HowToFoldSoup

[Note: This was a series of letters exchanged between me and the radio host of a now defunct radio show. I've excluded some of the fluff crap, and left the meat of the letters.]

I am writing to comment on the prayer in school (or anywhere else for that matter) subject that came up on, oddly enough, prayer day, May 7th, 1998. I believe that children shouldn't be exposed to religion in anyway until they are old enough to understand what they are doing, and therefore shouldn't be allowed to pray in school. If they choose to follow their self-esteem lacking parents into whatever religion they might be or choose one for themselves, (because they see that they too can have power over someone through manipulation and superstition) that's fine, but let them decide as adults. I mean, since we have decided for our children that they cannot drink till a certain age, or drive till a certain age, or smoke till a certain age, why should we trust that their judgement should be strong enough to decide where they want their soul ('where' is based on the Judeo-Christian theme of free-will, if you wish me to include predestination, I'll have to rewrite my argument all together)?

Thank you,

Lee Poirier


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lee,

Thanks for writing! I could not agree with you more (without actually *being* you!) about kids and religion. Exposing kids to religion probably can't hurt, just so they understand the various tenets and beliefs available. And it could go a long way toward understanding your parents, I suppose. But why force it on kids? And prayer in school? Obviously the work of people so far beyond their own school days they don't quite remember what it's like to be young.

That said, I do find that adults from strictly Catholic families are interesting, with all of their conflicts and anxieties. But I don't think many of them are terribly grateful for the experiences they had as children. Where did you come by your own religious animosity? I am curious and fascinated by religion and religious zealotry _ and you are so astute, I don't buy into any of it!!!

But I will take a fervent believer any day over one of those people who hedge their bets on God by saying "Well, I believe there's *something* out there....." just on the off-chance that there is some judgement day awaiting. I mean, pick a side - you know??

Take care!!

Jules

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Julie, Thanks for writing back.

I have left the original message attached as I'm sure you get flooded with emails, (especially from those bitter 'Young' Republicans you mutilated on the second airing of The Julie Mason Show). You asked about my religious animosity, and so I will elaborate, however, the fact of the matter is that most "religious" people maintain quite a bit of religious animosity as well but it's generally focused on those who don't share their beliefs. Here it is, in all it's glorious detail.

After asking a question in the middle of a sermon at a Catholic Church (and getting thoroughly chastised by my embarrassed Grandmother), I came to the conclusion that since I wasn't allowed to ask questions about what they were saying (I was probably about 10 at the time) I didn't want to be a part of it. Then I went to a Unitarian Church with my Aunt , where I was allowed to ask questions, most of which were parried as being out of the topic being discussed and that I should ask outside of the sermon (I am getting the feeling that I should send you a detailed list of my Family tree and their respective religious beliefs but I won't). Well, the answers didn't satisfy me, so I, being with out any belief system, accepted that until further notice, I was atheist (that didn't stop me from going to church, however, as they often had coffee cake and donuts).

And for the second time, life went on. I was 14 or 15 when I met a young man in high school and we had a some religious conversations. Being Hispanic, he was raised Catholic. We talked about all angles of his and my beliefs and when we were through, he doubted his own existence, much less the presence of some God. I achieved this mostly by paraphrasing things me and my mother would discuss about religion, in particular, questioning the Christian belief systems. Of course, I didn't know all that much about it, and since I had converted a fellow human, I felt that I should at least read up on the things my mother always seemed to be able to answer for me. I felt I owed my friend at least the courtesy of knowing what the hell I was talking about, and not simply mimicking my mother, as that was all most Christians did, and, at least in my world view, it's best not to be anything even remotely like Christians. So I studied the amalgamation of different religious books my mother had collected. Zen, Buddhism, Catholicism, Tao, Shinto, General Philosophy, Bahai, Judaism, Mathematics, Hindu, and Christianity, from the Extremist Baptists to the Rosacrusians. Spelling, however, was vehemently avoided, and I'm sure many of those are spelled incorrectly.

So, to answer your question, where did I get my religious animosity, I got it from religion. That and the self serving need to make those who choose religion feel inferior. Make them question their own beliefs so that they may truly see the light, to coin a phrase. I believe that religion is merely an excuse to get together with others who share the inability to function on an individual level; those who need a "Group" mind. As I have found, most people find it would be inappropriate for them to question anything their Preacher (Minister, reverend, etc) tells them. Of course, that is often rebutted with the fact that all people of the cloth are more than willing to field questions, but that's not what I said. I said it was inappropriate. A taboo, of sorts. And because of that, it's rarely, if ever, done. Mostly my confrontation with Christians spring from the fact that most of them don't even know what they believe. They just know that it's easier to get along with their parents and friends and family if they go along with it. And in the end, they convince themselves that they do believe in what they are told.

I associate religion with College Football teams (for the record, however, I know nothing about college football teams). They are clubs. Clubs designed to create a sense of superiority over the other clubs. And each Sunday (though most college games are on Saturday, again, we get into semantics), they gather together to ponder on their own false sense of superiority. Each club has a rival, and though it doesn't happen on a enough occasions, I'd like to all the congregations of different faiths get together on different Football fields and fight. To the death. I think the conversations would conceivably go something like this..

"Oh yeah, there is a purgatory!"

"Blow it out your ass you Papal Worshiping schmuck, There is only heaven and hell!"

"Oh yeah, well lets just find out!"

Then they would all kill themselves. I'd buy season tickets.

Religion is the cause for more and bloodier wars than any other thing in recorded history. And though they all speak of knowing undying love for your fellow man and turning the other cheek and whatnot, they seem to only believe use that philosophy should it suit their purposes.

Well, 5 pages is my limit. I'd gladly elaborate on a more specific level, and be sure and look for my book coming out next fall, "The Christian Cook Book - My 100 favorite ways to cook a Christian". Yes, Skewering is my favorite. I figure just having Pat on the 700 Club warning his congregation about it, I will sell millions.