Wicked, Rotten Sinners (Such as I)
MARCH 2008
I have been asked repeatedly why I think religion is so bad. A couple of years ago one of the most
intelligent, erudite, articulate women I have ever known could not understand the extent of my antagonism toward all religions. She of
course had the benefit of being raised practically as an atheist, with only a vague sense of Christianity. We had been discussing
religion for some time and finally she asked me, with a quizzical look on her face, “Then do you think every form of Christianity,
even those that just emphasize the kind teachings of Jesus, should be shouted down?” My answer was an emphatic YES! Our discussion was
then interrupted by a “dinner is served” announcement and we never got back to it. I’m getting back to it now.
Imagine at this point a toddler, maybe two or so, receiving lessons about how worthless she is. The message is clear, as she is taught to go through the motions of praying, that she is not just naughty. After all, all toddlers are naughty as we try to civilize them. No, the foreboding lessons begin early,
and never end, at least in any proper religious household. “My dear, you are worthless.” That’s the message.
If this sounds wrong somehow it’s because you haven’t thought it through. Consider. The basic underlying premise of every religion ever known, from Evangelical Christianity to Buddhism to the worship of the ancient Egyptian Goddess Isis, is that there is something innately wrong with us. We are born wrong somehow. If not, then why would we need to learn how to propitiate gods, seek “salvation” from god(s) or attempt to achieve the “enlightenment” of the Buddha?
How can a sweet newborn baby have anything
morally wrong with it? And yet that is the premise of all religions. From the moment of birth, we set about “fixing” the things that are wrong with this infant. The concept of Original Sin is the epitome of that foolishness. Before the umbilical is even cut, a true Christian accepts wholeheartedly that the little bugger is already a sinner. Unbelievable? Not at all, if you accept the concept of salvation.
This of course is the basic tenet of Christianity and a good many other ancient religions. We need to be “saved” from some ghastly fate after death. And the only way to achieve this salvation is through various self-deprecating rituals: bowing, kneeling, fasting, abstaining from sex and/or drink and/or whatever, repetitive prayers, sacrificing animals, donations to the “priests” of the religion (this one is always enthusiastically encouraged), asking for forgiveness for your human foibles, and so on. In some religions the sacrificing included other humans and everyone accepted such barbarity as necessary to
please their deities, although why any deity would relish the death of a human is beyond me.
The Jewish tradition is often referred to as guilt-based. One comedian said it best: “All religions are the same. They are all based on guilt. They just have different holidays.” Funny, yes, but not really. Not if you take this stuff seriously. For those of you who were raised as I was, you will understand perfectly why I am so opposed to religion. The rest of you may have difficulty, which is why I have collected the following random samples of what I am
against. Taken verbatim from the Lutheran Hymn-Book that I was raised on, the first samples are from the liturgy to be spoken and/or chanted by the minister and/or congregation at every service. On Page 1 of “The Order of Morning Service” are these words:
We poor sinners confess unto Thee, that we are by nature sinful and unclean—
We’re off and running! The theme continues in the liturgy. The following samples are sprinkled throughout the various segments:
….And although we have deserved Thy righteous wrath and manifold punishments….But if we thus examine ourselves, we shall find nothing in us but sin and death from which we can in no wise set ourselves free….That we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness….All we like sheep have gone astray….Though we have in no wise deserved Thy goodness….And rescue us from the punishments which for our sins we deserve….
Toward the end of the liturgy we would often offer a prayer for The Jews:
….for Thine ancient people, that they may be delivered from their darkness….
Now on to the hymns. One of the most popular hymns on earth is “Amazing Grace” and we notice that by the seventh word of this beloved hymn we are singing
this:….that saved a wretch like me….But here are some other snippets from assorted hymns that I sang throughout my childhood:
….to let the world of sinners see that blood for sins must flow….Savior, bearer of our sin and shame!….Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind….Not what these hands have done, can save this guilty soul….I bring my guilt to Jesus to wash my crimson stains….though dark my path and sad my lot….What though in lonely grief I sigh….My sin is very sore and great, I mourn beneath the dreadful load….We deserve but grief and shame….I, wretched sinner, come to Thee….O God, our sinfulness is great….A sinner
such as I, my sins record of such a crimson dye!….Farewell! I say with gladness, false, evil world, farewell!….But sinners, filled with guilty fears, behold His wrath prevailing….
These were chosen randomly in less than a half hour. They are but a tiny sampling. There is much more but I ran out of (a) sticky notes and (b) patience. I can’t help but be reminded of the hilarious
Monty Python skit from their movie, “The Meaning Of Life.” The title kind of says it all:
Um, well said! Silly, but right on point. And, you must admit, not a lot different from the examples I just quoted from my good old Lutheran Hymn-Book. Correct? You simply cannot have this dreck pounded into your consciousness, day in and year out, and emerge unscarred, let alone possessing any sense of self-worth. Naturally you won’t be force-fed this rubbish if you are not raised in a fundamentalist religion. Still, the only thing religions truly purport to do is “fix” people. I just maintain we don’t need that kind of fixing. We need love, security and moral guidance of course, but none of that requires religion or belief in any gods. Even the so-called “gentle” religion of Buddhism encourages people to follow the “Noble Eight-Fold Path to Enlightenment.” That path urges you to “comprehend the law of Karma.” And what is Karma? It is a complicated theory wherein your troubles are your own fault:
(Everything about Buddhism in quotes is from the below sites.) “In this world nothing happens to a person that he does not for some reason or other deserve. Usually, men of ordinary intellect cannot comprehend the actual reason or reasons. The definite invisible cause or causes of the visible effect is not necessarily confined to the present life, they may be traced to a proximate or remote past birth.
“According to Buddhism, this inequality is due not only to heredity, environment, ‘nature and nurture’, but also to Karma. In other words, it is the result of our own past actions and our own present doings. We ourselves are responsible for our own happiness and misery. We create our own Heaven. We create our own Hell. We are the architects of our own fate.”
So much for the four-year-old who is being beaten and sexually molested. It’s her own damn fault! She must have been a real bitch in a past life! I find this as offensive as the concept of Original Sin and when you think about it, what’s the difference? That particular kid’s a loser from the moment the cord is cut. And so much for the victims of the Holocaust! They all must have been some really wicked, rotten sinners in some previous existence, huh? Obviously! Duh. They deserved what they got.
“When the unexpected happens, and he meets with difficulties, failures, and misfortune, the Buddhist realises that he is reaping what he has sown, and he is wiping off a past debt.” Again, I refer you to any truly suffering innocents, and this world has seen far too many of those. Reaping what they have sown? What the hell kind of way is that to look at life? I find Karma, as explained by the Buddha, to be repulsive. His so-called humility is hiding an enormous arrogance.
The awe-inspiring “Buddha” was born Prince Siddhartha Gautama (c.563–c.483 B.C.), son of a King and raised as a spoiled rich brat. He spent his early adult years, up to the age of 29, playing in his father’s harem. Then he decided to become a “wandering ascetic” who was searching for the solution to the problems of death and human suffering. After six years of spiritual discipline, he achieved, (according to him, and we have only his word on this) supreme enlightenment at the age of 35. It happened while he was meditating under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya. Well, goody for the Buddha. Wasn’t he wonderful? The bestest ever? But I don’t see any humility in this story. And I hope he didn’t hurt his arm patting himself on the back. Of course he had not been beaten or starved or mistreated as a child, which certainly would have helped his outlook on life, wouldn’t it? Lucky fellow! Isn’t it fortunate that his ideas about Karma explained his own Noble birth?! How fortuitous! His previous lives must have been as marvelous as his current one.
Before you bombard me with irate email, keep in mind that I am not the one who made up all this silly stuff. Nor do I want to hear how I’m taking all this out of context. I’ve heard it all before. Jesus didn’t really mean that we will always have the poor with us….the Buddha didn’t really mean that Karma means we always cause our own misery….Muhammed didn’t really mean that all infidels should be killed….
You know what? If they didn’t mean it, they shouldn’t have said it. How’s that for logic?
Why do we have such a problem just accepting ourselves for what we are? We are human, with human needs and human problems. But we also possess an enormous capacity for love and compassion. Perhaps our most appealing trait is our sense of humor. We can laugh. It’s a marvelous tonic and an excellent social lubricant. It is universal. All humans can smile. It takes very little to coax a smile out of a tiny infant. We’re born to laugh. And we should all do it more often.
Life can be beautiful and it can be ugly. Religions stand in the way, however, and defeat all but the most robust attempts at enjoying this life. Isn’t it time to shake off these ancient superstitions? Now that we know that lightning is not hurled at us from the heavens by angry gods, can’t we lighten up a bit? Instead of spending our precious lives planning for some inane life after death, why not enjoy the beauty that is before our eyes? For cryin out loud, why not enjoy each other? We’re all we’ve got! And if we’d remember what all humans have in common, instead of peering intently to discover any differences so we can wage war over them, just think what life on this planet might be like. Try to imagine such a thing. “No, my dear, you are not worthless! In fact you are very precious to me!” Is that such a bad message for our children?
So my good friend, at last I am fully answering your long-ago question about whether I think
all religions should be shouted down. Yes! I say, yes! Shout them down!
© 2008 Judith Hayes
Sources:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism6.htm
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/karma.htm
http://kadampa.org/en/reference/karma/
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