The Louisiana Senate recently passed a bill that requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
I admire men and women of religion and conviction. I am surrounded by family and friends of faith. I would not tried to dissuade them from their beliefs. Most of them live exemplary lives, and they walk the talk of their faith and convictions.
However, I don’t like religion. As a teenage boy, I saw no logical or rational sense in it. Religion, any faith, was filled with hypocrisy, myths, superstition and bizarre beliefs. Six decades later, my feelings about religion remain unchanged, perhaps even stronger.
In the last few decades, politics has corrupted religion and religion has corrupted politics. Has there been anything more galling than the country’s most notorious felon and sexual assault perpetrator pitching the sale of his bibles?
Hate, bigotry and venom are spit from the pulpits of many churches. Regrettably, these types of messages resonate favorably with many sitting in the pews. As I mentioned, I know of men and women who are inspired by their religion and perform good works. Unfortunately I see and hear too many others who wrap religion around their twisted politics and daily life.
As an agnostic, I don’t want religion to factor into political life. Stay away from issues related to personal freedom, abortion, same sex marriage, euthanasia, books and education! Religion’s worst enemies are science, history and philosophy. I’d rather hear more of that than church pastors and evangelicals bilking their flock of money.
Esot-eric 