just don't steal the silverware on your way out

[thejunipertree]

(edited to include the context)

It has been my experience that if a person realizes that they, as just a regular human being, are the most powerful creative or destructive force in their lives - without help from imaginary friends, crystals, religious accoutrements, books, rituals or any of that made-up claptrap, they will invariably shun such things.

My response (this is all in someone else's journal):

"I know I'm the most powerful creative/destructive force in my life. However, I still practice a religion. Minus the crystals and multiply the cigars and rum, of course.

I have a belief in the divine, but I don't believe that the divine dictates what I do or guides me in any way. Divinity, or God (for lack of a better term), isn't some invisible boogums in the sky. It's the remote spark that put everything into motion. I still believe in science to explain most things in this world, but I also still believe in the paranormal (in the truest sense of the word) to explain the things that science hasn't been able to.

If any of my friends thinks this makes me a moron and someone less worthy of respect, that's on them. They're more than welcome to see themselves out. And, to be quite honest, I'd prefer that they did. I don't want to be friends with anyone who thinks I'm some sort of subhuman."

So, this is an open call to any of my friends who believes that:

a. I'm a fucking idiot because I practice a religion different than theirs.

or

b. I'm a fucking idiot because I practice a religion, period.

Anyone who falls into one of those two categories is hereby officially invited to show themselves to the door.

End of story.

Comments

[rhiann31.livejournal.com]

heh. I thought about writing up something on my own page about recent discussion, however time and a reality check quickly trashed the idea.

Look, I get what James is trying to say, although I don't think that it's crystal clear the way that he wrote it (and I still don't understand why he gets his panties in a bunch about it) - and I know where I stand in terms of my spirituality, my view on science and it's place in things and how I feel about other folks and organized religion. I didn't see the point of doing the whole "I believe that there's something out there, but I'm not an idiot" routine on James' page. I didn't see the point. He's web-known us for a very long time and if he thought that we were idiots we would have heard about it a long time ago.

I'm also about keeping my life simple and drama-free. I definitely do not agree with many things that James posts - but I'm okay with that. Like with most people (and I'm sure he does the same), I absorb the things that resonant with me or provoke thought and I throw the crap away.

I think that the biggest infraction from James is not clearly getting his point across - and being his usual abrasive self getting in the way of getting his point across (IMO). At the end of the day - whatevs, right?

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

At the end of the day - whatevs, right?

Precisely.

This isn't so much a direct knee-jerk from what's been going on over there. It's moreso, I've been reading all of that stuff, posted my comment to him about it, then started thinking about if any of my friends actually felt that way about me. The idea that someone I call a friend would think like that bothers me on a lot of different levels.

Simple and drama-free. I'm still working on that concept. I've made tremendous strides in the department, I must say. But, it's still a struggle. My mouth gets ahead of me. ;)

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

I missed this the first time around:

I didn't see the point of doing the whole "I believe that there's something out there, but I'm not an idiot" routine on James' page. I didn't see the point.

Normally, I've kept my mouth shut during the long, drawn-out posts about ATHEISM FTW, YA'LL! This time, I was tired (it was 1:30 in the morning) and feeling cranky about other things. Unfortunately, I fell for the bait this time.

This has been a rough week. I need to gather my wits about me. They're scattered all over the fucking place.

[flemco.livejournal.com]

That's actually the mindset that spawned the whole Wicca thing.

Take a nap and have a beer.

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

No time to nap. Hate beer. :/

I also just had the rather lovely news laid on me that I'm not getting my student loan stipend until after 11/20. Hooray for not being able to pay my bills!

[rhiann31.livejournal.com]

I (eventually) took the bait too, I guess. It was more along the lines of, "...there are idiots (as he deems) in the world right? Well, don't be friends with them if it pisses you off so much. Why try to "convert" aka James' truth slap if you already think that it's a lost cause..."

I kinda got cranky too. Pooh.

Life eats it right now.

Here's hoping that things turn around for both of us soon.

xoxo