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I guess I'll just dive right in. I think Waterstar's analogy is on point. And...I think that a gun's purpose is to harm people, yes. And that too is religion's purpose - through power & control. And I’m not going for it. Why on earth would I need to join a religion and have somebody - another human being just like I’m a human being - tell me how to get to heaven? How would he know the answer to that question and not me? He is made of the same substance that I am made of. He is just as flawed as I am and yet I’m supposed to believe that he has some special understanding? And I am supposed to believe that it is wise to let him convince me with some words in a book that I should follow him into his religion, as opposed to maybe my neighbor down the road who picked a different type of religion with a different set of rules for heaven? That sounds crazy to me! But this is what people do every Sunday. Coming up I was exposed to tons of different churches and religions because my mom was searching for something. And I noticed that each time we ended up at a new church there was the same dance. We’d get taken into some conference room or back room. The representative would begin with the books - always the books - that were supposed to prove that this way was the right way into heaven. And then after the books came the rules. Telling us how we had to dress, what we could or could not eat and when, how we should talk, what we should or shouldn’t put up with, when to give them our money and how much. It was ridiculous. At the end of the day, I was born with the same tools spiritually as everybody else. No man or woman can get in my face with a book and tell me that I should be doing this or doing that or living this way or that in order to get into heaven. For real? Really? hahahaha And as far as what it's done for Black people in this country? Well, from my observations I would have to say it has kept us in a different type of slavery, where now our minds are stuck. Those of us that are deep in the church allow it to take over everything. I've seen women who want to leave their abusive husbands stay, just because their preacher told them something about what the Bible said. I've heard of an instance where a child was molested but nobody said anything because the teen that did it was the son of the preacher and they wanted to protect the First Family. I've heard of people writing out that 10% check for tithes even though they didn't have money to pay their rent. That's not to say that all churches are bad. I have an uncle who is a preacher and he really wants to save the world. His heart is in the right place and so he will be just fine. But the system of religion itself, all good preachers aside, was set up to control people, in my opinion. And many religious leaders still use it for that, and it works too.

Oh I like this *ish right here! Forgive my French. Let me think about what I want to say about this one...

Decided to cut my teeth on a short story by Toni Morrison called "Racitatif"...found it in one of my literature books that I saved from school. Absolutely loved it! I can see why she's a big deal. Can't wait to read more. Couldn't find that Home book at the library though. Everybody's checking it out. Bluest Eye wasn't there either, but I'll check on it later. Can't seem to get into Perfect Peace. I really really tried, but I just kept putting it down. I suspect that's because I just finished reading Ruth's Redemption & maybe my brain has had enough of stories set "back in the day"...So I'll give it a try in a few weeks & I'll post a review on the "what is everyone reading" thread, if I do end up finishing it. But back to Toni Morrison, I gotta say I really really like her style. She doesn't give away anything; as a reader you have to think...and I love that. Maybe didn't like it so much when I was 20; but really can appreciate it at 40.

It is about asking the right questions, isn't it? And very often the answer is hidden in the question. Very Zen. Ingenuity is really called for to salvage order from "chaos". This is what separates the visionaries from the myopics. If nothing else, it will be "interesting" to see where the future will take us.

Hey Waterstar, you are aware aren't you, that this is Cynique's Corner? Seriously though, I understand your point Waterstar. My take is that you can expect to have your posts challenged and/or questioned on this discussion board. Concurrence is typically less interesting. This "feature" of the board is not intended to discourage. If misunderstood or misquoted try considering it part of a process. And remember, if you are explaining yourself, you are probably not YET affecting some of your audience as intended.