Blame It On The Bossa Nova...

     It, always, sorta, 'grinds my gears', when I hear people blame 'religion' for the many, horrible, atrocities, which have occurred over the centuries; or, for anything, for that matter. Most recently, we have read of the outbreak of measles, in North Texas, and, of televangelist Kenneth Copeland and his family, whose teachings, which focus on the virtues of trusting God to keep healthy, are under scrutiny, after a cluster of measles cases, linked to his family's North Texas mega-church, revealed many congregants hadn't been vaccinated against the highly contagious disease. Putting one's faith in God, to keep one armed against any disease, is a bit of a gamble, I agree; and, being led, by a trusted-leader, to believe that this practice is ok, is, simply, irresponsible-behavior, on behalf of whomever makes that claim. Yet, one cannot hold one party responsible, for the choices others make. If folks are so easily influenced, as to allow for options which may not serve them well, the onus is on them. On a level, I can understand how some might conceive of the notion that 'religion' is dangerous and negative. For, sometimes, when there exists a mass of human-beings, banned, together, all 'desperate' in each, his or her search for fulfillment, all looking for an 'ANSWER', a mob-mentality can manufacture itself, over time, and, people can be led astray. We all remember Jim Jones, and his cult-like flock of followers, each convinced to take poison, in the quest for Nirvana; obviously, these people were, very, weak-minded. Formal religion, typically, allows for groups of people to convene, under the 'leadership' of one, or, a few. This, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. However, when some groups meet, en mass, those, whom by their very nature, are weak, and moved by a certain, desperation, for fulfillment, negative, events, can occur, in the name of religion, and, God. Believe me, the Higher-Power I believe in is God of ALL, and, is, in all likelihood, very, disgruntled by the behavior of some of His creation. For to have folks warring, in the name of any, chosen, formal, religion, is SINFUL. The whole attitude of 'My God's better than your God', is a fallacy, one, unfortunately, held true by countless numbers; for the thing is, we are all the children of One Creator. In any event, to hold religion accountable for ANYTHING, is ludicrous; it is man, who, in his, constant need for ego-fulfillment and control, has muddied the waters, and, given religion a bad-rap. Just Sayin'...