Religious wars? After life? Heavens and Hell?

[question everything]

I did not realize that we have had religious wars on DU, until I started reading some of the posts. What amazes me is that DUers do not realize that it is not someone's religion that is at stake; rather, it is the attack on the separation of church and state.

Most of the industrial nations, that used to be part of Christendom, are more aware of such separation than we, lately. In these nations, no candidate would carry his/her religion as a criteria for his/her election. And certainly attending church won't be an issue.

But here, with the separation being part of the Constitution, we have the "in god we trust" on our coins, we open public meetings with invocation - with the naive or ignorant belief that there is such a thing as "non denominational" prayer, when our representatives swear to uphold the Constitution they add "so help me god," and of course, all of them participate in prayer breakfasts.

So recently I was thinking that life could have been easier had we accepted the fact that there is a beginning and an end. That after we have lived our lives, perhaps even made a difference in the world, helped others, we end up dying and decomposing. And then we would not have all the hell and heavens. Even in "Desperate Housewives" - the Republican control freak freaked when she found out her son was gay: you won't go to heaven, she said.

And we won't have all the left behind and rupture and the rest of the story. And we won't spend so much money on the last six months of our lives. And we won't insist on keeping someone alive, when it is clear that that life is over. We will just accept it, welcome it, long for it, even. Perhaps even try to make every minute count while still living.

I think that this was the life style of the pagans - before the monotheistic religions came on board. There the creating put Adam and Eve in Paradise and, I suppose, we were led to believe that in the after life this is where we will be. And what will we be doing there, anyway?

Same with the left behind: why leave the clothes behind? Is everyone in heaven goes naked?

In earlier times, during hard life, of wars and capture and plagues - the belief in the afterlife made it easer to bear, I suppose.

But shouldn't we concentrate on making it better now, this life, instead of tell people to accept their misery because they will go to heaven?

Hope this is not too convoluted. I am just amazed that on forum such as DU the issue of religion and belief takes so much space. And if Democrats think that religion and church attending is important in politics, then how will be able to ever get votes from the Bible belt states?

[Bellamia]

1. YES..........

we should concentrate on making life in the here and now better. Very good essay, not convoluted at all. Enjoyed it. Thanks.