(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . God, the Universe, my own story and the rise to power of the religious right. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-02-22 A Catholic Church not unlike my own as a child. Part One, My Story I rejected my Catholic faith long before I came to consider myself an atheist. I believe this occurred gradually in Catholic grammar school. Looking back to those times, the main emotion that comes to mind was a constant state of fear and relief when I went back home. Religion and Fear My first-grade nun threated to cut our tongues out, scissor in hand. Fear of angering a teacher and being beaten or sadistically being punished were at the top of the list. We were frequently slapped around for an offense as minor as being slow or unable to answer a question. Or made to stand in the corner and not to move for hours before the class. Or sometimes inside the dark and damp coat closets behind the class. Corporal Punishment was Common In later grades we got beat by a brother with a ruler after school, sometimes off the elbow with a triangular heavy one if we did something they were really mad about. Or with a deck of cards across our knuckles. Or doing something against God that I’d be punished for, like impure thoughts when I had a crush on my second-year nun, not that I even knew what that was. Or for masturbating as I later discovered and wouldn’t dare “confess to” at forced weekly confessions. We were taught in religious lessons that mortal sin, if you committed one and died without being forgiven, meant you’d burn in hell for all eternity. While I can’t specifically recall if they ever specifically called sex outside of marriage a mortal sin, it was strongly insinuated, and they spent much time on handing out a sex negative message. A scene from Heaven Help Us, specifically modeled after my own H.S. I served 8 hard years in grammar school, Holy Name in Brooklyn, and four years in Xaverian, also in Brooklyn. Physical abuse lessoned in High School and was only occasional but there was, was perverted. The Dean of Discipline, as he was titled, used to take those selected for more severe punishments, and spank them bare butted with a paddle. For that he was rewarded and later made principal. Brothers would regularly and illegally “raid” the dinner on 69th Street, some distance from the school and severely punish any students found there. Apologies for that long description, but if you went to Catholic School in the 50s, you’d know what I’m talking about. Still Believed in Jesus Xaverian H.S. Surprisingly, despite all this I still believed in Jesus. And actually had a gay brother coming out of the closet teaching religion class and others I respected that were never abusive or cruel. As far as I was concerned, Jesus never did the bad things they did to me, and I somehow never believed he would send me to a place like hell. I remember still praying to him after I got drafted into the Army and refused to go to Vietnam. And spent two weeks in solitary confinement and six months in the stockade. It was there that I came to completely reject Catholicism. When I filed for discharge as a C.O. and refused orders to Vietnam, they sent me first to talk to a priest. He was a Jesuit, with starched fatigues and a crew cut. After I spoke, he lectured me that it was my duty to fight in Vietnam, etc. It was then I fully realized and understood how much they had come to deny the message of Jesus and found my own personal religious beliefs. Part Two Example of hypocrisy. Over time and many years, it became clear to me that it was us fallible human beings, and not a supreme being, that had made up most religious dogma that was taught for very earthly reasons, much of which hid political agendas, many of which were decidedly hypocritical. Looking at religion today, I believe we should have a healthy skepticism but respect toward most organized religious groups, as a great many congregations have been compromised to survive real life political realities and conditions. It’s a plain fact that religions that practice the teachings of historical prophets like Jesus in the way they were actually intended are rare, and represent progressive goals for our society, even if expressed in religious terms. If those beliefs are truly sincere, it’s hard to reconcile them with what passes for Christianity and many of the other major patriarchal religions in America. They could never convince me God could create a place like hell. If there is one religious principal that hovers above all others, it is: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. It was reportedly said by Jesus on his Sermon on the Mount. The Republicans and their allies throughout the world have launched an inhuman campaign to turn back that proverb and the best aspects brought forth by religion and turn them into their opposite. We should never attack people’s right to practice religion . . . ever. We should instead confront the ways it has over time become hypocritical and makes "exceptions” or promotes hatred or some type of bias. Jesus himself was said to have called the elite Jews of his own faith hypocrites. Always remember, no matter who or what you believe in, that you are mortal and fallible and whatever God turns out to represent, we remain fallible and by extension so may our religious and even our atheist beliefs. The Task for Religion Today The Universe It really matters little what or who we call God. Or how anyone visualizes the way in which everything that exists in the Universe was created, a question even the most brilliant physicists have no convincing theory of or answer for. What matters is our moral and economic code for life on this planet. And to my friends who believe in a higher power, all that matters is that we realize that no one on earth should be granted or trusted with God-like powers. The true tests for any religion is how it comes to terms with differing beliefs, and can it avoid the twin plagues of dogmatism and patriarchal authoritarianism and support beliefs which can build a just and prosperous society for all. Historical Failures to Separate of Church and State This can result from introducing religion into politics. One critical omission, at least for me, is that the Democrats rarely make the arguments or explain the benefits of separating Church and State along with the dangers of mixing the two, a primary tenant America was founded upon, and it is written into our Constitution, but is not being defended. Such has long been the case on some level for both major parties. We are now seeing a growing right wing Christian movement with the ability to impose its religious beliefs upon the country. The overruling of Roe Vs. Wade, if you read the Supreme Court ruling carefully, does just that. It not only assumed the power to revoke a long held democratic legal right, but it also assumes that a fetus at conception has rights equal to a viable or born human life. And does so while millions from other religions and belief systems hold that life begins, and the soul if they believe in one’s existence, is assigned at birth and not at conception. Birth Control: The Next Target? The next disastrous target is reproductive freedom as it applies to birth control, this has been widely leaked and hinted at. Do nothing and it will occur even though 99% of women have used it! Upwards of 99% of women use birth control. It’s a direct result of the Roe v. Wade’s overturning, and another direct and vicious attack against women. It requires identifying the sectarian biases involved and the social and even religious benefits of keeping church and state separate from each other. As well as the cost in human suffering and blood to be placed at the feet of Republicans who also have helped enable these atrocities for the purposes of getting votes. We must not fear raising these women’s and human rights issues with the religious community. Not in a stupid and insulting way, but mention the trends, and isolate the diehard right-wingers from other religious institutions. The Black Hole of Politics? A black hole should not equal dialogue between religion and politics. I am aware of the overwhelming practice of religion in America, although the numbers have declined sharply in recent years. It’s considered the black hole of politics to ever raise an inquiry or complaint regarding the deterioration of religious independence from politics and especially political parties. Both have in the past had a degree of blame here, with the Republicans going all in today on politically merging as much as possible with the right-wing racist churches and fascist elements while the Democrats just “winked” doing too little to counter it. There has never been a message sent regarding the impact and grave dangers of merging religion with political parties and politics. The past is filled with instances of atrocities that resulted from trying to force dogmatic beliefs on people under the threat of torture, murder and even wars. Both slavery and imperialism used religion as a force to subdue its victims and commit massive numbers of atrocities. Pointing this out is an obligation we have if history is not to repeat itself. We thought the right would never take away abortion rights. We were wrong. The door is now wide open for worse. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/22/2154221/-God-the-Universe-my-own-story-and-the-rise-to-power-of-the-religious-right Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/