I was raised in a devout Catholic family. I attended Catholic school until my junior year of high school. I was an altar boy, and considered the priesthood an option until I understood that priests were obligated to take a vow of celibacy.

Before I was allowed to leave Catholic school, I began to question the religion I had embraced for all of my young life. I wanted answers. I was raised by a single mother who cared for my physical needs, but was never involved in my intellectual growth. I questioned the instruction of priests and nuns who told me that I must ‘believe;’ that ‘God acted in mysterious ways.’ The bible did not make any sense; it appeared to me that it was filled with fairy tales, and offered more questions than answers.

A couple of my high school teachers created an interest in the world beyond my limited existence. As I learned more about world affairs, and the horrific lifestyles of men, women, and children in other nations, additional questions about religion and the existence of an “all-loving God” who cared for those who served Him arose, and demanded answers.

It became difficult for me to believe in the lessons I had been taught for all of my young life. Everything I was supposed to believe claimed that God cared for the poor, and denounced the wealthy. He rewarded those who believed in Him, and rejected non-believers. His love of children promised them protection and a life composed of caring and love. But I knew that dictators, politicians, and evangelical preachers were rewarded with enormous wealth and power, while those they ruled suffered. How was that possible if Christianity was valid? If everything I was taught was substantiated by the word of God, how could this happen?

By the time I graduated from high school in 1964, I had stopped attending church services. I no longer accepted the ideal of faith. I now viewed priests and the ministers of other Christian religions as liars who sought the control of men and women who needed guidance; those who were unable to think for themselves.

It’s not that I denied mankind’s need for a spiritual presence in their lives; I simply rejected the assumption that organized religion was the answer.

As I became older, I questioned the very existence of a god. I was aware that the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world suffered the most. If the eight beatitudes were realistic, I could not see any way this could have happened.

Without boring you with every illuminating event of my life, move ahead to the end of the 20^th century. One of America’s two major parties began an association with the Christian religious right. It’s not that this party was composed of devout Christians, they simply sought the support of a growing bloc of ignorant voters. They called themselves ‘the party of family values,’ when in fact they were hypocrites. Those who proclaimed themselves ministers of god were frequently exposed as living lives of debauchery and luxury.

While professing religious devotion, the Republican Party supported prejudice and hatred. They were opposed to the teachings of Jesus Christ as reported in the bible.

My experience with those who professed a deep and unwavering faith for their Christian religion revealed one fact; less than five-percent of those individuals practiced the teachings of Jesus Christ. The great majority were judgmental, and supported hatred for those who opposed their views. They lacked compassion and tolerance while supporting hated and intolerance.

Here we are in early January of 2017. Millions of Americans who claim to be Christians voted for the most immoral man in America. He is a criminal, a racist, and professes his belief that women serve but a single purpose. He has been accused of sexual assault by more than a dozen women. His election was supported by evangelicals, which proves that they are hypocrites. They are men who seek wealth and power, and have no belief in a higher power.

If there are any questions as to why I denounce organized religion, and doubt the very existence of a god, please refute my beliefs. I must warn you that it will be difficult.

I share the beliefs of my beloved country’s founding fathers. There must have been some form a supreme being who created the heavens and earth, but either he or she no longer exists, or this ‘god’ is not concerned with the daily lives of humans, and does not contact them directly.

The most evil men and women in the world live lives of privilege, while those who truly believe in a higher being suffer. This is impossible.

Either the creator has met his or her demise, or he or she is no longer concerned with the lives of humans; we must take care of each other; this is all we truly possess.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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