It is fascinating to me how much conflict and cruelty that religion has caused. Faiths that supposedly preach love and compassion seemingly use hate and violence just as often.

I’ve never quite understood the idea of religion. Not only do people believe with all of their souls that this supreme being they’ve never seen before is their savior, but some also believe  so passionately that they’re willing to kill people who don’t believe the same thing. It’s incredible. They don’t see any flaw in that thinking. It’s like logic and understanding go right out the window when discussing religion.

I find hypocrisy extremely frustrating, particularly when it involved religion and politics.  Personally, I believe that religion should be completely separate from politics, but many do not share this belief. That’s something that won’t be changing anytime soon, so religious reasons will continue to be used as justification for political stances. I don’t agree with it, but I can at least understand it.

One area of controversy is the issue of abortion.  If you choose to oppose abortion for religious reasons, that’s fine. I understand that for many religious people they are pro-life and believe in love for everyone and that all makes perfect sense to me. What I don’t understand is how the same person using religion to justify pro-life can then turn around and use religion to justify hateful or discriminatory things, like the shootings at abortion clinics by a pro-life supporter.  Some religious people oppose abortion because they believe everyone deserves the right to live, and they see abortion as killing.

Another area that I don’t understand is the opposition to gay marriage?  It’s irrational. You can’t pick and choose when to use love and compassion. What happened to “love thy neighbor”? Why would a religion of love be vehemently against allowing people to get married? Where’s the logic? Your god who supposedly loves everyone doesn’t approve of other’s happiness? I just can’t buy into it.

Religion should be about believing in something bigger than yourself, not an excuse to justify one’s prejudices.