Lindsey called me tonight and asked me to turn the television to the FOX network, and from the sound of things, Satan had landed. It actually turned out to be an episode of Trading Spouses. Basically, a large "Christian" woman was wobbling around screaming, accusing, and generally acting less than intelligent. If you were unfortunate enough to see this crazy spectacle, then you know what I'm talking about.
I don't know if FOX meant to portray Christians in this way or if they simply got lucky. Either way, they knew what they were sending out.
There has been a lot of discussion (AKA hellacious burning hot flame wars) about religion, God, creation, science, evolution, and so on. The main battle goes like this: Those who don't believe in God/religion say those with faith are unintelligent and weak. Those who believe say those who don't are unenlightened and are in need of some sort of deliverance. In tonight's case, it was obvious as to why atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians feel the way they do about Christians. The worst examples sometimes become the archetype. If all Christians were as that lady, I would feel the same way.
I could go on, but it all boils down to a couple of things. I think we should stop focusing on the religion as a problem when the true problem has to do with knowledge. We're not going to solve disputes of beliefs, but it is possible to educate. With education comes tolerance, understanding, and, hopefully, wisdom. We can never overcome ignorance, bias, and apathy fully; some just can't handle assimilation after their brains have hardened. I just think that focusing on information would help us with this situation and all others.
A plea: Those against Christians, please take into account the good that has come from religion, and not focus solely on the bad. Although you are thinking like a lawyer because you're hell bent on disproving there exists such a place as hell, it might not be the best way to go about things. I believe it is always in one's best interest to examine a thing from all sides, measure every angle, and explore every abstract approach. The same goes for Christians. Let's all be a little more tolerant about personal beliefs. If you think it's a crutch, who cares? It has bettered a person's life. Perhaps they are simply going with Pascal's Wager.
As for me, growing up in a small Christian town and in a large Christian family provided years of love, understanding, support, opportunity, happiness, experience, communication, exploration, thought, and love. I mentioned love twice because it's that important. For the human, knowledge takes a backseat to emotion most of the time, which explains heated debates about religion occurring in the first place. So I try to remember this, and go with what has supplied me the most fulfilling experiences (emotional and intellectual) of all.
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