Tag Archives: Religion

My Christian Man Crush

I’ve been on a rant lately about the toxicity of religion in politics and the existential threat it poses to American democracy. So, imagine my surprise when I found myself in political lockstep with a devout Christian pastor and state legislator from Texas.

James Talarico is a state legislator, pastor, and former teacher representing Travis County, Texas. (When I hear the phrase Christian Pastor from Texas, I reflexively think this is not someone I’m going to connect with in any way, whatsoever).

As a humanist, my ethos is grounded in reason, compassion, and a commitment to human welfare, all without relying on religion or divine authority. I tend to distrust religious groups or individuals that emphasize moral absolutes, spiritual warfare, and cultural dominance, as many of today’s MAGA Christians do.

I deplore the charged and politically partisan nature of right-wing Christian leaders today, many of whom openly support Donald Trump as a divinely chosen figure. In my view, Donald Trump’s association with “the divine” is more accurately reflected in Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, which highlights how weak character and poor choices lead to moral decay in man – but I digress.

Although James Talarico and I disagree on the existence of God and the usefulness of faith, we share a common political identity and moral compass regarding the role of religion in politics and how we treat our fellow human beings.

When I listen to James Talarico speak, I hear humanism bathed in religious compassion. His arguments on why Texas should not display the Ten Commandments in schools are grounded in reason and commitment to the welfare of non-Christians and atheists.

Talarico’s political identity is fundamentally rooted in his Christian beliefs, which he draws upon to inform his legislative priorities and public stances. Now, one can say the same of the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, whom I detest.

Mike Johnson has informed Americans that the best way to understand his stance on any issue is to read the Bible. ‘That’s my worldview, that’s what I believe.‘ James Talarico proudly proclaims, “Jesus is the reason I’m in politics.”

So, we have two men who identify (quite publicly) as politicians guided by their Christian beliefs. Yet, the divide between them on almost every issue is wider than the Grand Canyon.

So, what gives?

Imagine two river boats (the SS MAGA for Christ and the SS Real Deal Christians) drifting down a wide river. The passengers on both boats refer to themselves as Christian, both rely on the same map for navigation — the Bible — but they interpret the terrain and the currents very differently.

  • The SS MAGA for Christ is sturdy and traditional, built from old wood passed down over generations. Its passengers believe God divinely determines the river’s course and shouldn’t be altered. They value order, hierarchy, and preserving the design of the boat as their ancestors built it. They’re wary of new boats with modern tech, worried those might drift off course or sink under unfamiliar values.
  • The SS Real Deal Christian is sleeker and adaptive, built with newer materials and open decks. Its passengers see the river as dynamic, winding through evolving cultures and perspectives. They believe their faith calls them to adjust their sails and reach out to those stranded along the shore, even if it means challenging long-held boating rules.

When the crew and passengers on the SS MAGA Christians see other boats on the river, like the SS Islam or the SS Atheists, they immediately consider them a threat and aggressively try to ram those boats or push them towards the riverbank to wreck them. Sometimes, crew members on the SS MAGA become pirate-like and try to board the other boats and convert their passengers to their dogmatic views of riverboat travel.

When the crew and passengers on the SS Real Deal Christians see other boats on the river, like the SS Islam or the SS Atheists, they share the waterways in the spirit of cooperation. They have no desire to board them or force them off the river.

In the analogy above, James Talarico is clearly aboard the SS Real Deal Christians. His interpretation of Christianity emphasizes tolerance, compassion, justice, and care for the marginalized or other, which he uses as the foundation for his political views.

Talarico’s political stances are an extension of Leviticus 19:18, which states, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord,” where he applies that verse to issues like healthcare, education, and immigration.

As a Real Deal Christian, Talarico’s faith calls on him to challenge far-right, conservative Christians and Christian Nationalists, making him a natural ally to humanists and non-believers like me.

He is known for quoting scripture in legislative debates, often to counter conservative Christian arguments. His speeches have gone viral for reframing Christianity as a force for inclusion, equity, and environmental stewardship.

For example, Talarico:

  • Opposed a Texas law requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms, calling it “un-Christian” and “idolatrous,” arguing that it misrepresents the teachings of Jesus.
  • Supports abortion rights, citing biblical passages that suggest life begins with breath and emphasizing the importance of consent in creation.
  • Rejects the idea that Christianity mandates opposition to LGBTQ+ rights or abortion, saying there’s no biblical basis for those positions.

Talarico describes Christian nationalism as “the worship of power – social power, economic power, political power, in the name of Christ” and has accused Christian Nationalists of turning Jesus “into a gun-toting, gay-bashing, science-denying, money-loving, fear-mongering fascist” and argued that it is “incumbent on all Christians to confront it and denounce it.”

Political progressives and moderates in the Democratic and Republican parties would be smart to build coalitions with Christians, in the mold of James Talarico, and use these coalitions as a form of political activism moving forward.

Unfortunately, in America today, there’s no getting religion out of politics altogether. The best we can do is to fight fire with fire by co-opting the positive, humanistic ideals and values espoused by Mr. Talarico’s interpretation of Christianity (inclusion, equity, and tolerance) and use them politically to win the hearts and minds of voters.

Pop and the Christless Crucifix

I make my way through a dimly lit hall of walkers, wheelchairs, and medical carts to find him where I always find him – in a threadbare recliner, lightly coated with dried skin cells and broken hair follicles – hunched over the New York Times crossword in his flannel robe, pee-stained underwear, and perfectly fitted Red Sox cap – his lips moving silently to the clues:

“1 Across – Act of saving or being saved – 1 down – Environmentally friendly material.”

Dad never used to move his lips – they were always tightly creased, well-mannered, and coolly detached from the finely humming machine in his head as he attacked the puzzle on all fronts.

To Dad, the Times crossword was a trusted friend, a worthy opponent, and an intellectual fencing partner who, for years, prepared him mentally for the start of his day. It felt grossly unfair that Dad was aging so inelegantly while his opponent remained unscathed by time.

I stand invisible at the entrance of his room, just staring, not wanting to disrupt his endeavor.

When he finally looks up, he shoots me a broad smile and tips his cap in my direction before returning to the puzzle.

I enter the room, clear my throat, and get to the point of my visit.

“Dad, do you have a will?”

Without lifting his eyes or halting the motion of his pencil, he responds, “You can have it all. Just burn me down to a fine ash, then bury me in the desert. There – that’s my will. Cross it off your list.”

I sigh heavily.

With his head still bowed, he holds up his mechanical pencil and points it sharply in my direction before continuing.

“But not too deep. A few inches below the topsoil will do just fine. I want the rain to be able to get to me — muddy me up a bit.”

He lifts his head. A thin dusting of skin cells and hair follicles fall – it’s wintertime in Flannel Ville. He gives me a wink and a smile before returning to the puzzle.

“What about the family plot where Mom is?”

“What about it?”

He goes on, “In the words of the best Beatle by far, Let. It. Be. When she was alive, your mother nagged me about hogging the bed and disturbing her sleep. Trust me, she’d be fine with my desert plan.”

He returns to the puzzle, mumbling under his breath.

“6 across – Breaking down organic matter” – 2 Down – To accept without protest”

“Is any of this written down, Dad?”

He slams the folded Times on his lap, and an unwelcome whiff of urine fills my nostrils.

“Why do I need to write it down? I just told you with actual words from my mouth – Put me in the goddamn desert, a few inches deep – Easy-Peasy.  You want to bring nurse Jackie in as a witness?”

There’s no Nurse Jackie, but Dad loved that show so much that he referred to all his nurses as Nurse Jackie—even the males.

“Sorry, Dad.”

He softens immediately and smiles.

“It’s OK. No worries from the weary.”

“The Times is kicking my ass today.” He tosses the newspaper onto his bed – a school of dad-DNA swims in a stream of sunlight above the bedding.

“How are things at home? How are Emma and the boys?”

“They’re good – I’ve been wanting to get the boys in for a visit – -they’ve been busy with basketball and homework.”

“Don’t worry about visits. Honestly, I don’t want them to see me like this.”

A silence settles in the room. I can hear the paint peeling and a clock ticking.

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure, Dad, whatever you need.”

He points to the wall behind his bed.

“Get rid of that goddamn cross. It’s from the poor soul who was here before me.”

I lift the lacquered black Christless cross from its nail. The unfaded paint beneath it leaves a crucifix shroud of Turin.

In a deadpan voice, Dad stares at the wall and quotes Luke 24:6-7, “He is not there; he has risen,” and smiles sarcastically.

“Thanks, son.”

I stand Pope-like in the middle of his room, holding the crucifix, “What should I do with this?”

“Burn and bury it in the desert – he chuckles and starts to cough – a mosh pit of Dad-dust bounces enthusiastically on his shuddering shoulders. I can almost hear Cobain screaming.

Suddenly, there’s a discharge of electricity around Dad’s recliner. I look up to an intense blueish-white light pushing through the crevices on his forehead—a halo of electrified dandruff swirls above his head. A look of relief falls upon him. He winks and says warmly, “I’m just saving you the effort. Goodbye, son.”

There’s a loud pop—like a fluorescent light bulb dropped from a great height—as Dad bursts into flames like a human Hindenburg. Thin flakes of ash float in the air. Their fiery orange edges burn bright for a few seconds before self-extinguishing into dissipating wisps of smoke and settling all around me.

I drop the crucifix in stunned silence.

A nurse (followed by an elderly gentleman with a Dustbuster) enters the room. The nurse tilts her head towards her left shoulder and speaks into a small black microphone, “Mr. Smith in 103 has transitioned.” She nods sharply to the gentleman, who retrieves the crucifix and vacuums up every remnant of my father. He even vacuums Dad from my shoulders and shoes. When he finishes, the nurse checks her watch and makes a notation on her clipboard.

She hands me a piece of paper. “Your father left us these coordinates. We’re sorry for your loss. Please collect your father’s remains at the nurse’s station.” She and the orderly exit the room along the same path they entered.

I unfold the paper. Scrawled in my dad’s handwriting are the coordinates 40°40′N 117°40′W.

After a few minutes, I head to the Nurse’s Station. Dad’s been packaged neatly in a small cardboard box with the Crestwood Nursing Home logo. Someone thoughtfully taped the crucifix onto it. I pull it off and toss it in the trash on my way out the door.

I place Dad in the glove compartment and drive west to the desert.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my first book, My Paper, My Words: Rantings from a Progressive Boomer and Peeved Parent, from Amazon. And if you feel moved to write a review of the book on Amazon or elsewhere, I’d be honored.

My Paper, My Words is a collection of essays, stories, and poems that reflect the challenges of a middle-class husband and father trying to navigate a rapidly changing political, religious, and technological landscape of post-9/11 America.

Let’s Ask Arty!

Let’s Ask Arty uses existing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to query LLMs about politics in these troubled times.

Query1: Do humans seek facts or do they rely on information sources that confirm their existing biases?

Great question! Human behavior regarding information-seeking can be complex. People often demonstrate a tendency known as “confirmation bias,” where they favor information that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs and overlook or dismiss information that challenges those views. This can create echo chambers, especially in today’s digital age, where algorithms can amplify content that matches one’s interests and biases.

However, this isn’t the whole story. Many people actively seek out factual information and strive to consider multiple perspectives to develop a well-rounded understanding. Some individuals are more inclined toward critical thinking and skepticism, which helps them scrutinize information sources more carefully. In the end, it seems to be a blend of both tendencies, influenced by factors such as education, cognitive styles, and the information environment.

Query2: What human traits and characteristics lead them to actively seek out factual information to overcome confirmation bias?

Certain traits and characteristics can drive individuals to actively seek out factual information and overcome confirmation bias:

  1. Open-mindedness: People who are open to new experiences and perspectives are more likely to seek out diverse sources of information and consider viewpoints that differ from their own.
  2. Intellectual Curiosity: A strong desire to learn and understand the world motivates individuals to gather accurate and comprehensive information, even if it challenges their beliefs.
  3. Critical Thinking: Individuals who engage in critical thinking are skilled at analyzing information, evaluating evidence, and questioning assumptions, which helps them identify biases and seek out reliable sources.
  4. Humility: Recognizing one’s own limitations and the possibility of being wrong fosters a willingness to update beliefs based on new evidence.
  5. Empathy: Understanding and valuing others’ perspectives encourages individuals to consider information that might contradict their own views.
  6. Education and Awareness: Higher levels of education and awareness about cognitive biases can empower individuals to actively seek out factual information and strive for a balanced understanding.

These traits and characteristics can help individuals navigate the vast amount of information available and make informed decisions. Do you see any of these traits in yourself or others around you?

Query3: Which nations are best at teaching students how to think critically?

Several countries are recognized for their strong emphasis on critical thinking in education. Here are a few notable ones:

  1. Finland: Known for its innovative education system, Finland emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and student autonomy. The Finnish curriculum encourages students to question, analyze, and engage in deep learning.
  2. Singapore: Singapore’s education system is highly regarded for its focus on critical thinking and creativity. The curriculum is designed to develop students’ analytical skills and encourage them to think independently.
  3. Canada: Canadian schools prioritize critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. The education system encourages students to explore, ask questions, and develop their own understanding of concepts.
  4. Netherlands: The Dutch education system promotes critical thinking through project-based learning and collaborative activities. Students are encouraged to think critically, solve problems, and work together to find solutions.
  5. Australia: Australian schools emphasize critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The curriculum is designed to help students develop the ability to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and make informed decisions.

These countries have implemented educational practices that foster critical thinking and prepare students for the complexities of the modern world.

Regarding the suppression of critical thinking to promote religious values and belief systems, some countries do indeed prioritize religious indoctrination over critical thinking. For example, in certain countries, religious education is heavily integrated into the curriculum, and questioning religious doctrines is discouraged. This can limit students’ exposure to diverse perspectives and hinder their ability to think critically about different belief systems.

My input:

You’re probably wondering what questions about critical thinking have to do with politics and the troubled times America is in.

Have you ever wondered why President Trump publicly stated, “I love the uneducated?” or why the Trump administration is so fixated on getting rid of the Department of Education? or why Republicans are pushing legislation on the state level to incorporate Christianity into public schools?

I contend that Donald Trump and the MAGA-infected Republican party understand a population of critical thinkers would be disastrous to their platform and agenda and that the dumbing-down of future generations is critical to their existence.

An electorate of religiously indoctrinated citizens who can’t think critically is susceptible to lies and manipulation. For example, an uneducated electorate stuck in their own confirmation bias without the intellectual wherewithal to differentiate fact from fiction or the ability to pick apart half-truths and misinformation inserted into political speeches and policy statements might vote for a convicted felon and self-acknowledged sexual abuser and send our democracy into a tailspin.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told Americans the way to learn how he feels about any issue is to read the Bible. ‘That’s my worldview, that’s what I believe.’ The increase of religiosity in the Republican party should be a huge red flag to Americans who cherish living in a secular and pluralistic society.  The GOP’s embrace of Christianity as a national religion is a genuine threat to the American way of life and critical thought. Religion tells you what to think, not how to think.

The dumbing-down of Americans by Trump and the MAGA-infected Republicans is purposeful and strategic. It’s part of their long game to remain in power for decades.

Free thinkers and progressives better come up with a strategy of their own to counter this or we run the risk of being ruled by an American Taliban.

War, Religion, and other Ramblings from an Atheist on a Sunday Morning

The majority of Muslims are peaceful.

We hear this whenever Muslim extremists go on a rampage.

And though I agree the majority of Muslims are peaceful, if the average Muslim had to choose between living with a peaceful atheist like me or a fanatical Islamist, I think they’d choose the latter, because with the latter they share a religion.

Religion holds people together, while also dividing us from one another.

It lumps people into like-minded groups, where each group believes their God, their beliefs, their scripture, and their golden ticket to the afterlife is the one and only. It fosters an “us versus them” mentality, and when religion controls the narrative of who we are, we lose sight of our shared humanity.

When infused with fanaticism, religion celebrates flying planes into buildings and forcing families from their bulldozed homes as righteous acts.

When we view people through the prism of religion, we don’t see them as individuals. Instead, we see Jews, Muslims, or Christians and the preconceived notions those labels have to us. Categorization leads to dehumanization and dehumanization softens up the conditions for war and hate.

Fanatical groups like Hamas, ISIS, al-Qaeda, MAGA Republicans, and the ultra-orthodox Jews living in the West Bank see religion and scripture as a final arbiter or cure-all to all their woes and view those who don’t adhere to their beliefs as “less than” themselves.

Religion doesn’t only affect the religious. For example, religious-borne fear affects the moral compass of the religiously-agnostic when it comes to the war in Gaza. The fear of religious extremism is why we give a wide berth to Israeli vengeance. Our fear of Hamas and what they represent runs so deep that we give the IDF leeway in terms of their tactics and rationalize civilian casualties.

Religious extremism never serves the greater good. Clearly, Gazans in Palestine would be better off if they could get out from under the thumb of Hamas.

I want Hamas to be swept into the dustbin of history.

But at what cost? I guess that’s the question.

At what cost?

Last week, I saw a video post on LinkedIn that showed ghastly footage of bloody Palestinian children writhing in pain on a hospital floor in Gaza. It was horrific and sickening (and has since been removed). Many of the comments to that post referenced Allah and retribution, which filled me with despair. Those comments reinforce my belief that humans are slaves to what they’re taught in churches, synagogues, and mosques.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that people find peace, comfort, and a sense of community in religion — I understand the positive aspects of religion.

But I also see the negative.

Religious people get agitated at atheists like me who rail against the dangers of religion. In contrast, we atheists get frustrated that religious people can’t seem to separate the bliss they achieve from religion individually from the negative shit that comes out of a religious group dynamic.

Freedom from religion – the right of a person to have no religion in their life, opens the door to humanistic identity.

I was raised a catholic. For years, growing up, I went to church and catechism every Sunday, where I was lectured to by priests and nuns. Thankfully, I lived in a country that supports freedom from religion and free thought — where, over time, I could compare (without fear of retribution) what the priest and nuns were telling me to what I saw and observed in the world and what I learned of my own volition. This led to a sense of self not based on religious dogma and doctrine but rather on my personal experience interacting with the world and the people in it.

If I had been born and raised in Iran or Iraq, my experience would have been radically different. I would have been forced to adhere to the religious rules of the state or suffer the consequences of disobedience.

As an atheist, I could walk the streets of Telavi freely without having to look over my shoulder in fear for my safety. I’m not sure I can say the same about walking streets controlled by Islamist fundamentalists – who, if I made an off-color remark about their prophet, would separate me from my head without batting an eye – and feel justified in doing so.

America’s greatest gift to its citizens is freedom from religion. But lately, I fear we’re in danger of losing that gift and becoming an authoritarian theocratic state ourselves.

Just look at the speech that Elise Stephanic gave when nominating Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House. That speech included multiple references to God and scripture. And Johnson himself has informed American’s the way to learn how he feels about any issue is to read the Bible. ‘That’s my worldview, that’s what I believe.‘

Since Mike Johnson’s nomination to the speakership, we’ve seen gross outward expressions of religiosity on the house floor – a clear slap in the face to the separation of church and state.

Imagine the outcry if a Muslim speaker or representative busted out a prayer rug on the house floor to pray.

The increase of religiosity in the Republican party should be a huge red flag to Americans who cherish living in a secular and pluralistic society. 

The GOP’s embrace of Christianity as a national religion is a genuine threat to the American way of life.

I’m not naive. I know religion isn’t going anywhere, though I am heartened that among American adults, secular humanism and postmodernism are growing in influence in our culture.

Let’s judge religions by their ideas.

The notion that criticizing a religion is unacceptable because it might “offend people” is what allows dangerous movements within generally peaceful religions to spread and radicalize individuals.

We need to voice our objections loudly against any religion that promotes divisiveness, intolerance, or hate, because these are bad ideas for humanity.

I’m stepping down from my soap box now.

Mushroom Suit or Diamond Ring?

Death and burial used to be pretty straight forward:

You died.

They buried you (or maybe tossed your ashes to the wind).

They said a few words and got on with life.

The end.

Short and sweet.

Today there’s a plethora of creative ways to orchestrate your final exit.

Be One with the Earth

You can go with a “natural” burial, which involves being put directly in the soil in a way that promotes or even accelerates decomposition.

Here’s an interesting tidbit: Luke Perry of 90210 fame was buried in a mushroom burial suit containing mushroom spores that helped decompose his body and filter toxins from it.

The filtering and decomposition from a mushroom suit prevent surrounding plant life from being contaminated by the body. Not that Luke was any more contaminated than you or I.

I see natural burials as a form of human recycling, which I imagine is popular with the environmentally conscious – but I can also hear my conservative, non-environmentally conscious uncle quipping, “When I go, just put me out with the recyclables.”  

I suspect the squeamish might be put off by microbial decomposition, but I’m okay with it. It feels both altruistic and symbiotic.

People who choose this type of burial seem to be saying, “I’m no more important than the petunias” and “I don’t need to be memorialized with a headstone or plaque” – and as a humanist, that philosophy resonates with me. 

Be Above it All

Don’t want to be put in the ground? Then maybe a space burial is for you. 

Space burials launch your remains into space, where they orbit around the Earth or go to the Moon or somewhere further into space. Space burials even include cheaper “suborbital” excursions where the human remains are briefly transported into space before returning to Earth, where (hopefully) they can be recovered. 

To me, space burials seem braggadocios and sadly pathetic. 

“No, I’m not an astronaut – I’m an accountant. But I’m planning on being an astronaut after I die. So, yeah, I’m kinda like the Neil Armstrong of accounting.” 

I feel there’s an element of cowardice to space burials. It’s like being an astronaut without any of the risk. And from an ego perspective, space burials check all the boxes. They scream, “Look at me; I am one with the heavens! I AM A GOD!

Be Around Forever

The most fascinating alternative burial, at least to me, isn’t a burial at all.

The diamond growth process uses high-pressure technology to turn human ashes into diamonds for wearable “cremation jewelry.”

For anyone who isn’t religious but still wishes for eternal life, the diamond growth process puts a new spin on the old adage “diamonds are forever.” 

Personally, I have no delusions about an afterlife. As soon as I developed the ability to think critically, religion and eternal life registered as complete bullshit. I believe when you’re dead – you’re dead. Everything fades to black, and you cease to exist, except in the memories of loved ones – and even that is short-lived.

We’re all destined to fade away entirely, like the billions of ordinary people before us, who no one remembers – we will eventually be totally and irrevocably gone. And honestly, the thought of that doesn’t bother me in the least.

But something about an ashes to diamond after-life appeals to me. I like the idea of being an object amongst the living long after I’m dead – and even though I know I won’t be conscious or aware of this existence, the idea of it, as a living human being, interests me. 

Is that weird?

And being a ring on the finger or broach on the collar of a loved one might be a pretty cool icebreaker at a cocktail party.

What a lovely ring, where did you get it? Well, my dad gave it to me when he died – something to remember him by. And actually . . . 

I like the idea of being an heirloom passed down from generation to generation and remaining in the mix. And if someone in the future lineage of my family falls on hard times, and I end up in a pawn shop, that’s even better, because then the story of me goes in an entirely new direction.

To me, it’s all about the story; after all, what is life but a story.

When you’re a piece of jewelry, your destiny is fluid, unknown, and full of possibilities. Maybe you get lost at the beach, coming off your son’s finger as he body-surfs, only to be found a few weeks later by an elderly beachcomber who throws you in an old leather-bound jewelry box full of broken watches and faded polaroids and wears you every-now-and-then until the day he dies. At this point, you might end up as a mention in the final paragraph of the will of this total stranger and get passed along to the beachcomber’s favorite nephew, and off on new adventure you go.

The original story fades and gives way to another.

I’m aware that wanting to be turned into a diamond comes off as shallow. I can hear someone say, “Why can’t you die normal, like most people?” – and I guess I can see their point – but I don’t give a fuck.

And as an atheist, I like that we have this advanced scientific process that yells “Screw You” to the old Ashes to Ashes proverb from the Book of Common Prayer, which says that we’re made of dust and will return to ashes and dust after we die. 

No thanks, I’m returning as a diamond.

If you want to learn about the various burial options, check out Burial Alternatives – 23 Ultimate Ways To Check Out.

Be woke and …..

According to a new poll, America is pulling back from the values that once defined it, such as patriotism and religion. One might look at the poll results and think, “Damn, that’s not good,” — but maybe we should look at the results as an awakening.

A Growing Disconnect

There’s a growing disconnect between the values Americans traditionally associate with religion and patriotism and what we witness behaviorally in society regarding religion and patriotism.

Christ is no longer Christianity’s messenger.

Instead, rich and powerful opportunists weave narratives that intertwine cherry-picked aspects of Christianity with firmly held socio-political beliefs. Deep pockets allow these opportunists to promote that narrative through lobbyists, who feed it to money-grubbing, power-hungry politicians.

Christianity isn’t about love and charity anymore. Instead, it’s transparently transactional – and more Americans (especially the skeptical and educated) view politically infused transaction-based religion with disdain. When you combine transparently transactional religion with the equally transparent absence of God in our lives, people will pull back from religion as a value.

The function of religion in American society has moved away from the individual and towards a political collective. This shift has transformed religion from a set of beliefs for coping with a chaotic and hate-filled world to a political directive that disrespects marginalized communities, restricts rights, and promotes hate.

Our Patriotic Divide

Concerning patriotism, America is split between the loud crowd of MAGA-hat-wearing Republicans hell-bent on transforming the country into a dystopian America-First Christian Nationalist society and progressives who want to expand rights and freedoms to everyone.

For patriotism to take root, citizens must agree on what it means to “be patriotic.” If there’s disagreement, the unifying knot of patriotism begins to fray. For example, millions of Americans view the assault on the capital as an act of patriotism and the protests against systemic racism in our justice system as un-American – while just as many (if not more) Americans hold the opposite view. Until most of us can agree on what is and isn’t patriotic, we’ll continue to retreat from patriotism as a value.

So, it’s no surprise Americans are rethinking the values around religion and patriotism. We’re woke to religion and patriotism being hijacked and manipulated by individuals and entities for political or personal gain, altering the meaning of both fundamentally.

Being aware is the first step to instituting change.

Man’s malevolence

Mankind is a misnomer. 

For as long we’ve existed, man’s kindness has been matched by his cruelty. 

We’re a volatile and combustible mix of the easily misguided. Too often (under the influence of others), we drift towards our darker nature, nestle up to fear, hand reason over to blind faith, or swear a misguided allegiance to political tribes. In the past, this has led humankind down dark paths where we deny our fellow man freedom and dignity on a mass scale. 

That’s been our history.

We’ve seen how the fluidly we move from our better selves to our darker nature and how easily influenced we are by the world around us. We’re not immune to the momentum of tumultuous events. And, because we’re more connected (technologically speaking) than ever before, we’re more susceptible to being collectively influenced, manipulated, and pushed towards our darker nature.

This is nothing new. We’ve teetered on the edge of darkness before. Manipulated by political and religious movements that feed on fear, hate, and irrationality. Unfortunately, I believe we’re teetering one of those precipices now, as world events push mankind towards our darker nature.

I still believe America can be a force for positive change. I’m not talking about nationalistic flag-waving “USA, USA, USA!!” patriotism, but rather all of us living by and promoting the ideals and ideas of Western Democracy. 

To make mankind kind again, we must consciously engage in acts of kindness, resist being influenced by fear and fear mongers, put reason above religion, and ditch political tribalism for critical and idea-based thinking. 

The uptick in political, social media posts about what’s going on in Afghanistan reveals just how shallow and vulnerable we’ve become. Sadly, the willingness to parlay human tragedy for political hay (I’ve done it myself) represents troubling fault lines for our country. 

Joe Biden did not blow up Americans and Afghanis at the Airport in Kabul – religious extremists did. Instead of focusing on the enemies of reason and rationality, many Americans devolve into sectarianism, focusing their contempt on the American President. 

I’m not suggesting Biden not be held accountable for missteps and intelligence failures that occur on his watch – he should be. But, instead, I’m suggesting that we remember Biden is not the enemy. Biden is not a religious extremist. He believes in American ideals. Our fight is not with him; it’s with ISIS, the Taliban, and any of the other man-made entities that are hellbent on pushing us to a darker existence.

I’m also suggesting that we differentiate malevolence from incompetence when critiquing our leaders. But, unfortunately, that requires nuanced and critical thinking – lost skills in America today.

Every President has moments of incompetence. Kennedy had his Bay of Pigs; Obama had his healthcare rollout. Bush fucked up majorly with his weapons of mass destruction debacle. Reagan screwed the pooch with Iran Contra, and Jimmy Carter botched a hostage rescue. 

Humans are at the helm of intelligence. They push the pen and ink onto intelligence reports, and leaders act on the assessments. And sometimes, they make mistakes. And when this happens, citizens should speak up and demand accountability. 

But Malevolence is a different kettle of fish. 

Malevolence is knowing a pandemic is deadly but telling others just the opposite for personal political gain.

Malevolence is proposing our military shoot protesters in the legs or that leakers of information be executed.

Malevolence is spreading lies about election security and promoting insurrectionist movements against America. 

Malevolence is courting and praising dictators for the control they have over their citizens.

That’s Malevolence. 

Let’s not confuse Incompetence with Malevolence. 

And malevolent leaders and wanna-be dictators thrive in periods of uncertainty. And sometimes, in a storm of uncertainty, citizens become blind to malevolent leaders. 

Let’s stay vigilant.

When it comes to our transience, honesty is the best policy

If we’re lucky, our postmortem shelf-life lasts about 2 generations. After that, the story of us fades from existence entirely. When the collective memory others have of us disappears, we move from mostly dead to genuinely dead. 

We might live a few extra minutes a year in the side glances of strangers who pass by our gravestones (on their way to visit a soon-to-be-permanently-forgotten loved one).

A clever quip on a headstone, and the laughter it generates, can raise us from the dead for a few moments. But honestly, that seems like a desperate attempt by the departed to prolong their existence.

YouTube is heaven on Earth. It’s the digital preservation of self that survives after we pass. Our subconscious desire for everlasting life is at the core of YouTube’s popularity. We’re the modern-day version of the sculptor in Percy Shelley’s Ozymandias, posting digital carvings of ourselves in a futile attempt to stem the tide of our transience.

As the last memory of us fades to black, we transition from the warmth of humanity to the cold breathless, inanimate. Ultimately, our blood, bone, and guts give way to the flat and dimensionless world of dusty photos, handwritten notes, password-protected social media sites, and, possibly, a couple of YouTube or Tik Tok videos.

Such is our fate.

The thought of man’s impermanence was so bothersome we invented the concept of an afterlife as a counterbalance. Entire religions have baked the notion of everlasting life into their concocted fairy tales. Most of us were probably raised in a religion that fostered such beliefs.

Your parents likely told you that grandma and grandpa were in heaven, and one day “you’ll see them again!” I’m not sure parents actually believed this. It’s more likely they were repeating what their parents told them, or perhaps they thought this lie would somehow protect us or make us less fearful. Maybe they were just too damn lazy to level with us. Probably a combination of all of these.

I think this world would be better if we were honest with ourselves about our impermanence and, more importantly, honest with our kids about it from early on.

Embracing the truth that life is temporary would make us value and appreciate it more.

Instead of telling our kids that by obeying a set of rules, they’ll get to live forever, we should teach them to live a life that leaves this world in better shape than they found it. So their children and everyone else who comes after them have an opportunity to live comfortably without undue suffering. 

Instead of lying to our kids about heaven, preach about human rights and the importance of equity and preserving our planet.

A philosophy that embraces our temporary nature and stresses a responsibility to preserve the planet for future generations would go a long way toward improving the here and now.

All this nonsense about an afterlife has harmed our culture and our planet. It’s an excellent example of how well-intentioned dishonesty can be just as destructive as malevolent dishonesty.

A man of no importance

A man of no importance

leans against the city’s sounds

telling every passerby

to lay their worry down

Every day at one o’clock

appears this weary warner

a bible in his bony hand

on the same street corner

A cautionary caller,

Throwing words into the wind

He warns us of our avarice

our decadence and sin

“A double-dose of Jesus Christ”

That’s what he says we need

“The grace of god the glory

Will free us from our greed!”

Most don’t even look up

Or glance in his direction

Ignoring his crusade against

The devil’s insurrection

Steadfastly undeterred

“There are souls in need of saving!”

Raining grace upon us

with his ranting and his raving

And every day at 5 o’clock

Amidst the non-compliance

He bows his head quite suddenly

Retreating into silence

And in this act of piety

Is when he’s noticed most of all

The man of no importance

Becomes important after all

“Sending Prayers”

pexels-pixabay-461049 (3)

If God is all knowing and all powerful, I suspect a single prayer is all he or she needs (or wants for that matter). Anything more than one is probably just noise to the almighty.

If there’s a God (there isn’t), I don’t imagine him or her saying “99 prayers… Damn! Just one short. Unfortunately, Aunt Bertha has to go”.

I understand the formulaic and informal nature of human dialog:

Person A: “My aunt is going in for surgery today”

Person B: “I’ll say a prayer”

I get that.

But I’m dumbfounded by people who think whispering upward actually makes a difference, or that there’s a correlation between the number of prayers posted on Facebook and Aunt Bertha’s chance of surviving an illness or medical procedure. To me, that’s delusional thinking.

I get annoyed by people asking for prayers on Facebook. I get agitated at the thought of “prayer posses”. Does that make me a dick? I kind of think it does. Why does it bother me so much when people solicit prayers?

I assume that anyone over a certain age and of minimal life-experience knows that prayers or “positive vibes” don’t do jack. Logically, if prayer worked, no one would get cancer, mass shootings would be a thing of the past, and Donald Trump would not exist.

After the first 100 prayers with no results, don’t all sane people come to a common-sense conclusion — that sometimes Aunt Bertha makes it  — sometimes she doesn’t, and the outcome has nothing to do with praying.

When a friend or relative is in need, instead of offering prayers, maybe ask what you can “do”.

“If you want, I can bring in the mail and help pay the bills.”

“I can get your kids get off to school every morning and can pick them up from soccer practice”

“I’m preparing some meals for the family, just pop them in the microwave.”

“Don’t worry about house cleaning –I can come over on Tuesdays and get all that taken care of, just focus on getting better.”

“I can walk the dog on Thursdays and Saturdays and my kids can help walk her on the other days.”

These offers are infinitely more valuable than whispering upward.

P.S

You can still pray if you want (no help / no harm I suppose), but follow that prayer up with acts of kindness that help the person in need directly and in a concrete way.