Those of you who read me frequently know that I reject organized religion. My reasons are based on facts, but those of you who claim that many issues are a matter of faith would deny my claims. I honestly respect this if they are honest and profound beliefs.

I do not see “signs” where any form of “god” has kept his or her promises. The poor suffer more from the men who control the wealth and the future of millions of the world’s people every day. Throughout history men, women, and children have suffered from religious persecution. Christian leaders would like you to believe that these persecutions were perpetrated by Muslims and other religions. This is far from the truth.

More lives have been lost or destroyed by Christian aggression than from the assaults of any other religion in history. The Crusades, the Inquisition were both assaults on non-Christians organized by the Popes of the Catholic Church.

In the early days of American history, Christians moved towards the west prior to the annexation of California, Texas, and other areas which would eventually become the contiguous 48 states. Their purpose was to convert these “heathens” to multiple forms of ‘Christianity.’ In most cases, if the indigenous people did not accept the beliefs of these intruders, they were tortured and killed.

Spaniards coming from Mexico slaughtered scores of American Indians calling them heathens and claiming they were not fit to live in the new country if they rejected Christianity; the Catholic Church.

My problem with all organized religions is that they were created by men. The greatest evil of all mankind is the desire to gain power over others. There are two ways to achieve these goals; physical dominance and mind control.

Physical dominance results in revolution, and the ultimate rejection of those who seek control. Mind control; commonly known as brainwashing, is far more effective, and is usually  permanent.

A man or woman standing before a pulpit in a place of worship is far more powerful than any general leading an army intent on destroying their enemy. Controlling minds is real power, and this is the true purpose of organized religion.

“Religion is for people who are scared to go to hell. Spirituality is for people who have already been there.” Bonnie Raitt

All humans have the ability to know what is right and what is wrong. The important fact is what each of us chooses to believe. The truth is that there are more “Christians” in prison than in your neighborhood. Incarcerated men and women know the wrongs they have done to their fellow man and are desperate to seek forgiveness. This is not religion; it is nothing more than desperation and hope.

If there is a god, he or she knows that we are responsible for our own efforts to seek a higher level of intelligence and love for one another. No priest, minister, or pastor can teach us more than we already know. If we search within ourselves without prejudice for what we might find, we will discover the answers about how to live a good life; a life of spirituality and love for others more than for ourselves.

The Christian religious right controls tens of millions of Americans thanks to the fake Republicans in Washington. They have become the greatest danger to our nation’s future. These self-serving men and women are subverting the Constitution and other rights and freedoms secured by our leaders in the past 60+ years.

Evil comes in many forms. I saw a bumper sticker once which offered more truth than any I had ever seen before.

“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Sinclair Lewis.

One more quote from Abraham Lincoln which describes my fears for today’s America; an America I no longer see today.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms it will be because we have destroyed ourselves from within.”  Abraham Lincoln

This is what our government is responsible for today by allowing special interests to control our nation’s future. Lobbies are the greatest danger to America, and they include the Christian religious right and the NRA gun lobby.

Tell everyone; “the truth lives here.”

Op-ed by James Turnage

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