Random Thoughts: Hello, God? It's Me, H.A. Help

Hum. It's been that long, huh? Sorry to keep my fans waiting--all two of them. I wanted to try a focused freewrite on a selected subject. The intended subject was TV, but then I read about the Pope's latest message for the faithful, so instead, I freewrote on religion. Tread carefully. You might disagree with me. Good for you.

Pope Benedict, in a recent encyclical titled "Spe Salvi," blamed atheism for "some of the greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" in history. My initial reaction: Huh? All right, I'll agree that progress is bad if in the wrong hands, but the Pope needs to remember that the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the persecution of Galileo, and the harsh treatment of Native Americans were not committed by atheists. Oh, and the nice people who hate our guts so much they're willing to blow themselves up? They're not atheists. I prefer to blame "the greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" on human narrow-mindedness, ignorance, and stupidity, no matter what belief system people have.

A British teacher in Sudan was convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad." For those who don't know, naming an animal, real or stuffed, "Muhammad" can be considered an insult. Thousands of protestors called for her execution. Incidentally, I've checked up on blasphemy in Islam, and you can be accused of it even if you don't believe in or support what you're saying, so apparently ignorance can't be used as a defense. It would've been nice if someone had told the teacher, "So you're going to name a teddy bear, and one of the choices is Muhammad? Better take that one off the list." It would've been also nice if the teacher had been briefed on the do's and don'ts of living in a predominately Muslim area, especially if it enforces religious law. On the other hand, she named a teddy bear. She wasn't insulting the Prophet deliberately. She didn't draw him with a fuse bomb turban. She didn't make an effigy of him and set it on fire while cursing his name. She named a teddy bear. She probably didn't know she was blaspheming or how blasphemy is defined in Islam, and now people are calling for her head. Wanting to kill someone because of a teddy bear's name...yep, my view of humans just dropped by a few thousand points. Way to go, humanity.

I'm sure some of you have trouble memorizing the Ten Commandments or at least placing them in the right order as given by Moses. I tend to summarize them and follow their spirit. Here's how I summarize them: Love God and your fellow humans. Simple, right? Too bad it's hard to do, especially the loving-your-fellow-humans part. We suck at that.

Just wanted to comment on "Honor thy father and mother" (or whatever wording is used in your Bible). Respecting your parents and liking them are two different things. Keep that in mind.

Why are the deeply religious people--not the extremists who view all outsiders as the enemy, are willing to blow themselves up to make a point, and shoot people they disagree with--considered normal while UFO and alien believers are considered crazy? So it's okay to believe in a nontangible entity while it's crazy to believe in lifeforms on other planets? I'll admit some UFO photos have been proven to be doctored, but if you tell me you saw Jesus in a grilled cheese sandwich, under normal circumstances, that's a sign you might need therapy.

To everyone who thanks God for some accomplishment: Please stop. I'm sure They know you're thankful. They're God, after all. They see everything. If you want to voice your thanks in some manner, do it behind closed doors and spare us your grandstanding.

Religious people I can't stand: Pat Robertson, Jack Chick, the late Jerry Falwell, any persons who belittles anyone outside their religion. Let me know if I missed anyone or if you have anyone specific I can groan over.

Attention all religions--God doesn't favor any of you over the rest. In fact, They're wondering why we're killing each other over basically the same message.

This is late, but I might as well say it. Dubya, God didn't choose you to be President. That would be the Supreme Court. As for the second time, that would be fear.

You know what I like seeing? Jesus being depicted in art as Semitic.

Is Jack Chick on something? Really, is he?

To all you holier-than-thou people: You're sinners, too. Get over yourselves. You want to help save our souls? Take to us face-to-face, not from the top of a ladder.

If we followed Leviticus to the letter, I think we'd be all dead.

It's sad that no matter what religion you follow, women are kept in a lower station in life and get a bad rap.

I don't think all the bad stuff that's happened to us in recent years is divine punishment. I think it's God testing us. So far, I think we're failing.

From the desk of H.A. Senidal, 11/30/2007