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Jesse, Religion, and Me













































10/20/99

Jesse, Religion, and Me





As many of you know, Jesse Ventura...the governor of Minnesota...has weighed in with his views on religion and numerous other issues. His Playboy interview has given rise to reactions which range from total support to vilification and demands that he resign from his office. While I don't agree with Jesse on everything, I do agree substantially with his views on organized religion. I, as well as many other non-religious folk, were grateful that a prominent individual finally spoke plainly about religion...especially a politician. Although I think Jesse kinda overstated the matter as far as it applies to all religious believers, I want to join him in a public statement about religion...my own version or take on the matter.

Personally, I'd revise his "weak-minded" comment. I'd add to it that there are many believers who simply can't think for themselves because they're followers. There's nothing wrong with their minds...they just have never been taught how to use them. Religious instruction rarely promotes thinking for oneself...but rather, tends to stress "believing" (as if believing in and of itself is some kind of standard for what is true or not). Furthermore, there are many strong-minded believers who simply buy into the "fear" which is at the core of any control system. For that's what organized religion is and has been for a long time...a control system...based on yet another fear, but this time by the elite. That fear is that if left to themselves, the "masses" would be an unruly mob which would then threaten the elite perogatives of privilege and property.

What I'm trying to say is that I think Jesse was substantially correct...but far too stereotypical. Religious adherence is far more diverse and complicated than that. Probably its "greatest" strength (from the perspective of the believer) is that it provides A answer to "the meaning of life." Millions upon millions upon millions of people throughout time have utlized answers to that question which doesn't require them to reason it through for themselves. Just last night I was in a "spirituality" chat room and there was one individual who continually quoted bible verses instead of entering into real discussion. Every time someone said something that challenged his stance he would quote another verse. Unfortunately, he/she is all too common among believers of all faiths. Their system of thought is a self-sealing and closed system...with a ready-made set of verses or slogans used to "counter" anyone who dares to question their beliefs. This individual clearly thought he/she had THE answer to life and couldn't allow anyone to dent it. It wouldn't surprise me if this individual was a clear and reasonable thinker in other areas...although I would tend to doubt it. Yet, when it comes to standards as to living his/her life, one set of answers is all they considered.

Have you ever looked up the word "religion" in a good dictionary? The "re" means to "do again" and the "ligion" comes from the word for tie together or rejoin. That means religion is the system or perspective which rejoins together that which has been separated in the first place. What is it that has supposedly been separated or alienated? The core answer is man and god. Unless one accepts that this separation is real, rejoining is unnecessary. God is presented to us as the necessary medium by which rejoining takes place. Yet, when this god is examined closely, it appears to have the same qualities as humans do...love, care, jealousy, anger, spitefulness, revenge...etc. Maybe its man that has been separated? Our base and physical reality has been separated from our spiritual and good qualities...which have been attributed to this god. Instead of seeing that humans contain and are the totality of goodness and evil, religious thinkers separate them and pose that god is necessary for the rejoining of something that in reality has never been separated.

But...I digress. My point in this commentary is that finally a non-believer spoke up...one in the "public eye," at that. One can't be sure just how many people in this country actually don't believe in a god...but there's plenty of us. I'm proud of Jesse Ventura for having the guts to say what's on his mind. He put it out there and some would "have his head" for doing so. Yet, Christian after Christian can spout off about Christ, God, and "sinners" without fear of censure. The fact that in more and more areas Christians are feeling the heat for their beliefs, doesn't change the overall reality that for many, "believing" is still the norm and non-belief is the deviance. I feel sorry for them...they've lost considerable ground...i.e. their ability to spout off without being challenged. You can see the backlash all over...10 commandments, prayer back in schools, etc. These are signs of desperation...the kind of fear that leads many back into the swamp that has nearly drowned their ability to think for themselves in the first place.

There are many fine people who are religious believers, but many of these same people are ready to eliminate anyone who doesn't join them in their daydreams. Many profess tolerance for others, but I don't believe many of them. I'm one of those non-believers who has never disputed their right to believe what they want to believe. What I DO dispute is their self-righteous attitude when someone speaks about them in less than favorable terms. They can call anyone...including members of their own group...any name in the book. They can vilify people with different "orientations" of all sorts. They can condemn to hell anyone who doesn't believe as they do. But let one vocal individual say something about them...well, you know.

In conclusion, thanks Jesse. You've spoken for millions in one fell swoop. Gee, maybe there's a political lesson in this for all politicians. For those of you who disagree with what I've said...bring it on!












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