“God has performed a miracle for her, finally Irina is delivered from evil”
– Father Daniel, priest at a convent in north-west Romania
Have a look at this story about a young woman, diagnosed with schizophrenia, who was tortured and killed by religious nuts at a convent after they felt whe was possessed by the devil. This is yet another reason why I don’t generally subscribe to organised religion.
I’m essentially now an atheist. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have strong beliefs – I just choose not to waste hours every weekend praying to god to intervene in my life and make it all better. No, rather than be the child who cries to mother about a grazed knee, I believe that I make my own destiny. There may be some greater force out there – but ask youself, if you were that greater force, do you think you’d be bothered with the fate of one person who has the free will to change their own life? I believe it would be a better use of time to spend an hour a week picking litter (you can have tea and crumpets in the village hall afterwards if you feel that you must) and getting involved with our local communities in more constructive efforts.
Some people think I just don’t get it. I used to go to church, every week, for years and years. I was head chorister in the choir and was confirmed into the Anglican church. Yet, as I have grown up I have come to realise that I cannot support many of the actions of these religious groups. I object to the oft-abused notions of some certain organisations that AIDS is some kind of curse or that contraception is wrong, and I believe that men and women are equals (so get with the programme, get women priests already). Can’t we just all be nice to oneanother?
Jon.