Religious Rant

It makes me laugh, shake my head, and roll my eyes simultaneously. Listening to President Bush speak? Yeah, but that's not what I'm talking about here. What I'm referring to is religion and religious folk.

Don't you love it how every religion and every sector or denomination of that religion think they have things down? Their sector knows the way, the truth, and the light and no other denomination does? Anytime I see or hear someone speak or act like this, I go into my laugh, shake, and roll routine.

Christians know the way. Buddhists know the way. Hindus know the way. Muslims know the way. Jews know the way. Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Mormons, Christian Scientists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Scientologists. They all know the way. Their interpretation of their respective book is the correct way to interpret things.

Can't we just let our religious beliefs fulfill our lives in whatever manner we allow them to? Does it always have to be a false dilemma informal fallacy of it's our way or no way? It's our way or eternal damnation? Can't we accept others' beliefs just as we accept our own? If a Mormon, Catholic, Jew, and Muslim are in the same room, can't they all just smile, shrug their shoulders, and go on with their lives without making a big issue about things with the others in the room?

Just imagine how boring this world would be if there was in fact one universal religion. How dull would that be? Everyone reading the same book, speaking the same language, discussing the exact same religion. Our differences with one another are beautiful. They allow us to open our minds, expand our horizons, widen our boundaries, and take in new information. Robot Johnny Five from the film "Short Circuit" would've committed suicide had there only been one religion. Why? Not enough "input!"

Can we please stop being so arrogant and narrow-minded when it comes to our religious beliefs, like we have all the answers? I have news for everyone. None of us have all the answers. We may think we do, but that's not possible. Next time I hear or see someone shoving their religious beliefs down someone's throat and saying it's their way or no way, I'm going to go through the smile, shake, and laugh routine, but may add some obscenities to the routine.