Often conversations concerning religion, especially when talking to religious people, turn to how good or bad one or another religion is. It is typical that one’s own religion is void of any negative traits, offers only love and understanding to whomever comes within its fold. When religion is attacked it is often the case that one or another religion is void of any morality, and in no way can justify its actions. However, when it is one’s own religion that is attacked, it is being wrongly accused as being detrimental in any way, and the attack is unwarranted simply because there are “some religions” that are detrimental. Whatever the religion is, if it is one’s own it is seldom if ever considered part of the problem, but is almost always part of the solution.
Nowadays Islamic peoples are taking more criticism than ever from much of the world, and for good reason given recent events both in the Middle East and much of the west, but if one speaks to an Islamic person it is soon made apparent that Islam is a “peaceful” religion. Islam, we are told is tolerant and has its basis in understanding and hope. We are told that Allah is a loving God. We are told that it is our imperfect misinterpretation of the Islamic religion that is the problem rather than the religion itself. We are told that it is only a fraction of the followers of Islam that act violently and with criminal intent against humanity. In short, we are told that Islam is not the problem, but that some people are the problem.
We hear this same argument in other areas of life, and it makes no more sense. For example, overpopulation is a problem, but no one with children will admit to being a part of that problem. We are told by parents in the west that it is not the western world that is problematic; it is the 3rd world countries. We are told that in fact populations in some western countries are dwindling, and that we have a duty to see to it that our own cultures and races survive. We are told that it is a virtue to have children and that while overpopulation may be a problem, it is not them that are part of that problem. In short, people who broach the subject of overpopulation are told that overpopulation is only a problem for some people. The argument, however is the same.
The Christian religion offers the same arguments as well: that it was once no different than the Islamic religion is today is played down, and its virtues are pointed to while its history and its very nature (according to the bible) is played down. People in countries such as the USA offer similar arguments in regard to consumerism: it is “our way of life” even though that way of life forces poverty around the world and destroys the environment. People in the 3rd world countries who are destroying forests and decimating their environment claim that they have no options, that it is not them that is the problem, only some of them. The current Bush administration destroys basic civil and human rights, demolishes individual privacy laws, glazes over constitutional laws, and disregards the declaration of independence, but claims that it is only doing so for the public good: that such actions are not its fault, but the fault of some people.
The fault of the world’s problems lies at all of our feet. That Religious thought is detrimental is the responsibility of all religious peoples. If one’s religion is a safety blanket that allows one to feel hope at the cost of truth, no amount of qualification will change the fact that such thought has led to atrocities in the name of religion. The current violence that has no spread throughout the world “in the name of Islam” is done for that very reason: the Islamic faith. That there are so many people in the world that we are now no longer “stewards” but parasites is caused by one act and one act alone. That Christians can no longer torture people and burn them at the stake legally does not change the fact that the Christian religion allowed such acts and can still justify them in its own name. That this government, the current American government, is allowed to wreck the fundamental foundation that this country was built upon is not caused by terrorist attacks, but by fear and stupidity that is allowed by all of us to run rampant throughout our own communities.
Religion teaches one to relinquish responsibility for one’s own life here on earth in order to live without responsibility in another. This breeds irresponsibility and ignorance and is the cornerstone of other problems as well. Religious excuses are often used to justify the irresponsible behavior of some as “stewards” of the earth rather than being part of this planet. Instead of facing problems such as overpopulation, religion twists facts and justifies (in fact promotes) procreation when procreation is at the core of many of our problems. Even in matters of politics, religion allows people such as G.W Bush to justify acts by calling upon the religious mantra to “not question authority”. Religion creates another much used mantra: “it’s not my fault.”
It is your fault! It is your fault every time you refuse to accept responsibility for your own life. It is your fault when you justify your actions with empty, unwarranted reasons. Religious thought does not foster rationality, it fosters dependence and ignorance. There is a reason that governmental systems such as monarchies fail: they are based on blind acceptance to authority in the name of comfort and fear. Every individual on earth has at least one responsibility: to the self. This is often claimed to be selfish, but it is not. Responsibility to one’s self requires accepting the consequences of one’s acts, understanding the consequences of one’s acts, and claiming irresponsible behavior to be irresponsible. Claiming fault for ones actions when the fault lies with one’s self requires strength and rational understanding. Claiming that it is no one’s fault, or that it is not “my problem” is cowardness…nothing more. Religions claim that we are all at fault, but that we do not need to take responsibility for our faults. It also claims that we have no right to question why, to ask one selfless question: why is it not my fault?