Religion: a rant

There's a long, but thought-provoking interview with Salman Rushdie in The Independent (see Johann's site, here) that talks about militant Islam and the fact it's not just linked to the atrocities and errors of judgement made by the West in its dealings with the Middle East. It's something I've tended to overlook, but ironically it fits in with one of my core beliefs: that organised religion of any kind is largely a tool for hate and war. Yes, they get hijacked by individuals, but at the same time, they promote a sense of difference with other people.

Ricky Gervais, who might be getting confused with his Extras character right now in the same way he was previously confused with David Brent, made a telling point in an interview in The Radio Times (reproduced on his Web site here): "Being an atheist makes someone a clearer thinking, fairer person. They [atheists] are not doing things to be rewarded in heaven; they're doing things because they're right, because they live by a moral code."

It's ironic, because I agree with so much of what Jesus Christ was reported as saying in the Four Gospels. "Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself", "Turn the other cheek" - how many so-called Christians regularly break those rules every single day? Our selfish, self-obsessed society today is so far removed from Christ's teachings it's unbelievable. And which religion (or - more precisely - which sect) is so visibly anti-contraceptive, helping to fuel this unsustainable population growth? It's the one that shares disturbing similarities with cults - you know, raising individuals up to the level of godhood, performing arcane rites, etc etc.

And then we come to the Old Testament, and Genesis in particular: "God created man in his own image", and "God gave man dominion over the beasts and the earth".. So God's selfish, is he? He certainly isn't perfect if you look at what we've become, and what we've done with our "dominion". Why do we assume God is perfect, anyway? It's all media spin from some iron-age scribes living in the desert... No, organised religion is not something I can subscribe to, although if I was forced to choose, I would be tempted by Sikhism, which has always seemed more tolerant than other faiths.

I wouldn't call myself an atheist - I have no idea what happens after death - but I'd like to think I live by my moral code because I believe it's right, not because I'm trying to accrue points to get into some kind of exclusive club after I die. Besides, if there was any justice in the world, we'd all be reincarnated after we'd gone - one sure way to guarantee that we get to see - and feel - the results of our selfish actions in the generations to come.