But religion often comes before everything.

This desire to transcend beyond the human condition

and think the thoughts of something, or someone, above us, leads as much to inhumane treatment of
each other as it does the more amenable qualities, like true humility, kindness and respect.
One fictional world saviour penned, “I can’t get behind the gods who are more vengeful,
angry and dangerous if you don’t believe in them… if all these gods are omniscient and omni-
present, what’s the problem… why can’t they all just get along? And what a bout the men who say
‘do what I do; believe in what I say for your own good… or I’LL KILL YOU!’”
The most progressive religions seem hostile to the idea of live and let live, or they’re seen as
diluted, wishy-washy, adulterated and disingenuous. But our choice of religion is as much a lottery,
based on how moral or traditional our parents were, where we happened to have been born and into
which community. More accurately, it will depend upon the level of tolerance of its leaders. The
majority of people have access to the history of religion in all its varied and complex paradigms, its
bloody oppression and political developments. I am respectful of genuine devotion to humane
principles when they do not impose bigotry upon others for self-righteous reasons. But those
principles sure disappear quickly when we scratch beneath the surface of any community into
privately-held beliefs and the views of people who cannot accept some aspects of what they’re
expected to follow. Of course, hypocrisy and ignorance abound when lazy-minded people decide
it’s better to let someone tell them what to believe, or search for knowledge is actively discouraged.
But what about those who genuinely inform themselves yet find some ideas incompatible with their
feelings?
The reality is, whatever your religious views or personal loyalties or depth of integrity, even
people you know and trust will differ. More than this, even those you share your faith with will not
always be there for you. And don’t we all face god alone, ultimately? Isn’t that how it works? I
don’t know any religion where we’ll be judged en-mass. That goes for Christians, too. And if
Christians don’t believe they will be let down by God or Jesus at some point, then they need to take
a much closer look at that good book. I am no longer religious and yes, I might shit myself if I face
my creator because I’m a rogue; but I can do so with integrity, as my complete self, in all honesty
and as a good person. And if I choose to be condemned to eternal damnation… that’s my choice
isn’t it, as long as I’m not harming anyone else? Maybe God is bigger than that. (See chapter –
‘Hole in the heart’).
Maybe intolerance is reinforced by some religions, but so-called moderate ‘Christians’ all
over the world, who believe all mankind everywhere owe their salvation to Jesus, are even intolerant
of each other, in international and civil wars and their everyday judgments.
The problems that are faced by other cultures are generally similar, if not compounded by
our ‘progressive’ society. I respect how difficult the down-sides can be to cope with – the struggle
between moderates, traditionalists and fundamentalists – and I respect their culture because I see
many wonderful qualities to it. I don’t want to become an expert and immerse myself in it by living
in Pakistan, Marrakech or Oldham. But I am delighted I have such diversity on my doorstep and I’d
like there to be more of an exchange. It was edifying to hear that the first Mosque in the UK existed
as long ago as the nineteenth century. And that it was built by a Jew. In the summer, I hate being
woken at all hours of the night, by drunks and kids in the street, bawling their conversations with no
consideration even for their own privacy. And why not, if their parents don’t give a shit where they
are? When I visit a Muslim country, I actually look forward to being woken at all hours by the
ascending Tannoyed prayers from near and distant minarets. They rise in small increments of pitch,
increasing as they breach the stratosphere into the threshold of the third heaven. There is something
equally re-affirming, beautiful and dreadful about that sound. It is awesome and fearsome as if Allah
is peering down and about to engulf us, but to Muslims he already is. It doesn’t fill me with dread of
almighty god, angels, demons, or the power of this earth to swallow us up in an instant. It fills me
with dread of the capabilities man has adopted to become god. And even if I don’t believe as they do
(and they can never make me believe, that is another power we have), I can appreciate the history
and traditions and collective power of all that individual devotion and reverence. The same
principles they have for their devotion will be similar principles Japanese people had in worshipping
Hirohito; or why pagans believe in the dark and light of Mother Earth. My landlord is Pakistani
Muslim and one of the nicest, honest blokes I’ve ever known. If we didn’t have a tenant landlord
relationship, I’d be proud to be his friend and spend more time getting to know each other and doing
stuff together. But to hear those calls ascending in my neighbourhood would seem oppressive,
somehow, unless I chose to live in a Muslim area. I have no idea how they feel, hearing the local
church bells. I can appreciate, some Muslims living in the same town as me (and there’s a lot of
them) must long to hear those reassuring and empowering sounds ascending to the clouds. So, I
acknowledge some sufferance on their behalf; I’d prefer to think of it as sensitivity that comes from
knowledge, balance, respect, inner confidence and strength. It is these aspects of respect that I think
bond people in understanding, without us having to invest the same energy into each other’s chosen
way of life. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to hear those prayers ascend publicly, at least once
in the year though? People need to experience these things in small measure to appreciate them. It is
a small thing that we can do for each other, when we live and let live. It is the small kindnesses and
considerations that people remember and appreciate in life.
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