama straight to Hell. Their God is not the intelligent God that I know. Their God is a fearful, faithless, and man-made entity created for the sole purpose of controlling others.

Home

It might go without saying that I have always struggled with religion and spirituality. I wrote this during one of those struggling moments.

Home

It's late at night. Sleeping are most except myself deep in thought. A longing to speak to God so near yet his home is so far away. I know I get closer by walk or crawl but the distance so minute hardly a fraction could describe. If I am on the 5th floor I am positive that I am closer to Heaven than the person on the bottom floor. But when we both look up the distance is the same. I comprehend my task and my life endeavor. It’s simply to walk home; home where I began where life begins and ends. Yet I know not the address, the street, or even the neighborhood. I can only tell by some signs on the road and a homemade compass that I am going in the right direction. But will I know I’m there? Will I see it on the horizon or will I miss a turn? Will someone be there to welcome me and grant me rest from my long travel? Why these questions seem so loud in my head I’ll never know until I’m home.

I am Ashamed to be Catholic

This emotion first came to me when I was about 10. My mother considered herself to be a “devout” catholic which meant (in her eyes) someone who went to church every Sunday. That was it. As long as you went to church in nice clothes every week and behaved yourself during mass people would know you were a good Catholic. So every Sunday everyone except my father (who was Protestant) was forced to get out of bed early, put on “nice” clothes and go to church. For my sisters and me this meant sitting for an hour, daydreaming and looking at other people in church. All of us knew when to sit, stand, and kneel at the right time. We even knew the prayers said by everyone in church. But all of this meant absolutely nothing to any of us including my mother. We acted like robots. We didn’t listen to what was being preached and we definitely did not think about why we were there. But one Sunday I actually became aware of just how unconscious my family was in church. I looked at my mother during the Homily (adlib for the priest) and noticed her typical glazed-over look. She was in her own world and never heard a thing. The priest could have been talking about pedophilia for all she knew. All that she was concerned about was how she was perceived by other parishioners. According to her “you have to look nice, don’t be late, sit quietly, and take a quarter from her to put in the basket when it comes around.” God forbid if you forget to bring any money with you to church. That would be the worst thing anyone could do in church besides wearing jeans with holes in them, shorts, sneakers, or anything that shows cleavage. Although my mother zoned out for the entire mass she could always find something or someone to talk about. “Did you see so-and-so? She looked like shit. I can’t believe she wore that blouse. You could see everything.”

Give me Peace

This is a note I wrote to God. I know it's silly but I really wanted to piss him off:

Here I am
Back where I started
All alone
Once again broken hearted

All I see
Is misery
And emptiness
From everything I’ve started

Tell me why
Do you insist on hurting me
Tell me why
Do I deserve this agony

What have I done
Can I fix it
Can I make it right
If not then just end it

Take my life
Take my heart
And my soul
And give me a brand new start

I just want peace
Just give me peace
I know you can hear me
And I know you’re right beside me

Give me peace
What are you waiting for
Give me peace
I promise I won’t ask for more
Give me peace

So let’s be honest
Are you still mad at me
I said I’m sorry
And I promised I’d never do it again

But why do you keep pushing me
Why do you keep punishing me