Religion. It can be the most beautiful experience in someone's life. It can give meaning to a meaningless existence. It can give hope, when hopelessness is all that a person or a people has ever known. I spend my whole life being a dutiful son who went to church with my parents. I was baptized when I was an infant. When I was old enough, I went to CCD, got my communion and confirmation, and served as an alter boy and eventually became a lector. I went to an all boys Catholic high school where I got more religious but watched most of my classmates become less. When I moved away from home, I strayed away from my weekly attendance. But when I returned home after college, I rediscovered religion as an adult.
What truly amazes me is how badly some people misinterpret religion. On one end of the spectrum, people who get it wrong, are harmlessly carrying on spiritual beliefs and rituals that were passed down from generation to generation. For example, many Catholics cross the line between petition to worshipping saints and angels. Praying to St. Anthony to help find loss items is harmless even though the widely accepted practice is pretty much a contradiction to an institution built on the idea of monotheism. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who have wage war and instill hate in the name of religion. Almost every major organized religion are tainted by periods where misguided masses kill or hate in the name of belief. The Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, 9-11 are all examples of people who mindlessly follow insane rhetoric and forgo true religious teaching of mercy and love.
Is there a worse idea than a supposed religious leader of a loving God going on public television to rally support for acts of hate against another? Hatred begets more hatred. The burning of the Koran as retaliation to the plans to build a mosk near Ground Zero will only deepen the hatred of the misguided religious fanatics and widen the ill feelings to the otherwise peace believers. Why preach love if your answer is to only love those who are like you? Why preach mercy when your actions are intended to inspire hatred?
Religion works on many levels. History has shown religion to unite individuals, raise morality, and promote mercy and community service. It provides belief and identity to those who sought deeper meaning in life and for something to believe. History also showed how charismatic individuals can twist religion and misguide masses to wield religion as their sword to hate and kill. If it is morally wrong for one side of a religious war, then it is wrong on the other side as well. If it is wrong for Muslim extremists to preach hatred and train soldiers to kill infidels, then it is equally wrong for Christian leaders to retaliate using the "eye for an eye" rationale. Shouldn't a "religious leader" be above what is hard for the average person? How do you call yourself a preacher of the same bible that preaches love thy neighbors, love thy enemies when you choose to accept the consequences and collateral damage that come with inciting emotional pain to the loving people who share the same bible as their extremist counter parts?
When we get religion wrong, we stray from its deeper purpose and yield to everything from which religion attempts to steer us away. We suppress love and mercy, and we fill our hearts with pain and hatred. Even though you may have ultimately made the right decision in calling off the burning at the end Pastor Terry Jones, you will have to live with the misery that you wrought. I pray that those of us who are religious, and those who are not, will have the grace to know when someone gets religion wrong and not follow that person blindly.
Stay cheesy,
The Rambunctious Rat
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
My first blog - Rat Rules
So, this is my first blog. I realize the Internet is already satiated with blogs authored by intelligent and witty individuals who have found an outlet to share their thoughts and opinions. Well, it's my turn to add my two cents into the wishing well for those who are about to rock. I apologize ahead of time for my typos and grammatical mistakes. I am just not that good of a proof reader of my own writing.
First, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am every bit the description of a water rat who was born a middle child in of the cusp of Taurus and Gemini. I am East meets West. I have potential for greatness, but I lack conviction or motivation to live up to it. But the bit of sunshine I carry in my pocket is enough to rock the casbah. I am religious but I don't live by faith alone. My muse is my reality and my story will someday be a song. I will let my blogs reveal more about myself.
For this first blog, I am going to share some of my Rat Rules. These are rules that I live by. I am sure some of you would not agree with them, but I hope that they give you something to think about.
Rat Rule #1: "If there are no garbage men in this world, my trash will never be taken out."
What this rule means that I am not in this world to change people. People are who they are, will do what they do, feel what they feel, believe what they believe, and say what they say. In some way, it is challenging for an egotistic maniac like me not to wish I was dealing with people similar to me. But if everyone was like me, and I would never be a garbage man, then that means, no one will ever take out the trash. So I try to be more patient and appreciate people for who they are and what they bring to the table. The best lesson I learned about diversity comes from my RA days at Bentley. I learned that diversity is about embracing differences rather than tolerate them.
Rat Rule #2: "Anything to do with your pet is always going to mean more to you than me."
This rule reminds me to recognize that each person is entitled to their own dramas no matter how trivial they are to me. But honestly, I said, I recognize that you have dramas, don't take that as an invitation to share all your dramas with me.
Rat Rule #3: "Knowing is ONLY half the battle."
G.I. Joe is the reason why I am surrounded by annoying people who constantly share their observations to me. Don't get me wrong, I think it is important to have the observation and investigation skills to identify and articulate problems. But it is only half the battle! Bring some solutions for Pete's sake. As an executive, I will tell you that I am surrounded by people who can tell me the issues and risks. I need people who can tell me the answers and solutions.
Rat Rule #4: "There are two people in this world. One group of people are those who care about what others think of them. I am the person who others care about what I think of them." I think people who live by everyone else's rules are powder kegs waiting to start a revolution. Sure, it's nice to have approval and acceptance. But I think in order to be above the crowd, live a little or live a lot, you have to be a little cocky and stop worrying about what someone else will think or feel about your decisions and actions. I can be humble and still be confident at the same time and do things "My Way." Since I don't really care what others think of me, I can pretty much tell you that any voicing of disapproval or disappointment with my actions will be met with more of the same because I can't buy a reason to care.
Well that's it for now. Hope to see you here again.
First, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am every bit the description of a water rat who was born a middle child in of the cusp of Taurus and Gemini. I am East meets West. I have potential for greatness, but I lack conviction or motivation to live up to it. But the bit of sunshine I carry in my pocket is enough to rock the casbah. I am religious but I don't live by faith alone. My muse is my reality and my story will someday be a song. I will let my blogs reveal more about myself.
For this first blog, I am going to share some of my Rat Rules. These are rules that I live by. I am sure some of you would not agree with them, but I hope that they give you something to think about.
Rat Rule #1: "If there are no garbage men in this world, my trash will never be taken out."
What this rule means that I am not in this world to change people. People are who they are, will do what they do, feel what they feel, believe what they believe, and say what they say. In some way, it is challenging for an egotistic maniac like me not to wish I was dealing with people similar to me. But if everyone was like me, and I would never be a garbage man, then that means, no one will ever take out the trash. So I try to be more patient and appreciate people for who they are and what they bring to the table. The best lesson I learned about diversity comes from my RA days at Bentley. I learned that diversity is about embracing differences rather than tolerate them.
Rat Rule #2: "Anything to do with your pet is always going to mean more to you than me."
This rule reminds me to recognize that each person is entitled to their own dramas no matter how trivial they are to me. But honestly, I said, I recognize that you have dramas, don't take that as an invitation to share all your dramas with me.
Rat Rule #3: "Knowing is ONLY half the battle."
G.I. Joe is the reason why I am surrounded by annoying people who constantly share their observations to me. Don't get me wrong, I think it is important to have the observation and investigation skills to identify and articulate problems. But it is only half the battle! Bring some solutions for Pete's sake. As an executive, I will tell you that I am surrounded by people who can tell me the issues and risks. I need people who can tell me the answers and solutions.
Rat Rule #4: "There are two people in this world. One group of people are those who care about what others think of them. I am the person who others care about what I think of them." I think people who live by everyone else's rules are powder kegs waiting to start a revolution. Sure, it's nice to have approval and acceptance. But I think in order to be above the crowd, live a little or live a lot, you have to be a little cocky and stop worrying about what someone else will think or feel about your decisions and actions. I can be humble and still be confident at the same time and do things "My Way." Since I don't really care what others think of me, I can pretty much tell you that any voicing of disapproval or disappointment with my actions will be met with more of the same because I can't buy a reason to care.
Well that's it for now. Hope to see you here again.
Stay Cheesy ~ The Rambunctious Rat
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