Why Christianity is Likely to be the Worst Religion on Our Planet

Christians should really be renamed, collectively, "The Undecided."  The Christian religion is notorious for its varying accounts and assertions about what happened in the past, and what will happen in the future.  There are various sects i.e. Protestants, Catholics, Lutherans etc.  None of which can agree, even on simple points of their religion, yet they are all classified as being Christianity.  I cannot possibly take a religion seriously, when I get wildly different answers depending upon the particular church door I knock on.

A few months ago, there was a fairly prominent Christian group within America that began making claims about the end of time, Judgement Day was coming, and those that have not been saved, would be banished to Hell for all eternity.  The Christian community was divided, some bought into this extravagant view, while others denounced it.  This of course, never happened, but what bothers me most is when I discuss this event with Christians, they claim to be separate from this group of world-ending-followers.  They make statements like "they are crazy!"  "That's not what Christians believe," and "I never believed in that."  My problem with all of this, is that Christians are refusing to accept responsibility for their even more eccentric group of followers.  The reality is that Protestants believe Catholics to be wrong in how they practice their religion, Lutherans believe that Methodists are a bit crazy and "have it all wrong." So how is this group of world-ending-followers any different?  They all call themselves Christians, and as such, need to take responsibility for all of their followers. 

Islamic followers have struggled with this very issue, as Islamic extremists are blamed for many terror attacks around the world, they are still considered followers of Islam, however, the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful and very against violence.  Likewise, there have been a number of terror attacks in the name of Christianity, most notably, the recent attack in Norway.  Interestingly, the whole of Christianity was not to blame (in the public's world view) for the attack, but Islam still struggles today to clear its name from its association with terrorism.

This all brings me back to the title of my post "Why Christianity is Likely to be the Worst Religion on Our Planet." This all seems to come down to interpretation.  It seems that every Christian interprets the Bible differently.  This difference is not so widespread with other religions.  In my experience, you are much more likely to get the same answers about a person's religion if they consider themselves anything other than Christian.  Ask two Muslims their religion's view on gay marriage, ask two Buddhists their religion's view on gay marriage, ask two Jews their religion's view on gay marriage, and you are likely to get similar answers within religions.  Ask two Christian's their religion's view on gay marriage, and the answers you receive are likely to be wildly different!

It's difficult enough as it is to argue rationally with someone that is not rational, but worse yet when the irrational people can't keep their stories straight.

If you are religious, and especially a Christian, I hope that you do not take offense to my writing, but rather, consider it a critical review of how your institution conducts itself.  We are all in need of a little self-review every now and again, and all too often the majority groups are too privileged to ever critique themselves, or receive a critique from others.  I hope you will consider these points, and use them to make the world a better place, with or without religion.

-The Atheist Physician

My Thoughts on the Israel, Palestine Conflict

One of the most infamous conflicts during my lifetime (and before it) has been the conflict between Israel and Palestine.  It's so ironic the transition this conflict has made in the last several years.  It has changed from being a simple conflict over land, between two groups, to genocide of a group of people.  The irony, of course, is because the country of Israel was founded by persecuted Jews following the Holocaust and the German ruling over much of Europe.  The people who were once hunted endlessly for their heritage and religion are now the ones doing the hunting of another group due only to their heritage and religion.  Worse yet, the tax money I pay to the United States of America supports this genocide.

It was only days ago that the U.S. withdrew from funding UNESCO following a U.N. vote to include Palestine as recognized entity.  I'm not certain that the U.S. government has thoroughly thought this move through.  The ramifications are extensive.  No longer is the U.S. agenda at the forefront the minds of the U.N.  Additionally, all of the countries (which was the majority of them) that voted to recognize Palestine will no longer support U.S. positions within the U.N.  Acting on one quick decision, the U.S. government has, in essence, made an enemy of itself to the entire world (not that we are all that high ranking in the popularity department to begin with, but it still harms us).  The U.S. is no longer as much of a super power as it once was, and no longer has the weight to throw around that it once did.  If my government does not begin to watch whose toes they step on, we may find ourselves in the midsts of yet another war, but this time it may be on our own soil.

The bottom line is that Israel should end its genocidal offensives on Palestine, and should turnover control of the city of Palestine (Israel calls in Jerusalem).  It's time for the U.S. to end its support for Israel, and allow both countries to coexist in peace.  This of course, is a long way from happening, but it's what I'm working towards, and I hope that others can see the destructive ways of Israel, and collectively, we can end their support, likely forcing a peace agreement.  Without weapons of war, Israel will be unable to continue its offensive.  The only down side from the U.S. stand point is that we will have lost one of our few remaining allies in the Middle East, which is really a very stupid reason to support genocide.