a rant...

This time of year always brings up lots of discussions in regards to religion in my neck of the woods. In rural Ohio, the schools even schedule their sports activities to coincide with church events. For those of you not privy to small town life in the middle of the corn stalks, the towns are not towns at all… they’re villages or townships. My own little humble community is made up of less than 5,000 people. The next town is 5 miles away and our most exciting hot spot is the sole McDonald’s located at the center of town. The only thing we’re missing is an albino boy with a banjo.

I’m pretty vocal about my beliefs online. Or lack there of. I’ve always been that way. If you’ve read “Lost in Infinity” or any of my short stories online you probably already have a good idea of where my head is at on the subject.

That’s online. Not in real life.

In real life I’m very reserved on the subject. There’s little to no point at all in voicing opinions on this subject. Some subjects are better left without discussion or argument because there isn’t a single thing that can be presented, proven or mulled over that will change anyone’s opinion. Furthermore, most atheists are content and do not feel the need to push their lack of belief on anyone else. We could give a shit less what you think or believe. That’s kind of the whole point. Because of that, we usually just smile and nod.

I have read most of the Bible. I couldn’t handle all of the begots so I admit there were parts I skipped. I’ve listened to the entire Bible on CD though so there’s that. I took Religious Studies for 3 years in college. I even watch Fox “News” as much as I watch CNN and BBC (although I’d prefer to just stick with Colbert and Stewart). I try to see both sides to every story… 

I have kids. I try to go out of my way to make sure my own opinions and beliefs are left at the front door. I didn’t know the people in my family that I most admire were atheists until I was in college. I guess I’d never asked and they didn’t offer. That’s the philosophy I try to maintain at home. I’ll answer any question given on any subject and if I don’t know the answer I’m damn sure to figure it out. I’m confident that my boys will make their own decisions on the subject when the time comes.

That said, I have no problem with people who believe in God, attend church or anything of the like. Whatever floats your boat. I have no problem attending a church service for whatever reason to support family or friends. It’s not my favorite and I’m not going to eat the crackers or take part in the festivities out of respect for their beliefs and mine but I’m not about to be a dick about it.

I’d just like the same in return.

Recently a member of the family attempted to sneak my boys off to their church to watch them get Baptized. This fucking infuriated me more than anyone can imagine. Not because I don’t want my kids going to their church or witnessing them get baptized or whatever. It’s because I was lied to and not given the consideration of their honesty because they assumed I’d never permit my kids to go. Which is the farthest from the truth. There is no presidence for this behavior either. I’ve never been asked to attend a church function for a family member. I’ve never told a family member they are beneath me for their beliefs. I’ve never told a family member they are doomed for not believing the same thing I do. I’ve never told a family member that I worry about them because they aren’t man enough to see the truth. All of these things have been done to me yet I would still go to support a family member if it was something they believed in.

My kids did not go because when pushed for clarification on where they were being taken after caught in a lie, the family member started acting skittish and dropped it. It was only after their private baptism that we were told.

Actually the more I think about this, the more it upsets me. If you’re willing to lie to family in order to bring impressionable minds to witness a Baptism maybe there are bigger issues that need to be resolved before you go getting dunked. Just saying.

NOTE: My boys are anything but impressionable. They are more intelligent than I could ever hope to be and I’m sure I’ll one day be pissing them off as much as I am being pissed upon because that’s the nature of family apparently.