nonplussedbyreligion:

This is why I will not respect your religion.  I will respect you, I will love you, I will live and work amongst you as I always have.  I won’t treat you badly because you are a person of faith because that’s not my intention.  I will however NEVER fail to highlight the evils in this world bred and supported by those who act according to their interpretation of religion and religious texts.  

The very fact that some theists can say that this is not what their religion is about, while others can defend this kind of behavior using the same scriptures should be reason enough to ask some critical questions.  If these actions are divinely inspired and written, if they are blessed by whatever name you give your god; why then do not all believers of your faith act as one?  If your deity is not powerful enough to foster unity amongst its believers, then how omnipotent are they?  I’ve heard every answer you can possibly give me, I used to give the same answers myself.

Gods are inventions of men. Scripture is like clay, each person of faith can mold that clay until it fits them just right.  You can use as much or as little of it as you need.  You can fire the pieces you pick to make them stronger, while leaving the parts you don’t want to dry out and crumble.  But like all things made of clay, even the pieces that you strengthen will crack and break when hit with enough pressure.  My jar thankfully shattered to pieces after developing cracks over the years.  Keep hanging on to yours, but know that non-theists will keep adding pressure. ~ Kim