Why I Don't Like Religion

I was in California a few weeks ago and read an article in the San Diego Union Tribune about the nativity scene set up in the Washington State capital building. Next to the nativity scene there was a sign posted that read, “There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.” (San Diego Union Tribune, December 7, 2008) I’m sure that will tick off some religious types. Sadly, while I personally disagree the ‘no gods or devils’ thing, and especially with the way irreligious types try so hard to denigrate what is important to so many religious types (like diluting the real meaning of Christmas or Easter) I can actually understand why they say what they say--about religion that is. Frankly, at one level, I agree with them. Religion does harden hearts and minds! And for that reason, I don’t really like religion. Religion has been the root of a great many atrocities. Religion has caused untold heartache. That’s a true statement. The weird thing about their perspective, however, is they seem to forget that the same thing is true about irreligion! While the Christians have the Crusades and the Muslims have their holy war and current jihad against infidels like myself, the irreligious types have Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. Talk about hard hearts and enslaved minds?! And all of those guys were atheists! So lets get off the “religion is the source of a great many atrocities” gig. The truth is, so is irreligion. The question really is why? What makes religion and irreligion the same or different? And why, would a guy like me, who is technically religious, not like religion? Hmmm. Sounds like the start of a series of blogs! More later!