So where did we leave off?

Oh right… The abuse of religion. What do I mean by the abuse of religion?

The ways in which people use religion to achieve specific political goals that come from a place of selfishness, rather than the seeming selflessness that can come with religion.

This world here – he, she, or it – is angry, and so am I.

Yes, religion and spirituality are important to people and can help them to define who they are, but why do so many people let religion dictate who they do and do not like, care about, understand, and accept?

Just think, a world where people can accept others despite of religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, gender, and so on:

Yes, I know religion isn’t the only reason our world has problems, but religious extremists have been terrorizing people all over the world for way too long. So what’s the solution? Education? Is there anything that can be done?

First step: actual separation of church and state.

I understand that religious beliefs can affect how one votes on abortion, death penalty, right to choose death, and gay marriage; but here’s my question: why is religion used to deny people of basic human rights? Some religious communities find it unacceptable for homosexual people to get married: but why does it matter to them? Last time I checked, the world didn’t go up in flames when we tried to add a new law. Do you want to go with the homosexuality will lead to bestiality?

No. Just no.

People communicate: people give consent. Animals? They can’t speak an intelligible language to say: “Yes, sir, I would like to have sex with you” or “No, sir, I really would not like to have sex with you.”

“Homosexuality will lead to acceptance of pedophilia.”

Again, no. I mean come on, seriously?

Yes, children can communicate, but do they really know what they want? When a child yes or no, do they really mean what they say, and do they even understand what they are saying yes or no to? Probably not. I remember growing up never knowing what I wanted for the future or even materialistically (I went back and forth between Barbie, Bratz, Stuffed Animals, Books, Puzzles, Newspapers, and so on, for eternity). But an adult: he or she can understand what they are saying yes or no to, they have experienced and experimented and know what is right or wrong for them. And when I say right or wrong, I’m really talking about comfort.

Those of you who are uncomfortable with abortion, homosexuality – marriage between 2 consenting adult human beings, universal health care, undocumented immigrants, and the right to death:

No one’s asking or telling you you have to marry someone of the same gender, get an abortion if you have an unexpected pregnancy, or kill yourself if you have a fatal disease like cancer, so why deny other people the right to do so? How does it affect you?

Oh wait, it doesn’t.

How about we all stop caring less about what everyone else is doing and focus on ourselves, because no one is asking anyone to change what they’re doing, but to accept that you may not know what is right and wrong for all living beings.

Breathe with me now, ommmm. There we go. Remember: leave religion and your ego out of it, and maybe we all can be a little happier together.

Now let’s all hold hands and sing “Kumbaya”, there’s no harm in trying, is there?