The Survival Guide to Religion
Stay with me, alright?
I understand that everyone has their own interpretations and beliefs of certain things, but sometimes they can be carried on to the point of foolishness. This particular case infuriates me, because I find this almost as a display of stupidity. It may sound harsh, ESPECIALLY coming from me for those of you who know me, but that's just how I see this whole scenario. Because, you see, if people would simply read between the lines, so much of the corruption in the Church and with some Christians today wouldn't exist. Maybe that's how they read the Bible, but I think that they've read it wrong, as closeminded as this sounds. Bear with me, and then you can yell all you want, okay?
The Bible was not meant to be interpreted literally. Jonas was not actually swallowed by a whale. Adam and Eve were not the first human beings, and a snake did not talk to Eve, convincing her to eat the forbidden fruit. The universe was not created in seven days. The entire story of Revelation never actually happened. God did not talk to Moses through a burning bush. Manna did not really fall from the heavens when the Israelites were starving. I don't know how many times this needs to be said until people get it. Or maybe they never will. THE BIBLE IS A METAPHOR.
See, the people who wrote the Bible added in those stories for a REASON. The Bible was written to be a tool for moral instruction so, pretty much, we'll have good karma going our way so we'll have a much better "afterlife." But because some people are dense, they read all those stories literally. They really think that God said, "Let it be" and Adam just POPPED out of thin air, then he created Eve by ripping out one of his ribs. And so now you have so many people who believe that Adam and Eve were the first humans to exist, and that evolution is all a lie. Adam and Eve were supposed to represent us and our reasons for sin.
It makes me mad how people do that. Doesn't it make you mad too? Because, whether or not I AGREE with the Bible, I'm not going to lie. The Bible is one of the most amazing pieces of literature ever. I'm no Christian, because I don't believe in the God that we're taught about every day since I believe that the Church has become so corrupt with their perception of "God" it's not even funny. The Bible only referred to "GOD," but it doesn't mean that there is a set, permanent being out there. "God" can be whoever you want it to represent. You can have your own belief on what's going to happen to you after you die, and all the Bible was trying to do is open our eyes and believe that there is a such thing as "karma" and that we are here for a REASON.
What I'm trying to say is this: don't let the Church's teachings about God and all that interfere with your own beliefs. I highly disagree with what the Church says. Like I said, you can have your own God, because it's all personal. How and why you came into being... it's for you to figure out. Don't let other people make that decision for you. At the same time, the Bible can be interpreted in so many ways. If you really look into it, the Bible has a lot of metaphors and significance to our lives. But if you look at it with a two-dimensional mindset, then it's just some Christian-war-tool used to warp our minds into thinking that "God" is our overlord, he is awesome and allmighty, he is alpha and omega, BLAH BLAH BLAH, then that's just being close-minded.
Religion is what you make of it.
I understand that everyone has their own interpretations and beliefs of certain things, but sometimes they can be carried on to the point of foolishness. This particular case infuriates me, because I find this almost as a display of stupidity. It may sound harsh, ESPECIALLY coming from me for those of you who know me, but that's just how I see this whole scenario. Because, you see, if people would simply read between the lines, so much of the corruption in the Church and with some Christians today wouldn't exist. Maybe that's how they read the Bible, but I think that they've read it wrong, as closeminded as this sounds. Bear with me, and then you can yell all you want, okay?
The Bible was not meant to be interpreted literally. Jonas was not actually swallowed by a whale. Adam and Eve were not the first human beings, and a snake did not talk to Eve, convincing her to eat the forbidden fruit. The universe was not created in seven days. The entire story of Revelation never actually happened. God did not talk to Moses through a burning bush. Manna did not really fall from the heavens when the Israelites were starving. I don't know how many times this needs to be said until people get it. Or maybe they never will. THE BIBLE IS A METAPHOR.
See, the people who wrote the Bible added in those stories for a REASON. The Bible was written to be a tool for moral instruction so, pretty much, we'll have good karma going our way so we'll have a much better "afterlife." But because some people are dense, they read all those stories literally. They really think that God said, "Let it be" and Adam just POPPED out of thin air, then he created Eve by ripping out one of his ribs. And so now you have so many people who believe that Adam and Eve were the first humans to exist, and that evolution is all a lie. Adam and Eve were supposed to represent us and our reasons for sin.
It makes me mad how people do that. Doesn't it make you mad too? Because, whether or not I AGREE with the Bible, I'm not going to lie. The Bible is one of the most amazing pieces of literature ever. I'm no Christian, because I don't believe in the God that we're taught about every day since I believe that the Church has become so corrupt with their perception of "God" it's not even funny. The Bible only referred to "GOD," but it doesn't mean that there is a set, permanent being out there. "God" can be whoever you want it to represent. You can have your own belief on what's going to happen to you after you die, and all the Bible was trying to do is open our eyes and believe that there is a such thing as "karma" and that we are here for a REASON.
What I'm trying to say is this: don't let the Church's teachings about God and all that interfere with your own beliefs. I highly disagree with what the Church says. Like I said, you can have your own God, because it's all personal. How and why you came into being... it's for you to figure out. Don't let other people make that decision for you. At the same time, the Bible can be interpreted in so many ways. If you really look into it, the Bible has a lot of metaphors and significance to our lives. But if you look at it with a two-dimensional mindset, then it's just some Christian-war-tool used to warp our minds into thinking that "God" is our overlord, he is awesome and allmighty, he is alpha and omega, BLAH BLAH BLAH, then that's just being close-minded.
Religion is what you make of it.
Comments
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I think the whole woman coming from man part was made up
so they could explain why women have more ribs then men
[God took a rib from Adam, and created Eve]
southernidiot, April 6th, 2007 at 04:08:31pm
I have been thinking about this for a very very VERY long time, Funky.
What people sometimes forget is that the bible did not get faxed down by heaven. It was interpreted by man, and man's ideads of a so-called "perfect" world back then.
In other words, the religious teachings of man is usually based on exclusion. Think about it. Christiainty in the old days excluded homosexuals, other religions and basically anyone they didn't think was quiet up to heir standards. Same with other religions. The only religion I can think of that in it's teachings respects other religious beliefs is Buddism.
I agree with the metaphor part. It makes more sense (and besides, I find the woman coming from man a little sexist. We are the ones who have the babies for crying out loud! ). I see God myself as someone I could probably trust, a being made out of all the good feelings in the world (such as love and forgiveness) but knows the torment of bad feeling too. To me, God can be in any shape or form you want him/her/it to be. It's just the inner message that counts, and that it leaves you with a good feeling in your heart. For example, I could never stay in any extremist religion. Lets face it, life is too short to be sad the whole time.
As for the whole "What Happens After You DIe", I say now I have a mixed view. Part of me would like to be a spirit still floating around the niverse with my loved ones- but then again, naybe it would be better if the end was just the end. Who knows?
My last thought: "It is better to have faith in something then nothing at all."
GreenDayCookieFairy, April 6th, 2007 at 10:06:52am
I agree with you on this one.
As for the after life statement, i take the scientific end of it.
I believe once your heart stops beating, there's nothing more.
And i even agree with House [yes the show] that you don't die with dignity, that there's no dignity to it. You can live with it, but you don't die with.
Bit off topic there.
But i don't believe in god, the bible, or any other sense of religion.
And it's even scientificly proven, that 'Jesus' didn't die on Easter, he died around September i believe it was.
And he was born at Christmas. The whole religion story that the bible says doesn't make much sense, so yes it is all a metaphor.
And it wasn't written by one person, many men i believe.
And i personally don't think that they all agreed on the same things.
Stef., April 6th, 2007 at 01:46:56am
its like those Aboriginie stories about snakes and greater beings, they are only storied with morals behind them.
Vegemite, April 6th, 2007 at 12:49:51am
I'm so confused about religion..
I feel like, something is missing from my life, and religion might be it.
But.. I can't say I agree with any of them so far...
Nice blog.
*Votes*
germma margaret!, April 5th, 2007 at 09:39:44pm
Wow... hmm.
I've never actually agreed with the bible... it's TOO fictional
I do think there IS some truth to it though
THe only thing that annoys me about the church... is that Christians FORCE the religion down your throat. bleh.
And I think the Christian name for our God is Hajj
Not sure though............ but, we just call him "god"
southernidiot, April 5th, 2007 at 08:47:18pm
Like any great Novel, the Bible was written by a drunk with a craving for fame
Daveylicious, April 5th, 2007 at 08:37:31pm
I'm not religious really
And I think that what you said here is amazing
The Bible is a metaphor
That's all
Mike Dirnt., April 5th, 2007 at 08:36:46pm
That is very true
xXsecret_loveXx, April 5th, 2007 at 08:36:44pm
Wow. Wow. True.
I had to sit through a Christian seminar last Tuesday. I'm agnostic, but I didn't bring in a note, so I had to go. And it was extremely scary. They were American and preachy and doing the whole brainwashing majig.
It was not good.
vonny, April 5th, 2007 at 07:58:38pm
I don't know if you really can make a survival guide to religion, because there are so many different religions. Some denominations of Christianity do think the bible was meant to be taken literally, in fact the majority do. That doesn't make anyone wrong, it just means there is a difference of opinion. And not all religions even use the bible. The bible is actually a very interesting book. I don't have any religion, but I find them all fascinating. How someone can feel so devoted and have so much faith in something they can't even prove exists. Its interesting.
I, personally, don't believe in a God who rewards the good and punishes the bad. Little children in Africa who are starving are not evil. Poverty stricken people are not evil, yet they die in massive numbers daily. AIDS is destroying parts of the world; where is god then? And if a god were to exist, I don't think he would deserve praise for allowing things like that to happen. You make such thought provoking blogs, you deserve your award.
Kurtni, April 5th, 2007 at 05:33:03pm
The way i see it religion is about control over the scoiety, impossing, controling, not big fan of it.
Dumbfuck, April 5th, 2007 at 04:43:52pm
Finally. I've found someone who thinks the same way I do about religion. Today has been a good one indeed.
whyamIstillhere?, April 5th, 2007 at 04:13:55pm
That is f*cking amazing.
YOU are amazing.
Everything you have just said in this blog is so true.
Nothing really has a literal meaning... It's just a warning.
Kudos. =]]
Arghh, Matey.
lekzi, April 5th, 2007 at 04:04:44pm
*votes you for best blogger too*
Steph:DonaNobisPacem, April 5th, 2007 at 03:59:49pm