by Cassieopia Hursh

Created on: December 02, 2007

Atheists are right. As are Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Catholics, Pagans, and anyone else who expresses a faith or belief in anything BEYOND. Thing is: Atheists are right because they have been strong enough to maintain themselves and their beliefs against so many odds. There are too many religions; mainstream and organized, or not- for myself to be able to agree completely with one, and argue completely against another. I feel quite sure that I am not the only one who feels this way, either.

Take the Bible, or Koran, or Wall-street Journal for that matter and photocopy a scripture, paragraph, article or story. Now, pass these out to friends, relatives, or unsuspecting bystanders and have each one of them fill out a questionnaire, form, or book report on what they read, or more importantly, what they learned from their reading. NO TWO will be alike. How can so many prominent members of respected organized religions deny that? Amongst siblings, peers, close acquaintances, even pen pals who share interests in common things, attend classes together or even live in the same apartment building, or were raised in the same home; people do not think alike. How can anyone preach that we are all different, then chastise because our beliefs don't fit into the same cookie cutter mold they choose?
I am right. You are right. We are right, in our own right.
If you look into religions, even just to scratch the surface (and your head in disbelief), you will find a dizzying array of both differences AND similarities. If you go so far back as to the Roman Gods and Goddesses, and the Greeks as well, correct me if I am wrong, but are there not ONE main deity and Twelve Minors (followed by sub- deities, I guess) in both religions? Could that not translate effectively, albeit roughly, into Jesus and his disciples?
With this being said, why argue- Could it not be a case of same story, different author? The one thing that I believe has everyone in an uproar is the one unifying use of the word "God". No matter what or whom, nor where or when, if we all call this omnipotence by the same name; aren't we all worshiping, and isn't that what really matters? Does it really make sense to quibble and quarrel over such things as what color he or she may be? Or whether or not he or she speaks the same language as me? Does it not make perfect sense that a person of color would see his "God" as a person of color? Or that a person of Latino heritage would see this same "God" as one who spoke Spanish?

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