Go to The Reverend Kooka Speaks About Religious Bulls#!t
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- Go to Religion, just all an act?
I never knew that church was supposed to be about guilt until I had been going for most of my life, and the particular church to which I belonged had a saying in their outreach: "Sinners Wanted". The call to sinners was made at the end of every service, and there being no end to the call to confess sin, I began to feel that I was being accused. Finally, I decided that if they were looking for sinners, I was in the wrong place.
I never wanted to be a sinner in all my days, and to be categorized with them was to subject me to awful influences over and over again. Perhaps this was the very reason I had fallen into such bad luck all my life.
Who wants to be told by the person in their life all the time, "Honey, I've done an awful thing and I hope you can forgive me." Not me. I don't feel the need to humiliate my loved ones in that way. Maybe they've done a few awful things, and they need to apologize a few times here and there, but every week? No way!
I would rather be known as a person who doesn't go to church than as a person who can't escape sin - even if it means not worshipping God in public.
posted by
TARZANA
on June 7, 2004 at 2:53 PM
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kooka_lives --- in some groups admitting to being a non believer is akin to
dropping a bomb. For years I went along with the crowd, avoiding the subject or just nodding in mock approval. It was the easiest and safest thing to do most times. One day I had my intelligence insulted for the last time. A relative, a lay minister, decided to add me to his flock. Had even pencilled me in for some church duties without my consent. Phoning to tell me the wonderful news ( wonderful to him ) I decided to tell him I was an agnostic and had no desire to pretend otherwise by going to his functions. His immediate and very sarcastic response " do you sacrifice chickens ? " I didn't know what to say to him. How insanely stupid is a question like that? I quipped " only when pigs and goats aren't available ".When I got off of the phone I thought to myself ... no more of this. No more lying to fit in and pretend I am as mindless as this type of person. Imagine the audacity of someone who has blindly accepted an ancient superstition as fact and taking it a step further to include people without their consent. Then further adding sarcasm when confronted with a differing viewpoint. Since that day I refuse to play along but by the same token I am not on a crusade of any sort and will keep my opinions to myself for the sake of peace or if it serves a greater good. Driving my aged mother to church occassionally is one such time when I feel it serves a more important purpose. It doesn't kill me to sit in church for an hour pretending I am as holy as the next pretender.
posted by
gomedome
on June 7, 2004 at 12:12 PM
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Here's an interesting one
My father has just asked me to not mention that I am an atheist to my step-mother if she comes out with him.
There are people who I just do not talk about my beliefs to for whatever reason. No matter what any of the Christian propaganda is that is out there, I do see it as the atheist who do the most hiding of their beliefs. It seems that most consider the idea of not believing in anything to be about the worst thing out there.
I really think more and more coming out as an atheist is almost on the same level as admitting you are gay. And according to most who believe, both groups are going to hell.
You do not get respect for being honest. You have to lie and follow the crowd it seems.
posted by
kooka_lives
on June 7, 2004 at 8:48 AM
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Why is it kooka_lives --- I read your posts and know exactly what you mean
or are implying where so many don't get it ? Even today I find myself playing the play along with the game. Not that I care what any bible thumper thinks of me but it is just easier to not upset my aged mother. At 81 years of age I let her live her delusion of thinking that she brought me up right as a God fearing Christian. I even upon occassion take her to church and sit through a painful hour of mideivel claptrap but for one reason. She is aged and sometimes in bad weather needs a ride to church. There are many of us out there that pretend upon occassion to be avid church goers or practioners and for a varied number of reasons. Some as you say are pressured by those around them or want to keep up appearances. For me it is to avoid the guilt of an old lady slipping and falling on the ice on her way to church.
posted by
gomedome
on June 6, 2004 at 7:46 PM
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Odysseus
Don't know what you are on, but that was such a load of BS.
posted by
kooka_lives
on June 6, 2004 at 5:25 PM
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Such breaches are accomplished by the religious and unreligious alike. The former seek mental retribution through ritual while the latter seek to ignore their guilt. But both are fully aware of their inner spiritual flaw and, whether they admit it or not, are grieved by it. And both are each day presented with a new opportunity to live a single day of perfection and yet each day fail wearyingly.
posted by
telemachus
on June 6, 2004 at 2:59 PM
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or those who go to church -- are really religious during that hour or so -- devout and god-fearing, if you will
but then all the rest of the time they are real sonsofbitches.
It's like THE SOPRANOS -- devout to their church -- but otherwise.
it's like the Baptists that lived upstairs from us in North St. Louis.
The father was deacon in the church.
He said he could lie and it would be all right because he was "saved".
Then he said playing cards or going to a movie on a Sunday was a sin.
But that's the church I got saved in.
hmmmm
I guess I can do just about anything now.
for the right price.
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 6, 2004 at 2:54 PM
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