By The Arm Chair Pontificator
The senseless murder of 12 human beings in France last week by Islamic extremists got me thinking. Why don’t all Muslims do what the Charlie Hebdo murderers did and kill those they believe to have insulted Mohammad and/or Allah in some way? For that matter, why don’t all Christians hate gay people the way the Phelps family of the Westboro Baptist Church does? And why aren’t all Christians living with their IQ’s stuck in a Bronze Age time distortion field like Ken Ham is? Ken Ham and the Phelps family say they are TruChristians following the same Bible every other Christian claims to follow. As well, Islamic jihadists claim to be following the same Koran every other Muslim claims to follow. So, what separates the extreme fanatics of Christianity and Islam from the more sensible followers of those faiths when their respective Holy Books are the same for everyone who follows them?
One Book, Many Interpretations
I believe there are two simple answers to this question: human decency and common sense. These are things that do not come to us from holy books, political dogmas, or commandments etched by a burning bush into stone tablets. They are inherent in our humanity. Without them, there can be no advancement of civilization. We need them to help us live with each other because we often do not, and can not, see eye to eye on even the most fundamental of things; such as which Holy Book is REALLY the RIGHT holy book and which form of government is TRULY best for everyone. The vast majority of Muslims do not storm satirical magazine offices and slaughter innocent people because they instinctively know, no matter what their Holy Book might say to the contrary, that it would be very wrong to do so. As well, most Christians do not live with their minds stuck in the Bronze Age, do not hate gay people, and do not know what 97% of their Holy Book even says because they’ve never bothered to read it.
One Book, Innumerable Interpretations
Most Christians and Muslims choose not to behave like murdering, bigoted neanderthals because, instinctively, they know it’s wrong to do so. And most know, too, that literal interpretations of violent passages from their Holy Books won’t be tolerated by a civil society. Thus, they have religious apologists reinterpret these passages into less harmful, and mindlessly convoluted, nonsense that means whatever they want it to mean as long as it isn’t a cry to violence. That, as we’ve determined, is not acceptable. This, to me, is a complete waste of energy which would be better used helping old folks cross the street, clipping a dog’s toe nails, grooming a cat, or feeding a goldfish. Religious apologists who creatively apologize for the disgustingly barbaric passages in archaic holy texts serve no true benefit to our overall society. They aren’t really needed. Neither are archaic, violent holy books.
Archaic Political Dogma In Need Of Changin’
In conclusion, then, I propose the following arm-chair pontification: If your Holy Book, or your particular political dogma, contains hate-filled, barbaric, bigoted rhetoric in any part of it, toss it the fuck out and get a new a one. Don’t spend decades trying to twist nonsensical archaic gibberish into meaningful dogmas for humans in the 21st century. Muslims, Christians and Republicans who behave decently, and humanely, toward all those around you, I implore you to join together and throw away your Korans, your Bibles, and your Second Amendments, and write a new doctrine. A doctrine for the 21st century, and beyond, which places value on all human life equally. A doctrine that deplores violence, bloodshed, homophobia, racism, poverty, and sexism simply because they are wrong and inhumane. Write a doctrine of, and for, Humanity. One that values our very existence, because it is precious, and it is the only one we truly have.
The Arm Chair Pontificator 
Well said!
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Thanks. And thanks for developing an addiction to my blog. Spread the word. The more people realize the heroin-esque quality of my blog, the happier the world will be. 🙂
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Hear, hear!
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Yes indeed.
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If only …
“A doctrine for the 21st century, and beyond, which places value on all human life equally. A doctrine that deplores violence, bloodshed, homophobia, racism, poverty, and sexism simply because they are wrong and inhumane.”
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Wouldn’t it be nice?
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{{{APPLAUSE}}} Great post.
People are so wrapped up in their dogmas they fail to see the forest for the trees. You described that little factoid nicely.
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Why thank you kindly, my friend. 🙂
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Great post my friend.
There is nothing to add here except that people need an education that trains them to think, ask questions about their beliefs and principles.
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Agreed. Thing is, how do we educate them all? Hard task, but worth it if we can figure out how.
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At least we are already asking the question. It is this question we must keep asking
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Absolutely. Maybe we can recruit the Golden Boot’s help?
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That would help
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I believe so too.
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No Sir, I don’t think this is fantasy, I think it is all to sadly reality. The truth is until all religions give up hate, give up trying to one up each other, trying to be the top god. Now when they let their god do that kind of worrying and they worry only about helping each other, other humans, then respect for their gods goes up, Those people prosper. However those who claim their gods need them to enforce their rule on this earth, they lose all. Their gods lose respect, they lose followers and they lose credibility.
I think you said this right, correct and said what needed to be said. Thank you. I re-blogged your work on my Toy Box I hope you don’t mind. Hugs
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Don’t mind at all. I greatly appreciate it. Thank you. I can quite personally do without the “god” bit altogether. If we just valued what is here and our humanity, we’d be light years beyond what any “god” has ever done for us. $Amen$
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Pingback: Holy Books And Dogmas Always Get Me Down | Scotties Toy Box
Reblogged this on The Blogging Path and commented:
I agree. Instead of tossing any book, I would put those to good use against your home’s doors or underneath your car’s wheels or into your local donation center.
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Great ideas. 🙂
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Lovely. Lovely. Lovely.
I love your outlook, Arm Chair P ❤
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Thanks, and $Amen$ to that. 😀
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Very well put!
It is time to go forward spiritually and as a civilization – by going back to the old basics: Simple decency and and common sense.
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Thanks. Don’t know if we’ll ever get there, but one can always hope and dream. We’ve such potential, if we all can just develop the ability to realize we all deserve to be here equally. Easier said than accomplished, though. 🙂
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Powerful words of plain, unadulterated common sense! Blindingly good stuff!
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Thank you for the kind words. Idealistic hoping from me, this here is. But, I feel it is OK to hope things might get better. They probably won’t, but it would be nice if they did. 🙂
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Great post. The problem here is, of course, this: dogma (be it of the religious or political falvour) is employed, and deployed, by people who don’t want to think. They find it difficult, and perhaps a little boring, and so they lovingly let other people do all the leg work for them. And as they say, the brain is a muscle: use it, or lose it. Quite literally, I believe many extremists simply cannot think anymore. Not for themselves, at least, and certainly not critically about their beliefs.
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All too true. I should have labeled this a fantasy editorial, as that’s what it really is. I’m far too pessimistic about our race as whole to think we’ll outgrow our collective stupidity and laziness in time to save ourselves. Following the “leaders” is simply all too easy, and whether they be political, religious or both, they are leaders who are leading people to their own damnation, willing. Another thing I didn’t mention in the post is that it is very rude and arrogant to say Jihadists and people like Ham are not true Muslims and Christians respectively. Yes, they are. Just as much as every other person who claims to be a Muslim or Christian is truly one. Some act civil, some don’t. But I take their word on it that they truly are what they say they are and truly believe what they say they believe. That’s what makes them so fucking scary, and that’s why holy books and shit like them need to go the way of the comic book. For that is what they truly are. Fictional, mythological tales. Nothing more.
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