Arguing over religion has absolutely no point

Some days I wonder if some people were just born with a chip on their shoulders. And why they don’t get some poly-filla to repair it instead of heaping their misery upon others.

As I get older I’m losing patience with - and respect for - those who feel they have a right to impose their beliefs and their will upon others without any consideration for other opinions, be they political, social or religious.

And from what I’ve witnessed in my life, some who get onto their pulpits and unleash their hostility upon others play the victim card when challenged.

(Of course, some will argue that being a columnist, I’m doing the same but I’m not demanding people agree with me on the opinions I express or publicly demeaning those who disagree. I throw them out there and let people think what they may. Like every columnist.)

We see it on social media, we see it in letters and the Roasts and Toasts section. We see it on streets around the world with protests.

What we don’t see too often is respect for differing viewpoints. If the religious fervour of some was a pollutant, we’d all be choking on it.

It seems to me those espousing opinions on social causes or religious views can be at times really caustic, overbearing and downright intolerant.

And I don’t understand the need for it. I don’t see how some can go public with attacks on others and not expect pushback. I certainly get it and like every columnist expect it because that comes with the territory when we go public with an opinion.

Religion, especially, is a hot button subject. People of all faiths have their own views and their own concept of a god.

But even those who read the Bible see things differently in it. There’s no consensus when it comes to religious faith and there never will be. And I don’t see how one branch of Christianity or one faith period can legitimately dictate to others what truth allegedly is simply because what they believe is in some form of scripture, all of which were created at some point by human hands.

Until we die, we won’t actually know if an afterlife exists, we won’t know if heaven or hell is real.

We can believe it all we want based upon whatever scripture we read or faith we have. But we won’t actually know so we have to rely on faith.

So having a personal faith shouldn’t give people the initiative to disparage others who have different views. Who legitimately on this earth of billions of people and untold belief systems can say one religion is right, and others are wrong?

Who knows for certain there is one god or any god from that matter?

We don’t know. Pure and simple, we don’t.

If there is a god, why didn’t that deity intervene when millions of Jews, along with homosexuals and others were being slaughtered by the Nazis?

Why is there no intervention in Gaza right now? Why do young children die of horrible diseases despite the prayers of their families?

If a god exists, an atheist or agnostic would point out that surely there would be some type of intervention. And they could make a strong argument for their questions just like people of faith could make a strong argument for the existence of a god.

It’s really a no-win situation for all of us, regardless of what we believe.

And beliefs are personal. We don’t have the right to tell others what to believe. Because we honestly can’t know what exists - or doesn’t after we die until we actually do expire. We can have all the faith or hopes in the world but that isn’t actual knowledge.

Religion through history has been the source of countless and needless conflicts which have contributed nothing positive to humanity.

And while people of faith have always, and will always, do good deeds to help their fellow human beings, which is certainly honourable and noble, all humans have the capacity - and obligation - to help each other. Regardless of faith, or lack of it.

Today many of those conflicts are around sexuality, especially here in Alberta. And why? What does it matter who a person is attracted to, why does it matter how a person self-identifies? It’s not hurting me, it’s not hurting anyone else. It’s as personal as religious beliefs.

Social justice warriors have their own religious fervour, as well and while we all - or should - want to help the needy and disadvantaged - like with religion, there has to be some type of balance entering the equation. How many people in our midst have put themselves into their personal conditions? And what obligation do they have to help society help themselves?

Because we personally fervently believe something, are our beliefs in the best interests of society as a whole? It’s a question all of us need to honestly ask ourselves.

We are all in this world together, regardless of colour, religion, sexuality, and perhaps our energies would best be served by making efforts to understand each other before we drop dead which will end all our personal campaigns on the trail of righteousness.

Inevitably we all die, a reality which makes conflicts while alive a complete and utter waste of the limited and precious time we have on earth.

We all can spend our energies better.