Why I'm writing this blog.

Like most of us, I've had thoughts/insights over the years that have stuck with me and that I felt needed to be expanded on. Since I don't know if anyone will ever read any of my entries, I have to assume I'm writing for myself. Which is what a writer should do, no? If I'm not of any interest to myself, how could I hope to be to someone else?

I established a couple of rules before I started this blog: (1) write about what I am personally interested in, and (2) write each entry in one sitting, with little or no revision later except to correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling -- or a rare clarification of something. What you read here is what I wrote as it occurred to me, on the computer in my basement office, usually at night. Not an apology, just an explanation.

A few early entries are incomplete and should be avoided. I wrote them before I was sure that I wanted to do this on a continuing basis. Pass over them and just go to those that seem to be of some interest to you. I'll get back to those first attempts later and turn them into real entries (or delete them). Thanks for your understanding.

Let me know what you think.

David Hall

All religions are nuts.

Yes, I know I'm opening myself up to attacks from all fronts, but it's true, and you know it.

I think it's indisputable that more people have been killed because of religion than for any other reason except maybe land disputes, and they're too often mixed up: this is my land, and my god, and if you don't accept my god, then you have no business existing on my land.

Get out or convert or die!

Religion is born of the fear we have of dying. We don't like to think of ourselves as being buried, burned, or otherwise disposed of and then not just forgotten but going nowhere. Whoa! Not acceptable! We have to think that our lives here on this earth meant something, counted for something, and that we're going to be rewarded for our sacrifices in some future life, right?

It's just not possible that someone as complicated and conflicted but as loving and caring as you or me could pass through this life, these years we were given, and not be remembered as the honorable and struggling individuals that we were, right?

Right. It does make sense. But is it true? Is there another life beyond this one? And will we be duly rewarded?

I don't know, and neither do you. And that's the hard truth.

But religions insist on saying that not only is it a fact but that they know the ONLY way to that after-life. They posit a certain and exclusive way to understanding our purpose on this earth and to salvation and a path to heaven.

Based on what?

Nothing but a hope, a belief they're trying to sell. An alleged cure. Holy snake-oil. Etc.

Come on, folks, admit it: We don't have a clue! No religion has a clue, no human has a clue. It's all a mystery.

Okay, that's not quite right. We do have a clue. It's called The Golden Rule, and it's in the Bible. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I don't know the Torah or the Koran, but I suspect there is something in each of those sacred texts that teaches much the same: be good to each other and hope for the best.

Would any god you could believe in expect more or less from you?

Be good to each other. Simple and profound. Respect each other's rights to self-expression. Let each of us be whoever we want to be, as long as we don't trample on anyone else's rights to that same self-expression. What could be fairer?

So why do some religions tell women they should cover themselves or not work outside the home or obey men who who have proved themselves inept when it comes to waging wars or treating other races, or their own chosen wives, equally? Where is the moral/religious basis for that kind of discrimination? You know as well as I do that it comes from men who feel threatened by women and by their own doubts about themselves.

All in the name of religion.

Jesus and Ghandi and all the other prophets I don't pretend to know about preached sacrifice, subsuming the self to the greater good of the people, respect for others, and acceptance. Can you name one respected religious leader who advised strapping on explosives to kill civilians in a market? Or stoning to death a woman or man for adultery? Or sending innocent young men and women into death's path without a truly good reason? The great prophets all taught that we should try to get along, however hard it was to do and however much we had to give up to do it. Turn the other cheek, Jesus said. (I'm still not comfortable with that, but he was right.)

In the end, my advice is this: trust yourself, not any religion. You know better than any leader of any religion what is right and best for you, based on our common belief that we're all in this together and that we have to cooperate to make it work. Believe me, no one knows any more than you do about what lies ahead, if anything, or what you're supposed to do in your time on this earth. Your guess, really, is as good as theirs. And yes, this includes the Pope. Not a clue.

So, as I was saying, all religions are nuts.

They're nuts not because of the extremists who commit crimes in their name -- the bombers -- but because they claim to know the truth about mysteries that have confounded the greatest minds of all time. Einstein had amazing insights into physics but admitted to being humbled by the questions of our existence on Earth and our purpose, etc. He knew he didn't have a clue.

None of us, moderate or extremist, convert or fundamentalist, knows "the truth", the way, the whatever you want to call it, and none of us has the right to impose our limited view on anyone else. We're all just guessing. And hoping. And praying. Lord, let me be right! Right?