Imagine if it was suddenly revealed that all of those silly Leviticus sins like eating two different meats together, or wearing clothing made of two fabrics are the real unforgivable sins, but the New Testament is hogwash, Jesus never existed, so there is no last minute repenting, or redemption, and the worse your sins have been, the worse hell will be for you.
Wouldn't that send a whole lot of "christians" into an all-out panic?
I wonder how it would change our government, since there is very little separation between church and state these days. Politicians, especially those on the conservative side, pander HARD to the religious right for votes, and support, and enact nonsensical legislation based on their religious mythologies that they hold so dear. The legislation they propose, and enact often subscribes as heavily to these views as the people who hold them. Not that they all follow their own views; rarely do the religious follow their own dogma when it comes to sinning. It's a whole lot of, "Do as we say, not as we do," when they assume their power, which seems to be gladly given to them by those who follow their preaching.
Even those who subscribe to their religion often seem to believe they hold some power, or superiority over those who don't subscribe to the same religion. As if the religion itself somehow endows them with a status in society, regardless if they actually follow it.
Yet, All men are created equal. Right?
Unless you're homosexual, or transgender, or partake in alternate lifestyles. Or, are just female, then you have to fight for equal rights under the law, and in many cases you'll probably never be equal, and that is entirely based on a religious bias. Especially as long as there is a conservative majority in charge. Conservative women - let me just put this out there: if the government is having constant deliberations over your access to health care services, medication, or contraception, but they aren't having similar discussions about ED medication for men, you don't have equal rights.
Keep that in mind the next time you're voting conservative, and perhaps, maybe don't vote for men who want to take away your rights.
The christian conservative right has to be one of the least moral sides of our society. Complain all you want about how awful or society has become, but "returning to god" has zero to do with fixing that. No matter what religion was practiced in what culture, with whatever demographic density or fervor - especially in European cultures - people have been shitty. Morality has no correlation with religion, and in fact might be reduced simply because of the assumed "higher moral standard" invisibility cloak that is worn to hide the immoral behaviors of those who subscribe heaviest to their religious beliefs. I.E.: Catholic priests and molesting children.
Which Brings Me To....
I suppose it goes back in our evolution, that we needed resources to survive, and abundance of resources would either guarantee increased odds of survival. I get it. And it is slow, and difficult to evolve past that way of thinking, but we're to a point, almost globally where our resources are abundant enough to not have to worry about hording them for survival.
Yet, we do, and in western cultures particularly, we have this perspective on monetary wealth, and prestige where we place those with money, and titles as being, in our minds, as more important. Hence, the wealthy can easily be forgiven in society for their transgressions. Catholic priests aren't prosecuted for molesting children, because they hold some mystical prestige on our society's mind, so they just get "relocated" while the church covers up their transgressions.
Meanwhile, poor to middle class 18 year olds will get put on a sex-offender's list for having consensual relations with a 16 year old partner that they may indeed have a committed relationship with. They won't find any forgiveness or understanding in the court of public opinion, but those of wealth, prestige, and privilege always seem to receive it.
Roy Moore is a known pedophile, and almost was elected to the Senate. Trump has over a dozen of women, including his own ex-wife that have accused him of improprieties, but the religious right seem to have no issues with this. An article came out today claiming he may have paid for, and covered up as many as 8 abortions, not to mention pay-offs, and coercion of those whom he had extramarital relations with, and those he assaulted, but no one from the conservative, religious right is demanding he resign from his ill-elected position. It is especially on this side of the socio-political spectrum that greed, wealth, and positions of power are worshiped, and held in higher regard, and it is specifically this side of the spectrum that perpetuates the notion that wealth, and prestige matter more than humanitarian qualities like empathy, and equity, that show our evolution away from the horde resources mentality.
Until we get past that attitude, equity in our society has no chance of existing.
The Wait for Weight
I actually did weigh myself this week, and disturbingly the scale read back, 212.2.
Which probably means I'm starting to lose muscle mass due to not getting to the gym enough. This, among many other things in life, is starting to disturb me.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is upon us. For the holiday, I participated in a charity photoshoot with Queen of Diamonds Clothing Co., to raise money for the Buffalo Animal Shelter. We raised $500, and everyone got some amazing boudoir photos. Here are some of my favorites! Of course you can see the entire set on my Facebook page, which by now you should have liked, and be following. 🙂
