Christina Qiu: once

Christina Qiu: i was sitting there like

Christina Qiu: deleting my old facebook notes

Christina Qiu: bc they were all obnoxious surveys

Christina Qiu: and one of them was like

Christina Qiu: “if you could rename yourself, what would you be?”

Christina Qiu: and as like, a half-assed sarcastic comment

Christina Qiu: i wrote

Christina Qiu: “atheistina”

Christina Qiu: like

Christina Qiu: lawlz

Scale of Rantness (1 = Structured Dialogue, 10 = Rant): 8

The Bible reiterates frequently God’s constant presence and knowledge of all things:

• No thought can be withholden from thee. (Job 42:2)
• For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. (Psalm 44.21)
• The eyes of the Lord are in every place. (Proverbs 15:3)

Christians are expected to take a leap of faith and believe in some super-powered, googleplex-core computing machine known as “God” who can control an infinite number of scenarios at any given moment. According to this set of beliefs, God is a part of every decision and has the power to change anything at any given moment.

But really, even if this were true, would little aspects of your life truly be a part of his “grand scheme?” Take a look at the picture above (full version here). This is an exposure taken by the Hubble Space Telescope at a patch of sky that initially appeared to be empty. Each of those tiny dots is an galaxy. In this picture alone, you are looking at more stars and planets than your mind could possibly comprehend, and this is just a minuscule fraction of the universe.

If this doesn’t make our world feel insignificant then I don’t know what will. And if God has a plan for all of it, how much of that plan could you possibly be? Why ask God to help you with every single thing? Do you really think God is going to guide your hand at the poll tomorrow and make you vote for which State Agricultural Commissioner he would prefer? Is it possible that the every day dilemmas that face your life really matter in the span of the entire universe over all time?

The thing that confuses me the most is that people invite this control. I hate the idea that there is someone choosing what I do. I want to make my own decisions. I would like to feel like I am in control of my own life and not sitting in the passengers seat. I have never understood why anyone would desire to abandon their free will.

Oh, and lastly, do you really think God is going to help you on your test tomorrow if you choose to post a Facebook status about it instead of studying? Why would he reward that behavior? Ugh.

Scale of Rantness (1 = Structured Dialogue, 10 = Rant): 3

In John 14.6 Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” (I’m not pretending to be a Bible scholar by the way. I’ll admit right now that I looked it up.)

However, the Quran eloquently states its distaste for Christians and Jews who believe that their own faiths are the only source of religious truth: “Say: Will you dispute with us about Allah, He is our Lord and your Lord; that we are responsible for our doings and you for yours; and that We are sincere in Him? Or do ye say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians?” (Surat-Baqarah 2:140)

If you’re a religious person, it is likely that you are the same religion as your parents. In fact, two out of three people who were raised in a particular religion report still being a part of that religion. The other third either switched religions or is now nonreligious (although switching religions is a much rarer occurrence.)

So why is it that most religions are so determined that they are right? As a fundamental question to underlie the ideas to follow, I ask you the following. Why would any all-powerful, all-knowing consciousness choose to bestow a negative punishment upon the majority of the world without allowing them a chance at the “correct” religion?

Most religions have their ways of circumventing this question. Christians quote sections of the Bible that claim there will be different judgement for those who have not heard of the Bible versus those who have heard of and rejected it. Muslims will say that some religions could be communing with the same god. But no one faith will provide a clear answer to this rather large hole in the system of religions.

So why would a believer be determined that his or her faith is the one true faith? It is because they have been indoctrinated into the mindset of their particular religion and refuse to abandon the comforts it provides. But why do other religions have to be wrong? Why cannot the god of Christians be the same as Allah?

It seems like a follower of Judaism would realize that had a neurologically identical version of themselves grown up in a Hindu household, that person would probably have been a Hindu. This thereby discredits any inherent “correctness” to someones born religion, leaving open the opportunity for a person seeking divine sanctuary to explore other paths to God. Perhaps you would discover that you prefer one path more than the one you were born into? Maybe your inner-self would prefer the non-theistic approach that Buddhism provides. Buddhism teaches you how to attain inner peace, not peace through a divine figure, and at a more modest level how to live a good, moral life.

I would challenge any religious person to do some exploration on other religions and belief sets. Read some passages from the Quran, pick up a book on the history of Judaism, read an atheist text or go to a Buddhist temple. It may help your understanding of how your religion fits into the big picture. At the very least it will be an mind-expanding journey into one of the most interesting side effects of the human condition.

Scale of Rantness (1 = Structured Dialogue, 10 = Rant): 7

Evangelism is a craze that has been sweeping the nation. Scratch that. All nations. Forever. Evangelism is one of the greatest tools religion has ever invented. It follows quite naturally from the other rules of religions but is simultaneously its most powerful tool. And essentially thats what it reduces all of its followers to, tools. Not “tool” in the colloquial sense of the word, but tool in the most inherent definition. An object that facilitates more effective action than someone could do by themselves.

All it takes is one founder, some figurehead, with enough clout to be able to convince a group of people to spread the word of his or her created religion. Fast forward thousands of years. With enough propagation and manipulation, evangelism is born. Religion has now become so powerful that followers will literally feel guilty if they do not attempt to spread the word of their religion to non-believers. I know, terrifying right?

I understand the reasoning. A user of religion will see another person and think that it is their duty to “save” them, so that he or she may reap the same benefits of the religion. But all it takes is a brief moment of reflection to realize that the user is the one being used. Religion survives by the work of the followers, not by the strength of its values or the moxie of its message. Religion survives for thousands of years because of the persistence and guilt of its addicts.

I do not mind the existence of religion. I think it is a beautiful thing. I am jealous of others who are able to blindly thrust their faith toward a singular purpose. Religioholics live a happy life without fear of death. Some religions are even powerful enough to circumvent the basic human value of self-preservation just so a user can feel like he or she will become closer to God faster. This summarizes the human nature of religion. It is a way for humans to escape fear of finality, and in the case of religious suicides it has achieved its goal and then some.

I do however, mind the existence of evangelism. I hate that when I walk out of Austin City Limits Music Festival there is a Christian preacher yelling at me that I am “going to go to hell for my actions.” Do I stand outside of your church and tell you that you are simply going to cease to exist for all of your religious work? No, because I accept your faith and am happy for you that you can believe in it. I accept, like all religions should, that people have the right to choose their religion and think that this is the only way religion can exist peacefully.

So stop telling me to pray because there is an abortion clinic in the vicinity. In my mind, all you’re doing is providing free advertising. Plus, who knows who you are offending. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEFWDYB0rWo)

Stop asking me if I’ve accepted Jesus as my savior. I haven’t, don’t care whether or not you have, and will never do so. And at least attempt to be creative about sharing your beliefs (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/11/07/2010-11-07_gay_protesters_in_spain_greet_pope_benedict_with_massive_kissin_to_signal_defian.html)

Stop standing outside events I like and ruining my evening by infuriating me with your absurd beliefs. They sound as ridiculous to me as Greek mythology. People criticize the irrationality of mythology all the time now. In a few thousand years, people may deem your religion ludicrous as well (perhaps sooner if religious officials keep pulling shit like this: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/sex/cops-priest-pilfered-funds-porn-buys). That is, if the world has not ended by then (by human hands, NOT by the apocalypse).

Scale of Rantness (1 = Structured Dialogue, 10 = Rant): 5

Wikipedia, (my most trusted source and life-partner), provides insight into the origins of the commonly-uttered but oft-misunderstood phrase. All of the possibilities listed share a common trait, they stem in some way from the Christian religion. This is in no way a surprising revelation of course, as the phrase is clearly of religious origins. And whether or not the phrase was originally intended to be a way to make sure your soul does not escape or to combat the effects of the bubonic plague is irrelevant. The issue of concern is not the origin of the blessed sneeze, it is that “Bless You” is one small example of subtle ways that religion retains its unrelenting control over society.

Why is it that even many non-Christians will utter the phrase “bless you” at someone who just erupted mucus-ridden carbon dioxide out of his or her breathe hole? The phrase, like many other aspects of religion, is implanted in our brains before even our earliest of memories. Anyone can see the danger in that, even believers. Why is it that we are forced into a system of beliefs and customs before we even have the knowledge to process and reject information we deem unsubstantiated?

I hate that religion targets children. Children are so innocent, pure, and yet so malleable. I understand the thoughts of a religious parent in wanting to make their child the same religion as them, but why do they have to do it through Sunday school and Jesus camps? Why is it that young children, ones that are too young to possibly have any real understanding of death or the afterlife, now suddenly have to worry about whether everything they do is a sin? Why would anyone ever tell a child that there is a chance he or she will be damned to eternal suffering? Why not let the child age and develop his or her own ideas, and then later offer religion when a child has the ability to make a real decision?

Is it because religious parents are scared that their children will not believe in the same God if they are not exposed to that from a young age? That just seems like cowardice.

So, back to the topic of “Bless You,” please do not bless me any more. I appreciate the courtesy, but as an atheist the phrase “bless you” means nothing to me. I have nothing that needs blessing. Take a note from either my computer science professor or Jerry Seinfeld and say either “Gesundheit” or “You are soooooo good looking,” respectively.

Or you could go overboard and make me laugh by repeating Drew Ott’s ironic creation: “May God and Jesus bless your sneezes.” (But ‘cha gotta pronounce it like Jeezes!)