I grew up in a Catholic family, but my mother never baptized my brother or me. We never went to church, either. My mother wanted me and my brother to grow up and decide for ourselves what we believe in. Today, my brother has Hindu-based beliefs. As for me, I find myself not even interested in picking a religion. To be honest, I rarely even think about it.
The idea of choice is a remarkable concept when it comes to religion. Very few people actually choose their religion. In reality, you're taught to believe what your parents believe. Your parents made you go to church and CCD. Even if you dreaded those events, you will still identify as being Christian. That's completely contradictory. You are promoting the ideas of Catholicism when you hated being in the presence of the ideas in the first place. I can't fathom that. Maybe it's my combative nature, but never will I ever believe something blindly. Just because my parents or peers believe something doesn't mean I'm going to believe it also.
The irony of religion is that it causes violence. It's like the religions are themselves at war over which one is right and who is the true savior of mankind. People dislike each other solely based off of what religion they are. Take the Sunni and Shiite for example. Not only that, but people use it as a reason to treat others poorly. The recent attacks by ISIS are founded on an interpretation of Islam. I think it's safe to say that everyone besides those in ISIS find the acts of the group disgusting. Is their religion an adequate excuse? After you answer that, think to yourself if your religion gives you the right to deny someone the right of whom to marry or what to do with their body. People feel so strongly about their beliefs that they are willing to impede the wellbeing of others.
This clash between religions creates negative stereotypes. Due to the recent attacks from ISIS, people think all Muslims are terrorists. In reality, the Muslims in America have been terrorized by ignorant Americans. Their houses have been spray painted and they can't even go to the grocery store without getting dirty looks or people thinking they want to bomb the place. In reality, Muslims are peaceful. When it comes to Jewish people, everyone has heard they're cheap. I have actually heard a coworker complain about the Jewish population in his town and say "I hate them. They're so cheap." When I asked him if he ever spoke to any of the Jewish people in his town, he couldn't give me a straight answer. It came out that his dad didn't like Jewish people. So, here we are back to that idea of "choice." In a country where people are usually self-absorbed, people are self-righteous when it comes to religion. I will never understand why people feel the need to victimize others who don't share the same beliefs as them. A religion that does that is not a religion I want anything to do with.
God and country are heavily connected in America. We don't have a national religion, but "in God we trust" is on our money and we are forced to swear on a Bible in court. Why would a Bible compel me, or a Jewish person, to tell the truth? True American holidays like Thanksgiving are swallowed by consumerism and no one can spend time with their families because they have to get ready for Black Friday shoppers. Don't worry though, because every Christian business will be closed on Easter and Christmas. There may not be an established religion by law, but there is a socially established religion. It's hard to even learn about different religions when you live in America. Unless you go out of your way to educate yourself, you will fall into the established norm of Christianity. It feels like if you're not Christian, you're the minority. However, there's actually a higher percent population of those who are non-religious in our country versus the black and Jewish populations. 1.4 percent of America identifies as Jewish, whereas 16 percent is non-religious.
When it comes to our country's politics, Republicans are presumed as religious or Christian. The fact that people vote for presidents, George W. Bush for example, solely because they share the same religious beliefs is absurd. Religion has no place in politics. The founding fathers completely agreed with this. John Adams stated "this would be the best of all possible worlds if there was no religion in it." Our founding fathers seceded from England for the pure fact that the king and the church controlled daily life. Religion makes people act irrationally. Is that a trait we want of those who control the country? In Bill Maher's documentary, "Religulous", he says "it scares me that people are running my country who believe in a talking snake." Mark Pryor, United States Senator for Arkansas, replied to this "well, you don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the Senate." That statement actually leaves me at a loss for words.
Evaluating the role religion plays in society leaves me undecided. To this day, I don't understand why having faith is good if it leads to hatred. It seems like people only pray when their lives are not going as planned. I agree with Karl Marx when he said "religion is the opium of the poor." Maybe I just haven't been enlightened yet. It's not that I don't believe in a higher power, but I just don't believe in disregarding someone else's beliefs. You have to eat kosher? OK. You can't eat pork? OK. Who am I to tell anyone how to live their life? Some may decide to identify me as a religious pluralist. I decide to be someone who simply believes in myself.
