We all seem to have a million things to get done in our lives, and I am just like everyone else, but occasionally I try to take a time out and look at a big problem and analyze it to see if I can make anything of it. Recently, in my brief moments of clarity, I've been trying to discern what exactly is the the most detrimental flaw of mankind.  Since I have limited brain capacity, this will most likely be an ongoing process as my mind spits and sputters and pretends to be doing something productive.

What is a trait that all or most of us have that is a cause of most or all of the worlds troubles? I guess the best place to start is by looking at the problems the world is facing.  The first problem that comes to mind is the sticky situation in the Middle East, which I mostly attribute to religious intolerance. We have Muslim against Jew, Muslim against Christian, Muslim against Muslim. Certainly the idea of slaughtering people under the pretense of religious reasons is nothing new to history.  "If you can't convert 'em, kill 'em." seems like it could have been an appropriate slogan to most major religions at one time or another. Why do religions do this? In order to understand the workings of religion, lets start one ourselves and see what happens!

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I believe that when I die my soul will ascend to the heavens and be surrounded by cute cuddly kittens for all eternity. Now, while I am the sanest person I know, and I KNOW that I am a good person and the world would be better off if there were more people like me, my belief in Holy Kittens is only held by me.  This is troubling. I mean, if all these people think differently than me, either I am wrong, or they are wrong. Since I know I'm not stupid, it must be them. But how do I remedy this? I convince others to believe the same thing I do! If I can get a group that all believes the same thing, then we are super right! After all, we can't all be bonkers, can we?

So the Holy Order of Kittens is very pleased with itself and its beliefs.. that is until it meets the First Church of Dog. Dogs? Give me a break. Who the heck worships dogs? That is just idiotic. How the heck can they have so many members? They must all be insane.  Because we are good-hearted, righteous people, we must convince these canine lovers of their wicked ways so that they may come to the light. You see, by these people believing differently than us and being allowed to exist, it creates a conflict to us being right. Moreover, if Cat clergy strays to the Dog cultist side, what will that do to the Cat reputation? How do we convert Dog lovers to our side? Threatening them with eternal damnation has a certain appeal. If that doesn't work? I guess we have to kill them. Violence is nasty, but really, what else do you do with people who are wrong?

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Could it be that religious intolerance is really just based on the fact that we all believe that we are good people?  By believing we are good people, we look down on others who don't think the way we do, because its easier to condemn than to put forth the effort to understand.  Why is this? We all do it.  How many times have you told someone, "I told you so?" It feels good to be right. Especially when someone else is wrong. At what point in our evolutionary chain did we develop the need to feel right? Am I over simplifying things? Please send your comments! I am hoping to get some discussion on this.

~my thoughts on religion~

I have nothing against people believing what they want. As a matter of fact, I think its great to have your beliefs! It gives your life structure and meaning. It provides something to turn to when nothing else is available. The problem lies with thinking that your way is the ONLY way. Exploring your own beliefs and finding what you can be comfortable with instead of just believing what was pounded into your head as a child can help you. Once you are comfortable and at ease with your beliefs, you can appreciate that other people will come with different conclusions. What you believe is right for YOU. Everyone has a little different idea of how things work. None of us will know for sure what the truth is (not while we are alive anyway). No need to be silly over it. But then again, that is just my way of thinking.

~end thoughts~