linusvanpelt

"Religion is the opiate of the people" implies that it has a calming or narcotic effect. K.Marx couldn't have possibly been more wrong. Given most of the strife in this world seems to have religion at its core, I would say quite the opposite of Marx. I would say, again, given the sheer amounts of zealous anger differing opinions of God bring out in people that "Religion is the methamphetamine of the people." Religion was invented by humankind to explain the unexplainable and to give comfort to common fears. Somewhere along the way, and really quickly after its inception, it was perverted into a means to justify hostility towards others. There is an amazing amount of intolerance, especially in America, towards the Muslim faith, which, in an unexpected way, actually strengthens the ability of zealots in that faith to recruit more people over to violence and terrorism that would otherwise remain peaceable. So it becomes a perpetual motion machine of violence and intolerance causing violence and intolerance and so on. I don't practice any religion (and do not consider myself "spiritual") but I don't think anyone should be deprived of their right to do so in any manner they choose. If religion is supposed to bring people together, great, but that doesn't seem to happen too often. You can see it in subtle ways, such as the mocking of Scientology, as if that particular belief system is any more far-fetched than any other (or is any less interested in turning a profit for its prophets, to make a bad pun). Not sure I am making much of a point here, but someone just wrote a very pious piece on their belief in God and felt it necessary to tag me in a note on Facebook. I mean, really? Facebook is designed to see how fat people you knew in high school have gotten, not a place to promote your belief systems. Peace!