I read a diary last night and was taken off guard, not because I was unaware that there was a religious movement of this sort but because of the fact that there are so many followers of this type. I want to understand and I want to find comfort in the fact that these extreme christian followers are putting the idea of god behind them and thinking what is best for the country during times like these. After watching the video present with that diary I was reminded almost instinctively of Jonestown, Waco and even the Heavens Gate group. I found myself in awe over this and started to feel a sense of guilt as though I was somehow judging these people and their faith but came to a realization that it was not judgment but concern. I am concerned that these people can vote and will vote, not only will they vote but it is quite obvious that many of them will be voting on the ground of religious belief and not that of life, liberty, democracy and justice. This scares me and regardless of this elections outcome what will this infusion of church and state mean for the future of this country?
After watching the stunning video's that were part of the diary mentioned I found myself almost enraged with the fact that these people are able to vote yet there are people who are institutionalized and unable to vote because of their own mental disabilities. I had to ask myself, is this right? Is this fundamentally, ethically and morally right that these people who would play into this extreme behavior have the ability to make a decision as to our government officials? I am not a christian but I do have a sense of spirituality. I grew up in a very small New England town and was part of a congregation and have always respected that Christianity and faith are not a negative impact on our society. I cannot find reason to judge someone based on their rights to believe in something other worldly and divine. I find myself, even now after becoming more of an atheist thinking about the possibilities of something more than just life on earth which gives me comfort at times. I praise those who find personal peace through religion and spirituality. Is it not positive to find happiness regardless of what our beliefs are?
But reality has shown that these hard core, right wing, evangelicals are not making decisions based on their own comfort and peace but trying to make decisions for me and what is best for the country based on the church and religion, not democracy, the constitution and the bill of rights.
The situation I found myself in after watching these extremists freaking out had nothing to do with whether I was able to accept them for their beliefs but more trying to understand what the fuck they were doing. My first question was, what do these people do when they get home and think about what they had been a part of? When they are alone do they actually believe that god himself had taken control of their physical person and if so, is this not reason to have concern? The act they played upon within the group was stunning but do they have the moral ability and moreover the mental capacity to realize that they were full of shit? Or do they actually believe that they were overcome by some divine magic that made them giddy or to pass out?
Is this not an issue of right and wrong in many aspects? Is this possibly part of the problem with the pathological lying that has been present in the McCain/Palin campaign and the conservative party altogether? Im not sure but it scares the shit out of me and not because of the faith but because of the extreme nature within the faith that is practiced and what that extremist belief plays in the future of this country. After all, there are no other faiths other than the many types of Christianity that are allowed to be tolerated when discussing our country, its views and justice. In GOD we trust, one nation under GOD!!