Coexist...Or Just Get Over Yourself

I've got a few moments, waiting for spray painting projects to dry, so what better time to write about religion than after getting high on fumes?

I am an atheist.  Raised a Methodist.  Godless heathen.  Disciple of nature. 

Whatever.

Who the hell needs a label, anyway?

What it boils down to, is I do not believe in a higher power.  I believe in the inherent goodness of this world, and I find a spiritual connection to the earth every time I step outside my door.  Yes, I said spiritual.  The essence of spirit is not a cornered market by those who "have religion".  I can kum-bay-ah with the best of them.  Or however you spell that.

So, if my atheist brain were to really immerse myself in the seriousness of social media (you do realize how fucked up that is, right?), I would believe that the world is going to shit because we need more Jesus.  Or God.  Or whatever. 

I have a feeling there might be multiple uses of the word "whatever" in this post.

The world is not going to shit.  Your attitude is.  Yes, there are evils in the world.  There must be evils in the world in order for us to see the good.  Otherwise, the good would just be "meh".  Or whatever.

As quoted in the movie Legend "what is light without dark?".  Really, if you can get beyond Tom Cruise, I highly recommend this frivolous movie just for Tim Curry's part in it.

But what this boils down to, is simply that we can not appreciate the highs without the lows.  Happy all the time is the land of the Smurfs, and in case you didn't notice, they were blue and annoying.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out, nor does it require religion.  Yes, there are horrid atrocities being committed every day, and the presence of this is not due to a lack of religion, considering so many of the evils of the world are taking place in the name of a religion.  Evil exists, and dare I say, it exists in each one of us.  We are all capable, should the mind choose to go down that path.  The difference lies in choice.  Not choice in whether to pick up a bible, go to a church, pray to the heavens.  Choice of life.  Choice of HOW to live that life.  Choice to live with love, be at peace, or let yourself sink in the turmoil of the outside forces in your life, that speak to the inner forces of your brain.

Or whatever.

If I were to believe social media (HA!) there is a war against Christians.  Just like there is a war against atheists.   And a war against women.  A war against men.  War war war.  Social media is a war monger, and we eat it up like a chupacabra in a tree.

Step away from the computer.  Tell the media to fuck off.  Or whatever.

Only YOU control the life you lead.  The religion you practice, or do not practice.  Your religion lives within you.  It is not in our schools, our offices, our government buildings.  It is within each person, as they choose to believe, practice, and live it.  You may say your prayers silently.  You may say them loudly.  You may shout them from the top of the roof, as long as it is your roof.  But it does not take your religion, or your spirituality from you.  You never lose that.  There is no war, unless the war is within yourself.

You may feel obligated, or the intense urge (not like a gotta pee urge, but an urge nonetheless) to pray for the nonbelievers.  As a "nonbeliever", I can tell you, by all means, pray away.  Pray to your heart's content.  Pray until your prayer well runs dry and then pray some more.  But, as the "nonbeliever", may I suggest, the prayer is better served for yourself.  For your own understanding.  Your own peace.  Your own inner zen.  The "nonbeliever", for most, is already at peace, has reached understanding, has found inner zen. 

It's easy to tell the difference between hurting, hateful, and at war with oneself, from the person who is content in their chosen belief.   Hurting, hateful, and at war tends to be loud, noisy, in your face, seeking constant reassurance in their own choices.  And that war, the only war that actually exists where religion is concerned, is the war that can only be fought with an army of one.  Their path is what they find peace with in their own hearts and minds.  We can not change that.  We can only accept that.  And if that cannot be accepted, then the task of coming to terms with that lies on the shoulders of the intolerant.  That is their burden to bear.

The world is a beautiful place, and there is no need for these "labels" we feel we must assign to everyone and everything.  We get in the way of our own happiness when we are urged to categorize, label, and file everyone away.  Imagine what kind of world we would live in if the focus were just on "good".  Such a simple (and some writers would say boring) word, but think about it for a moment.  Do some good today.  Think good thoughts.  Feel good about yourself.  Such simple things.  All from that little word good.  There is no need to assign a religion to that.  Good cannot be categorized.  It should not be categorized.  Just be.

John Lennon said it best.  And I mean REALLY, he did.  This isn't just some opportunity to quote a great song.  It could be set to the tune of the most annoying song ever, but those words.  Damn, those words.  They're just GOOD.

Imagine there is no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You, you may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will live as one

Peace out, dudes.