I no longer have interest in belonging to a religion, and I no longer feel the need to have all the answers.

That being said, I still enjoy searching and pondering. I don’t believe I could stop my ruminating mind if I wanted to, so instead… I prefer to put it to good use through casual study and zero expectation of coming to a definitive, perfect conclusion on why the heck we are here, existing.

I don’t believe in organized religion or a punitive God anymore. I think we take for granted how much we trust that abrahamic religion is fact simply because it’s the most historically practiced religion in our area. It’s been engrained in us from infancy, and we believe it like we once believed in Santa Claus. Had we been born in China, we might be Buddhist or Taoist. Born in Inda? Hindu. If you were born a Viking in 500 B.C., you most certainly would believe in Norse Paganism.

And sure, people say that Christianity spreading far and wide across the world is a sign that it’s the true religion… but that’s not proof if we were all intended to carry various belief systems and it didn’t matter to God which one ended up the most wide-spread. I mean, Christianity was spread by force, with sword, by Charlemagne. Kind of odd for a religion boasting a God of love and a son who told people to put down the sword, don’t you think? Maybe Christianity simply spread faster and wider because that particular religion could easily be twisted to convince people they were dependent on the church for salvation. Thus garnering a ton of coin and power for both rulers and the church. The fact that those desiring such subjugated citizens probably had the best technology and industry of the time, didn’t hurt.

Sharing this doesn’t mean I don’t believe Jesus existed, however. Or that his teachings weren’t beneficial. It only means I don’t buy into organized religion’s version of him… that he came here to reiterate God’s wrath against us if we don’t believe in him, accept his sacrifice, or live in a specific manner to make us worthy of not being eternally destroyed.

No, I think Jesus probably was real… and his message was love. Love for self and love for others. Seems simple enough. No need to complicate it… unless you’re the previously mentioned organized religion endeavoring to make a dime off of humans you’ve convinced need you for their salvation… and the prevention of horrific suffering.

Honestly, when you write it like that it’s baffling that anyone still believes. Perhaps everyone should do a deep-dive study on how the human brain and social psychology work before they believe anything.

I mean, It’s difficult enough to live a life where we don’t (intentionally or otherwise) cause harm to ourselves and others. It’s actually inevitable that we will hurt ourselves and others despite our best efforts… so why add “horrific sinner” and “eternal damnation” on top of that? That’s adding insult to injury. That’s like telling your child (who is making a cake for the first time and spills some flour and leaves in an egg shell) that they’re useless and pathetic and can’t do anything right, so now you’ll never make a cake with them ever again unless they repent.

Wouldn’t it be more loving to allow said small child to make mistakes? It is, after all, their very first time… Instead, if you’re really concerned with their greater good, wouldn’t it be better to help and encourage them? And keep on making cakes until one day they can do it all on their own?

But no… religion acts like we are doomed when we hurt ourselves. Drank a lot? Slept around? You’re an unforgivable sinner!!! (and in some religions activity like that can get you ostracized) whereas as a human parent if my child did that I’d pull them aside in worry and ask them what’s going on? I’d help them determine the root of the issue and do better.

Anyway. I’ve gone all over the place with this. Welcome to a glimpse of my brain. But I think I’ve made some excellent points for consideration.

Happy Monday!