I’ve been watching a PBS series on Rome and the Catholic Church. Having come from a Baptist upbringing, converted to Catholicism and now practicing no organized religion, I find the series fascinating, and it confirms all my skepticism about religion in general. Politics and religion should not be discussed in polite company I’m told. Be that as it may, I’m going to voice my views on religion as a whole, and maybe one in particular.

Jesse Ventura once said religion was a “crutch for the weak.” The actual quote was: “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people’s business. I live by the golden rule: Treat others as you’d want them to treat you. The Religious Right wants to tell people how to live.” Now, I’m not a great fan of Jesse Venture’s philosophy of life; after all, I lived in Minnesota when he was a one-term governor of that state. However, I will agree with one thing — most modern religions are a sham. Religions are man-made, and were created by men to control and bring order to other men. The idea of a deity is as old as humankind, and the need to explain our existence in terms we could understand sprang from that idea of creation.

I don’t doubt that many religions were started with a firm belief that good would come of it. Martin Luther, after all, split from the Holy Roman Church because he saw the corruption of both the men who controlled the Church and the corruption of the Word of God. Corruption in the Renaissance Catholic Church was rampant. The morals of the 15th and 16th centuries were far different than that of today. That the bishops, cardinals, and even the Pope had wives, girlfriends and prostitutes at their disposal was not only not unheard of, but rather the norm. Their children often held positions of power within the Church hierarchy. The selling of indulgences (payment to the Catholic Church to purchase an exemption from punishment in the afterlife) was a major fund-raising scam, which allowed the Church to finance great works of art from like of masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini. While it is true these masterpieces of art may not exist but for the “indulgence” (pardon the pun) of the Vatican, is it right that the Catholic Church continues to hold these ill-gotten works of art for their own? That argument is for another time, another place.

In turn, others saw flaws in Martin Luther’s beliefs, and up sprang the Puritans, the Presbyterians, the Methodists, the Quakers, ad infinitum. One of my main arguments with organized religion is each one’s belief that they are the ONE true religion. There’s an old joke about St. Peter escorting a newly departed soul to heaven on an elevator. As they continue to pass floors, the new soul asks who is on a particular floor. St. Peter retorts, “That’s where the Baptists go — they think they’re the only ones here.” Or something of that nature. The point being, many religions believe that their way to salvation is the only way and all others fall short. Here’s my question: who died and made them God? The human race is particularly short-sighted when it comes to a belief in God. If it is true that “God created man in his own image; male and female he created them,” (Genesis 1:27) and if it is also true that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) and “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16) than what makes us (Christians) so sure WE are the only ones going to Heaven? Or in the case of the Koran: “Surely Allah ever watches over you.” And “Allah, whose is whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth; and woe to the unbelievers on account of the severe chastisement.” Etc. etc.

Each religion claims ownership of God. Isn’t it God who claims ownership of man? Those of my religious friends and acquaintances who propose to ban certain ethnic groups from our society, baffle me. I hear agreement with the dissolution of benefits to help the poor. Doesn’t their religious teach tell them to welcome the stranger, do unto others, take care of widows and orphans, and love thy neighbor? The most accepting people I know either don’t practice religion at all, belong to non-traditional religions, or are, in fact, atheists.

Religion is complicated. Who is right? Who is wrong? Is anyone wrong? Is anyone right?

I believe in a deity, I’m just not sure how or what it is. I believe there is more than this life on Earth. I believe in angels who watch over us. I do not believe God gives a hoot who wins the World Series, or that Janie gets a horse for her birthday. I believe in the power of positive vibes, or prayers if you like, from groups of people for a particular cause. I don’t believe the answers we ask for are always given.

I believe in love, forgiveness, and kindness. Shalom.

Robyn Near is a Ripley resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com.