"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment pf religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." ~ the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the United States of America
A topic came up in one of my games recently and I thought I would write about my feelings on it. As always this reflects my view and should not be felt like I am pressing my views on others. The topic was religious intolerance, granted the religion in the game is a fake one dedicated to the resurrection of a Dark Vampire God to destroy all but the faithful and it shouldn't be tolerated, the topic was there.
I am very tolerate of many different religions and denominations there in. I will state right now one religion I don't get is Scientology, but then again explaining by beliefs are probably baffling, even to other members of my faith.
However, even with my view of Scientology being what it is, we need to remember that this country was founded on the principle that all religious views, even the lack there of, are excepted. So it saddens me when I hear of all the religious hatred that is going on.
I work with a man who has the radio at work set to religious stations and for the most part, no one has a problem with it. My only complaint this whole time on it is that it is in Spanish and as I don't understand the vast majority of what is said and it sounds like gibberish to me I get headaches from it. Well one day my coworker changed the station to an English version so that I wouldn't get the headache, in less than five minutes I changed it back to the Spanish station.
What I heard made me very angery. Not the message of God that was being said, but the ignorant, hatefulness being said against Islam. I am not Islamic, but I cannot tolerate that.
I guess I am intolerant. Of such hatred. I am not a hateful person. I believe only two or three people I have ever hated, though there are many with a feeling of strong dislike.
For those who would hate Muslims, here are some truths for you. Muslim is a word meaning 'one who submits to the will of God.' Allah is Arabic for God, same as the Jewish/Christian God, it is not a name. Jesus is part of Islamic faith, mentioned more time in the Qur'an than Muhammad. Islam is one of the most peaceful religions out there.
And just like Christianity's own bloody past, fanatics took words writen well after the first words to spread hate and terror. But even the followers of Christ are not with out sin on that one. Everyone mentions the Crusades, and that's true. However let's look closer to home. How about the Salem Witch Hunts and the witch hunts throughout Europe. That wasn't as long ago as the Crusades. Infact I can trace my family line back to an ancestor who was killed during the Hunts.
Religion is a source of morality and faith. Something desperately needed, just as much now as ever before. And like all things touched by man they are corrupted. But it is the morality we need. And if you choose to not to have them fine. That is your choice, but for you Atheists out there that want everything that has to do with religion wiped out, that's you pushing your beliefs, or lack thereof, on me and others. That and read the Constitution you all love to quote, the words "separation of church and state" never appear.
I am not here to convert or preach the Word. I am here to say I hate the hate. Most is because of ignorance, which has always been the downfall of man. And in this country, with all the problems it does have, should not forget one of the reasons its here.
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