mrevon-blog

[mrevon-blog]

You May Say I'm a Dreamer...

"Imagine", you know that song? It seems to be on the list of everyone's top songs of all time, and yet, does anyone actually listen to it? Or does everyone only tune in to the "imagine all the people living in peace" part? John Lennon wrote this song, dreaming of a life without division--a good thing. Something I think everyone agrees with, without actually realizing what they are in agreeance with.

The modest answer to the question, "Do hope for a world without division?", will always be, "yes."  But think about that for a second; do you really hope for a world without division, or is that just the half-hearted tree-hugger in you? The sad truth is people will always find something to disagree over, so the 'dream' will never be perfect, but does that mean we can't at least rid the world of some of the meanest demons?

The first lines, "Imagine there's no heaven/ It's easy if you try/ No Hell below us/ Above us, only sky/ Imagine all the people, living for today."  Can you imagine? Think these lines over critically for a moment. Can you imagine a world "with no religion too[?]"  What would people in the Middle-East fight over? What would stop loving gay companions from getting married? Who would cast women down to be the servants of men--even hide their body, faces, from the world?

The list of examples can go on for pages--and these are reasons disregarding extremists! Extremists make the argument against religion even more powerful. Although I must address, every person of faith tells me that extremists don't "properly resemble [their] faith?" Really... Don't they? Children sitting in school in Afghanistan learn that sacrificing themselves for their God is the highest honor. From the cradle, these poor children view a suicide bombing as an honor. This isn't extremism, this is normal for them! This a child being brought up to be faithful and not question their God, much like Christians in America. True Christians, brought up by what the Bible says will be raised to view gays as "abominations", in addition to viewing and judging other people (I thought God was only supposed to judge?). Whether I agree or disagree with abortion, killing abortion clinic doctors, blowing up these clinics with people in them, is wrong. No, I'm not implying every Christian wants to set abortion clinics on fire, but one must understand, religion opens the door to extremism. Without religion, the problem would have never occurred. Without religion, The World Trade Centers would have never been victim to this extremism. What is supposed to bring people together, in an act of great irony, tears people apart.

I, an evolutionist, an agnostic, who argues against religion, am used to being the bad guy. I have no problem being the bad guy, because at night, I know that I'm fighting a war to end division. I want to see the faces of whites, blacks, browns, purples, reds, yellows or any color, able to smile at each other. I want to see the faces of every woman, given the same opportunities men are given. Religion shapes the lives of billions worldwide. These views cause more disagreement than any other problem in humanity. The next time you say you want a world with no division, think about it. I know I'm clear in what I want.  You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. People against religion, speak out, the world needs to hear the alternative.

-Eric