There are certain stock phrases that are kicked around the American Christospere repeatedly. These, for some reason, provoke almost agitated questioning in my mind. Christian euphemism, pithy sayings and pious proclamations evoke the same question outright: says who? God. Which one? The only one. Are you serious? Yes, we have a book that proves everything. God provides, and life is sacred.
Life is sacred.
First off, which life? Just humans, and screw the rest of creation? No, we are stewards of all that. Now there is a great plan! Hey, bible devotees, we have been fruitful and multiplied. Life is sacredish and all, but the petri dish is getting stinky. anyway, what of the animals? Sure, josses' little kittie is up in heaven, but what about a pet bird? rat? Wild rat? Cockroach? Bacteria? Plant? Mold? Which life is sacred exactly? And even if people are special to god, his messed up image and all that, can the rest of life on the planet be sort of sacred or special too?
Second obviously related question, what does sacred mean? I thin it means, some idea or word that if you don't buy it or show it public obeisance, you are shunned or even attacked. You burn a Koran, you get knifed or a riot erupts in Butfukistan or whatever. Respect the prophet!!! Uh.. Who? Why? You are offended? How old was Aisha, the prophet's favorite wife? If my wife is disobedient I can beat her? Hey, we are both offended, let's call it even and seek common ground as best we can.
Some Christians are almost offended that I exist; you know, that I would openly say that I don't believe in any god or gods or metaphysical hoobie joobies. Or they are simply afraid, afraid to face the world without their imaginary friend and jello socials. My dears, we can still have donuts and jello together. We can even talk ethics and family. But these folks truly believe that without the wisdom of their particular book and th e bizarre human sacrifice deal it involves, that the world is lost. I get it. Jesus people are often very nice, and the feeling that modern culture is lost and the desire to hue to tradition are all strong, especially in times of change. But the world is in fact a cold and random place. We have to do our collective best to get on with it.
Anyway, there you have it. Even if life isn't sacred, you still have to hand it tot the big man in the sky for those few creations he hasn't extinguished yet. Like liverflukes, and malaria. River blindness. All things bright and beautiful!
Life is sacred. Thus all the miscarriages.
Forgive me for not buying any of it: jeebus, Krishna, sun god, tree spirit, Barney, captain America or ghosts or angels or tooth fairies. Great for children's stories, but once one reaches what George carlin called the age of reason, one moves off the arc. Permanently.
Come out as an atheist
Out
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