A Question Of Faith (Belief Vs Belief & Right Vs Wrong)

People don't like discussing religion and belief like they don't politics, but for other reasons. Sure you can expect clashes of opinion when talking about what you believe versus what the other person believes just like you can when talking about governments and political decisions and parties, but there is something else that comes coupled with religious talk. It is as though people dislike the subject because it unsettles them and their deeper fears about life and death as well as questions that are not answerable.

The possibility of a God is exactly that; a possibility. There are no facts and no certainties here. There is nothing solid saying that there is a higher power and that Jesus really was sent from the Heavens just like there isn't anything saying it isn't true. 

I myself believe that there is a God and an afterlife. I am not religious in any way, however, and hate being related to religion. Religion is just a nice way of saying 'cult'.

Part of the reason I believe in this is because I was brought up believing and I have always found a bit of comfort in the thought of there being more to life (and death). In truth, 65% of me is a firm believer while the other 35% is a cynical sceptic. 

When considering the infamous question: 'Why are we here?" people who believe often come back with something along the lines of and relating to; to be good, to help people and those in need, to do this and that and all that stuff. 

In my mind there is no definitive answer. And that is why I am of a split opinion. 

You see, science doesn't need a reason for us being here. God, presuming he is an almighty being, does. 

If God created people, then why didn't he create us perfect and nice, without any badness? A common counter to this, I find, is often: "So we could learn to be good ourselves". But why? What is the point of that? Is this some game? Unless by us deciding to be good ourselves we have some greater effect on something that could not be achieved any other way, what is the point? Why not just be amazing people from the start? In fact, why not just start us in 'Heaven' and forget the Earth? Just start us in Heaven as these amazing beings and we're all set and done, right? 

The only other counter to this I have so far heard or thought up, that actually defeats me, is 'free will'.

When God created people, he created us to be able to do what we wanted, to be free and to have, ultimately, free will. If he wanted us to be naturally perfect and flawless people, that would take away any kind of option to do bad things (in other words: choice), and thus our ability of free-will would be corrupted. We would not, essentially, be people. Well I'll be damned, that is a bloody good point. I have absolutely no counter to that.

When it comes to science, as I said before, it doesn't need a reason. Science does what science does and if you have a problem with that then deal with it. If people were created by some random fluke of science then so be it, we do not need a greater purpose because science is just the way it is. 

I am not here to try and disprove anything, just to ask some questions and take points of view on board. 

Derren Brown asked the question: is God and this overall belief in a supernatural power just a positive placebo? Was God made up to keep peoples morale's in check, make people feel more secure and happier and to give everyone something positive to help them through their life? It's possible.

In the end, I have no answers, and neither do you. Nor do the Jehovah's Witnesses who knock on my door or the Pope. Everything, all of this, is based on a hunch. It's a bit scary really.

Earlier I noted that I hate religion. I believe what I believe and sure, you can believe what you want, but religion is just wrong. Getting a group of people together like a club who all believe in the same thing is a great idea, but religions don't seem to do any good. In fact, all they do is discriminate and hurt people. The amount of controversy surrounding the Catholic Church and pedophilia alone is disgusting. You say you are here for the greater good, to spread goodness and promote good and do good good good? Well why don't you stop causing more problems then? 

It's not that I have an issue with the normal people who are part of religions that are just normal people, it is the entire religion itself and what it stands for.

I have a great example(s) of this in the form of sexism and homophobia within the church. 

First of all, no women popes? Why the hell not? Because of some rubbish you believe? Give me a break. 

And why no gay marriages? Because it is an abomination of God and the church or something? Really? Let me just say something relating to both things just mentioned. No matter whether you believe or not, this is the fact of the matter: people, not God, created this whole 'religion' thing, OK? People, not God, created marriage, OK? People, not God, made these messed up, discriminative, rules, OK? I highly, highly, highly, highly, highly doubt that God dislikes gay people. You know why? Because if he is so 'almighty' and 'kind' and amazing, he won't give a crap.

Marriage is a man made thing, not supernaturally imposed upon us all with some secret rules. So if man made it, man can, and should, change it to accommodate gay people. It absolutely boggles my mind that it is such an issue to allow gay people to get married. Why? Just why? If you stand for God and kindness then why the fuck are you discriminating? AND being sexist to women?

It absolutely blows my mind how far this lunacy has gone. The church is a joke, imposing its power and wealth upon society in ways that are unavoidable or changeable by normal people. The church has a responsibility as the so-called 'representatives' of God, to account for everyone in a kind and accepting way. They are not doing this. They are a discriminative, homophobic, sexist organisation with little coming from the heart anymore. 

The thing is, too, that Christianity is the recognised religion of many people and places. It is so wide and big and has such an effect on society that what it does matters to everyone because in some way or another it affects them. Scientology is a crazy cult, but it has little effect on politics or society and thus what they do is irrelevant to all those not involved with them. On the other hand, things like Christianity have a responsibility to serve society well which they are not fulfilling and are, in fact, causing more problems with their outdated and long left behind and completely man-made homophobia and sexism. 

Religion and belief can be a toxic, horrible mass of nastiness. 

I can't get over what some people say and think and also do, because it relates to what they believe. 

In fact, this is an ideal example of how far involved with what they think is true some people are:

"Women shouldn't be able to have abortions-" OK, "Even if they are raped!" Uh wait, what? I know this is a difficult and controversial subject but really? Are you fucking kidding me? What a horrible view to have. That is such a shallow and ignorant and obnoxious view on pregnancy from rape that I am actually kind of disgusted by you. You are saying people who are victims of one of the most disturbing crimes on this earth and suffer pregnancy as a result of it, should not have the option of abortion, even though that child, which is related to the offender, may grow up to be, understandably, resented or not liked by the mother and may not get the childhood it deserves as well as causing its mother much trauma?  Why, exactly, do you think this?

"Because everything happens for a reason and that was obviously meant to happen to that woman. And what is more, abortion is never the answer."

So, you are basing your opinion of one of the most disgusting, horrible and traumatising crimes entirely on a possibly fictional and maybe even religious belief? Get the fuck away from me please. 

That is, in a nutshell, why religion, but also people who have such strong personal beliefs about these subjects, disturb me.

Do people really base what they think about extreme subjects like rape on what may or may not be true? So if there is no God, all of what you thought is pointless? Geez, well done pal. Good job. Imagine if idiotic people like these were in places of power like in politics (I know that politics is full of idiots but bare with me)? Imagine if they had the opportunity to force their ludicrous and crass beliefs upon everyone? Like I said, I believe in God and an afterlife, but not to the point where I actually make my decisions and all my opinions based on it, because what if it isn't real? What if God doesn't exist? All that would be for nothing.

All of that is like someone saying that they believe there is a monster in their attic that doesn't want them to eat waffles. So they don't eat waffles. This is insane because they are not eating waffles simply because of something they believe (but might not be true) that there is a monster in their house. Like, what the hell? But it is the same as the above situations.

These people, who have these crazy views all because of something potentially fictional, scare the crap out of me. They honest to God do. And it is another reason why religion and faith are so worrying; because of the power they have over people and our society. Religions have been the cause of lots of disgusting crimes over the years. And we are supposed to take what they represent seriously after all that/this?

Peoples may believe to be happier, or because they genuinely do think there is a higher power, or some people don't because, quite rightly, there is no proof. In my mind, life is about being happy. Do what makes you happy, so long as it doesn't involve hurting others. Be a good person and enjoy yourself. If believing helps you with that, that is awesome. If you are still happy and good even if you don't have faith in religion or something, then that too is awesome. There is nothing wrong with 'religion' as such, or the people who are a part of it, but the whole religion thing today, as it is on a whole and the things it inspires and causes, is very crazy and does little good overall. 

The bottom line is that we are here, on this planet, in this universe, with these other people. Who gives a damn if there is a God or not? Because whether there is or not we are only going to be on earth for so long, and no matter what is true or false we should strive to be happy and be good people. You don't need some dumb, fucked up, modern day religion to tell you that. 

Most of this was just my opinion though, so share your's in the comments! 

Peace people.

A Question Of Fashion (What You Want Vs Society)

I hate fashion. I don't mind dressing myself well or buying clothes, but I hate the entire 'fashion' thing. I hate styling my hair too, and deciding on what style I will have it in next. At the end of it all I look good, but for what? Women do not fall at my feet, drooling, and I get little satisfaction from the procedures I have gone through to achieve this look. In fact, worrying about how I look drives my anxiety insane.

Everyday people make sure they look impeccable. Why? To impress, to avoid judgment and maybe for their own self values. I, just like a lot of people, am caught up in this rut of doing the same thing for the benefit of, if anyone, others, when in reality all I want is to dry my hair, style it how I like and go outside.

People may give you their own opinion, too: "I think you look best dressed like this" "Your hair is better like this" "No, that doesn't look good". Some people take this as advice, but it is only advice when you personally ask for it. If you want your hair sticking up and then someone you know supposedly 'advises' or rather 'tells' you it looks better the other way without you even asking, that is not advice.

Sure, certain colours don't suit you or me. Sure, that hairstyle generally looks bad. It is nice to have guidance when you don't fully understand something. But when that crosses over into telling or putting down (even in the slightest way that the person may not realise) then you have a problem.

I can draw many examples from myself. For instance, at times I wish to have my hair back, more windswept and out of my face as I have a fairly long fringe. I know for a fact it doesn't suit me as well as having it styled forward and to the side. People I know let me know that too. They call it 'advice' and 'their own opinion' but when those people directly affect your life, it is hard to ignore what they think and not take it on board.

I like it though. I like my hair like that. Sometimes I like having it forward, others messy. Sometimes I just let it dry naturally without any of my styling products invading its space.

The same goes for clothes. Dressing how you like is not enough. People barge in with their own opinions. Will society look at me weird if I wear this and do my hair like this?

Actually, high majorities of people you see in the street don't care about you. They are too busy with their own issues to spare a thought or judgment for others. So why worry?

Ads barge into our lives, creating false ideas of perfection and how we should dress and look. Everywhere you go everything is screaming out at you that you have to look your best and be the best to stand a chance.

The thing is, people never said it was confidence that lets you pull it off. I can pull off having my hair back because while it does suit me, just not as much as other styles, I don't care. If I did care, people would pick up on that and they would notice I look a bit weird. If you can strut your stuff and just do it, people respond with respect and they too will not care for your style.

Society as it should be

A good friend of mine often tells me to do what I want. It's the most common form of consolation there is when someone is concerned about something cosmetic or shallow, but he says it different. He himself, my friend, tells me to do what I want with such confidence that I question why I didn't view it like he does.

The thing is, even if you are confident, you may be worried still about the way you are dressed or styled. Looking good: it is something everyone has drilled into them by society. Sure, looking your best is always nice. Dressing well is great. But it doesn't, and it shouldn't, be a constant worry and concern. It is such a minor part of everyones' lives it is a wonder why we even care.

The wants and needs of the individual themselves are often blocked out by the insane fact that it is what society wants people to do that is what matters, not what the person themselves wants or needs.

In the end, it is what you want vs. what society wants for you. If society wins over, you get nothing. But neither does society. Who or what is society? Society is everything and everyone. Every ad, every corporation with posters up, every train and bus and every person, and they are indirectly affecting peoples lives. So even if society does win, society doesn't care. The only way to win is for you to win yourself. Then that really does matter.

All of this, though, raises the question of even bigger issues with todays society.

I'd like to give a shout-out to Michael Crichton, a legend of a guy who has helped me out a lot. He is a great guy and, of course, a gamer, who deserves all the bro hugs he gets. Follow him on twitter: @Mike__Crichton Follow me on twitter too: @mookyst

The comment box is your thought box so go ahead and use it!