TheWiseOldFart

When I was a very young man, my grandfather taught me that religion is a personal choice and not to be an issue in any conversation. He was a helluva lot smarter than every right-wing politician in America. He believed in the First Amendment: professional politicians do not. I was raised Catholic and considered entering the priesthood until I learned that Catholic priests are not allowed to marry. I didn’t understand. Other children I knew who were protestant or Jewish told me their ministers and rabbis had normal lives. I liked girls. By the time I was a sophomore in high school, I had begun to move away from all organized religion. I studied the effect of organized religion on its followers, and understood to some degree the need for many people to seek guidance. I view organized religion in two very different ways. First, I see it is a way for men to control other men and become very wealthy doing so. The other side is more of a sincere desire to help other people survive difficult

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart If you love your religion, and are serious about its teachings, I am not only happy for you, I would fight for your right to practice that religion. However, I cherish the First Amendment which guarantees my right to reject all organized religions, and forbids the influence of religion into our government. It is clearly written, and I demand that my rights are of equal importance to those who claim to be religious. America never was a religious nation, and never should be. Our Founding Fathers left England when King George III removed freedom of or from religion. This is why the first line in the Bill of Rights says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” RIGHT WING POLITICIANS, DESPERATE FOR VOTES, SEEK THE REPEAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT There is no doubt that the party on the right side of the aisle is owned by special interests. Their votes are bought and paid for by lobbies, with the use

Op-e d by TheWiseOldFart   Fact: Religious Extremism is r esponsible for the torture and deaths of more innocent people in hi story than any other.   In its most extreme form, organized religion becomes the greatest evil imaginable. The Crusades and the attacks on 9/11 were both the result of religious extremism.   Religion is a personal choice, and it should remain that way. For every argument favoring a single religion over another, there are a dozen reasons why all religions are based on unrealistic and unsupported claims about places like heaven or hell. All religions were created by men whose goals were control and power over others. In modern times, fake religious leaders use religion to live unrealistic lives of great power, luxury and privilege. Exposing young Americans to any religion by an individual with authority over them is morally and legally wrong.   I DO NOT DENY YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS   Don’t misunderstand me. I am expressing my own opinions, that’s w

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart If you are 40 years old or under, you’ve probably never heard this old saying: “birds of a feather, flock together.” It’s ancient by modern standards, but it remains true in the 21 st century. It simply means that people who share the same beliefs support each other. This is one of those situations. I FIND IT UNBELIEVABLE THAT ANY TRULY RELIGIOUS PERSON COULD SUPPORT “TRUMPENSTEIN” Think about this: after four years of a failed presidency, indictments for 91 felonies, confirmation that he is a sexual predator, learning that he supports a godless and racist political ideology, fascism, and admission by his own words that if he is reelected, he will escalate his message of anger and hatred for anyone who is not loyal to him, Evangelical leaders continue to support Donald Trump. The explanation for this atrocity is found in a recent exposure of one of Trump’s most adamant supporters. Robert Morris is now the pastor at a Texas megachurch. He pretended to

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart I have no doubt that most religious leaders, and their supporters, are genuine. They believe in their faith and their only goal is to share their beliefs in love, compassion, and understanding for all people. I was raised in the Catholic Church. For the most part, the priests and nuns I encountered were dedicated to their work, and lived according to their vows. This story is concerned with the destruction caused by extremists who distort the teachings of the creators of their chosen faith. THE THREE MAJOR RELIGIONS HAVE FAR MORE SIMILARITIES THAN DIFFERENCES Anyone who reads the Tora, the Koran, or the Bible from first page to last, will be somewhat surprised. The principles, guidelines for living a more spiritual life, and other basic concepts are extremely similar with only minor differences. Sadly, ambitious men continue to corrupt these treasured volumes and either rewrite them, or choose only the parts which support their vile, angry, and destructive views

Op-ed by TheWiseOld Fart   If you claim to be a Christian, and continue to support Donald Trump, you are a liar and a hypocrite. I was raised a Catholic, but I am a member of the largest group of Americans today, known as “Nones.” I reject organized religion and all the lies and propaganda from Evangelical leaders.   It is an undeniable fact that Trump is a sexual predator, a lifelong criminal, a misogynist, a homophobe, and a constant prevaricator. The pastor of the Christian church he claims to belong to revealed that “he has never seen him cross the threshold of that church.”   This has not stopped MAGA Republicans from claiming that “America has always been a Christian country.” I am required to inform these malcontents that history proves them wrong.   At the core of why our Founding Fathers created the United States of America is “freedom of religion.” That’s why the first line of the First Amendment reads, “ . Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion