What is your stance on religion? Are you a religious person?

All religions, Christianity, Muslim, Hinduism, anything you like, are products of the imagination of an extremely clever group of people a very long time ago. They almost definitely had it in for the world when they came up with their ideas of splitting the world into different groups according to 'religion'. Maybe it was a competition, who can gather the most followers? Who can make the most radical religion? Who can develop such an extreme set of rules that countries are torn apart and thousands killed?

The majority of religions that exist are centred around a 'God' of some description. An almighty, omnipresent being that rules over all, created everything and is to be prayed to to ask forgiveness, advice and favours. There is likely to be a son or form of offspring of this god, 'Jesus' for example. This/these person/creatures always has impossible powers and many followers. There is almost always a book of some kind which the creator wrote to keep track of his/her ideas and eventually it became something for future generations to read, covet and worship, believing every word to be the exact actions of their prophet thousands of years ago. Whereas in reality it is a very clever story written by someone with an amazing imagination and incredible modesty.

The result of religion is that people are governed by rules and regulations. Stricter even than health and safety rules in a school. They are forced to wear certain garments and to pray at certain times of the day. Those who are forced to wear full body garments which cover their faces wander about intimidating other people, those wearing a cross will offend those wearing some other penchant. Children forced to wear hats on their head in the form of a bun get bullied at school. Children wearing crosses get bullied at school. Children not wearing crosses get bullied as well.

The biggest problem which has arisen from the ties of religion is that of crime and terrorism. Inner cities and suburb areas alike are awash with people of differing race and religion. And these are the areas that are awash with crime ranging from bullying and stealing to knife crime and murder. Muslims are set on wiping out thousands of people through suicide bombing. It's a generalisation and there are probably many Muslims who lead a quiet life but it is the few who take their religion to such an extreme which give it a bad name.

Religion is the root of all political problems. The world wars were started by countries and leaders who disagreed on aspects with roots in religions. The war in Iraq too. We can't agree on things because our religions do not agree on anything. It breeds a weak population who have all their faith put into a being in the sky. They need something to believe in, something 'solid'. They cannot think for themselves, they need their Bible or Koran to read and consult, make sure they are leading their life correctly. Whereas really, people should be their own gods, lead their life the way they want to and not feel forced to participate in a religion which they may not believe in. Are you Christian because your parents have brought you up that way? Probably. Yes, there may be those who chose it because they need something to believe in, but that is just the image being given out. In reality, it is just a massive con.

Think of all the aspects of the Bible that apparently tell you what you cannot do. And what you should do. According to the Bible (Christianity), the subjugation of women, incest and genocide are all acceptable acts. Being homosexual is not allowed but slavery is. It is unethical and totally out of date. It is no wonder that society has turned out the way it has with the constraints of religion pressing down upon us. The church practically ran Britain not so long ago and it is not terribly different now. People will go to a church to feel better, to confide their sins and to listen to a vicar or priest talk about the amazing acts performed by whoever they believe in.

And of course there is always the contradictory version of a religion. The concept of hell and Satan. This is common in religions, a place for those who sin against the religion that they are supposed to be a part of will go. In contrast, those who live a strict and ordered life will reap the benefits of heaven. Maybe people are comforted by this illusion of a life after death. Of course this is a nice concept to believe in, perhaps stabilising those who have troubles.

In conclusion, I am a religious person, I talk about religion a lot, I discuss it with many people, I just do not believe in any one religion. When in discussion I may jest belief in Satan. We have many discussions about the existence of a soul. My friend believes her soul will go to heaven, I do not believe in the existence of souls, when you are dead, you are dead. And thats it. Your 'soul' is a figment of your body and brain, once that stops working, there is nothing left.

I believe that there should be no religion. I think that if there was no religion then people would be freer, rules could be set to apply to everyone and not to those of one religion. LEDCs would not suffer so much, injustice and poverty could be helped. The world does not need to be in the state it is in today. However, I understand that now that the story has been written, it cannot be undone. People are always going to believe in their god, their saviour. They are always going to live by the rules of their book. You cannot set rules for everyone. The world has to accept that it is falling into an overpopulated pit of politics, poverty and pain. But religion is the root. And nothing can change that.

word count: 1,027 (told u so :-p)

New Developments in my life:

I have decided to follow a vegan diet.

I have given up smoking.

I am cutting down my alcohol intake.

I am fucking peeling. stupid tan. grrr.

I am taking more exercise.

I feel strangely so much better about myself in a self esteem kind of way.

I am still looking to lose weight and im hoping the vegan diet, alcohol cut down and more exercise will help with that.

xxx

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

  well i am back.

but i feel a lot better about myself, i havent cut since that teeny relapse which was 2 months ago. i think about it all the time tho. my scars are hideous but also so beautiful...

hate my eating habits.

ive left school now so im at home most of the time. I. Eat. Crap. that would be the title of my autobiography... gah.

went to centerparcs the other weekend. smoked 26 cigarettes. over 2 n a half days.

went to a party saturday night. miles away. huge house with a boat, pool, cinema etc. smoked 10 cigarettes that night. today, time check ten past three. havent had one yet.

my head feels tight and i snap at anyone who talks to me. luckily they are at school still. im gonna have to think of something.

my drinking need has been soothed after centerparcs, we were there 3 nights and i got pissed each night. regretted it for sure on monday morning lol.

gerard way has a very strange shaped thumb... er yeah.

anyway. im going to sweden next week. i need to start making lists of what lists i need to make. like what i need to do before then. what to pack. etc.

i need to do my hair.

1 2 3 4 5 6  7

 1 and 2: me n my brother harry 3: me, annabelle, debs at sports day, dressed for the occasion... 4: what my dad decided to do to his garden. yes, he set it on fire... 5: big posh meal we had at the party on saturday night 6: not so post mini kebabs i made for a bbq we had in 'paradise' (one of my dads fields) 7: my cat eating the fish food from around the fish tank

hope u r all sticking it out. stress doesnt exist remember, dont let anything get to you. its never your fault, honest.

xxx