What are your thoughts on religion and god

[Jay]

Well I'd say I am agnostic. I think religion and spirituality is important, it's important to me and even started a (terrible) podcast on the subject. However, lately I only get requests from people who want to sell people their "spiritual awakening," for the low cost of $150/hr (that's sarcasm).

I haven't listened to Stephen Fry's video but here's what I can say, perhaps from a westerner's perspective as I don't know jack squat about the Muslim faith. It's bullshit and it is because of people. People are hypocrites of magnitudes that know no heights. Religions all almost unanimously say be kind to one another, yet we go to war and kill each other and every other atrocity imaginable, yet they are the righteous ones? Fuck that shit.

I'll give you an example. When I was 17 I worked in fast food, Hardees (some might know about Carl's Jr., same company, same products) to be specific. Sundays were usually slow but were awful because about an hour before close you would have all the evening church people come in wearing their "Sunday's best," suit and tie and so on. They were the rudest people, mind you many people in the area I'm in are Baptist and do go to church, although usually in the morning. If they weren't difficult, they would bitch at and chew out the manager over a mistake on some food, demand refunds and free stuff. Look, I'm not saying I've never been upset about a mistake at a restaurant but I've also never chewed out an employee or made ridiculous demands. That being said, I realize that non-religious people can also be douchebags, the point is that so many people sit on a high horse thinking they have better morals than others when they simply don't. I also realize there are people who try to live true to their faith, think of people like Fred Rogers (For those in other countries who might not be familiar, he was the host of the children's TV Show Mr. Rogers Neighborhood) or LeVar Burton (who really should get to host Jeopardy). People tend to wear religion like it is a status symbol, like the same way someone buys a Mercedes instead of a Chevrolet.

I'm also at odds with a religion whose God or deity condemns people to hell because of their imperfection. I'm not talking about evil people who murder, rape and other terrible things, but things like I jerked off this morning and now I will spend eternity in hell because I did, or because I'm gay, or because I took the Lord's name in vain. The idea that I get my head dunked in water or that I may confess my sins to a priest (who will then go tell everyone in town that I'm a fag) just so I can go do it all over again and again is just boggling to me.

That all being said, I thankfully, did not grow up in a religious household, so a lot of what I say here is from observation and not experience. I interviewed an ex-Mormon and all I can say is there's a lot of mental abuse that takes place within the social structures. I just don't see how so many people believe in it, truly, I feel as if people claim it and use it however they want and perhaps they just fool themselves.

Do I believe in a God or some deity, I do think there is something and that was sort of the idea of starting the podcast, which ultimately hasn't done me much good. I don't have time for it and it is difficult to get the people that I really want to talk to on the podcast.... It is also a money pit... and frankly who wants to listen to me. I'm a terrible interviewer and I'm in desperate need of learning how to speak without stammering and simply paying attention.

One of the things I see so often is that we give human traits to God, God is supposed to be supernatural and all powerful, why is God bound by human emotions like rage and anger. It is as if we imagine God as being some old guy with a beard sitting up in the clouds.

This isn't meant to be a plug per se but this should give you some more insight about how I feel about things....

https://www.spiritualgardening.net/intro...-in-deity/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/...eve-in-god
https://www.spiritualgardening.net/inter...al-ginger/
https://therealwhmg.com/podcasts/existential-ginger
https://www.spiritualgardening.net/the-r...ok-groups/
https://www.mikefoley.xyz/index.php/2020...rituality/
https://www.mikefoley.xyz/index.php/2017...e-forever/
https://www.mikefoley.xyz/index.php/2016...r-meaning/

Some of these things I've posted and wrote about are almost 5 years old...Heck I doubt I could tell you what I wrote about back then but I'd like to think that what I would say today might be slightly different than what I did say... Anyway, again the idea isn't to try to plug my shit, all these websites I have cost me money, I have no ads, I make nothing from this stuff. Frankly, I'm considering letting the podcast site go simply because I don't know that I want to continue bothering with it.

At any rate hopefully there's something here that might help you or someone else. None of what I said is meant to offend anyone's religion but are my observations and apologize to anyone who might have found my remarks in my post or something in on of the articles I published...

Yes, I've heard and read about Mr. Rogers before. From my understanding, he promotes kindness through his show without hidden agenda? I'm fine if a person would like to practise religion but be sensible, show kindness, do not oppress and judgemental.

I get you. I think I've done a good job to be a good human being by being a good person. I donate and do charity, I help people etc. But in the end, all these don't mean a thing because according to Islam, I will end up in hell anyway. 

Taken the words from Stephen Fry's interview - 

“...How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It’s not right...It’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?...Because the God who created this universe, if it was created by God, is quite clearly a maniac, utter maniac. Totally selfish. We have to spend our life on our knees thanking him?! What kind of god would do that?"

My exact sentiments. Why would God create misery such as holocaust and the rape of Nanking? For his own entertainment to witness from his throne? Sure, people caused the holocaust and raping those unfortunate mothers in Nanking but who created emotion, evil urge to do evil stuff? God himself. So he created all these evil stuff and then have the nerve to say he will judge and punish for the wrongdoing. If you don't want evil stuff circulating the earth then don't create evil to begin with. He sounds so wrong and we are his toys. So egomaniac as stated by Stephen Fy. 

Okay I will check the links that you've provided. (Edit: Am listening now. Uh, ever thought of doing ASMR? lol What a sexy voice. But on another note, I thought your podcast is really good. Found your channel on Spotify. Following)

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Appreciate it!