Under Grumpa's Hat

Is there something more conflicting than seeing political leaders and countries publicly declaring war based on religious differences? Or more hypocritical than seeing the President of a Country asking God to protect them as they invade their neighbours through war? You see, most – if not all – of the leading religions are preaching for peace and love.

I’m no expert in either the topic of religion or war, so I won’t sit here and pretend that I know what’s going on in Gaza, Israël or Palestine. I won’t blow smoke up “you know where” pretending to be an expert in Russian history to justify the action in Ukraine. Nor do I know the true motives for invading any country only not to find any “weapons of mass destruction”.

But what I think that I do know is right from wrong, and good from evil. And when I see innocent people, people like you and I, getting abused and killed for no doing of their own, it breaks my heart. When I see women with children suffering because of it, or any my fellow men, I hurt deep inside. And when it’s done with some supposedly religious purpose, I then feel a great deal of shame.

You have to understand, I’ve been Catholic all my life. Baptized as a child, I went through all of the Sacrements. I went to Catholic schools all the way through High School. After I was married and for several years, I was a Knight of Columbus, helping my neighbours whenever and however I could. In all of those years, NEVER, EVER was I taught that war was acceptable. Religion never taught me that abusing anyone was okay. Quite the contrary, in fact.

I was taught to love one another. I have learned to forgive, to help fellow men (women and children) and to love unconditionally. Religion taught me selflessness, sacrifice for the good of the people around me. At least partially, the reason why I am who I am today, and part of the justification of why I think that I have a good heart, is because of the teaching from the Catholic religion. Whether you believe in it or not, the Bible is clear on that. And that’s what a vast majority of Christians see and practice as well.

Yes, I do find horrible, hypocritical and shameful to read about the actions of too many of the people in position of power, hiding behind religion to commit crimes against the poor families of the children caught in the evil of the so-called “residential school system”. It breaks my heart thinking of it all and I am so ashamed of those men who cowardly committed those crimes, and I stand by those who were negatively affected by these actions.

I become upset when a story pops up identifying a Priest, who is supposed to serve God and be an image of purity, abusing a child. Religion didn’t teach him, or preach that. The coward did that on his own. He’s the guilty party, the criminal, not religion. We have to be able to recognize the difference. That part is on us.

I refuse to think that it’s the religion that guides such horrible actions. The crimes are committed by evil people whom, just like we’re seeing today, hide behind religion to do the wrong thing. Those men (are they truly men?) in residential school were horrible, cowardly people who deserved justice. They, I believe, have received the ultimate Judgement by God when they died.

Religion NEVER told them to do that. Just like ISIS is hiding behind the name of Allah to commit their awful crimes. Islam is not about committing crime against humanity at all but those cowards use religion to justify their means.

Who turned religion into evil? It’s not God, not Jesus, not Moses, not Buddha, not Muhammad, Brahman or Allah… It is men. Men hiding behind religion to commit their evil crime are the ones responsible for wrongfully mixing war with religion.

So don’t be racist, or narrow-minded, by falling into the trap of blaming religion or other races for the evil being committed, even when done under so-called “religious purpose”. Because if you do, you are no better than those who commit the crime. You are basing your opinions and actions on a very, very small percentage of people. The vast majority within the same religion are as appalled as you are. Because it gives their religion – and them indirectly – a bad reputation, a false image. Unfortunately, there will always be some who will twist reality to fit their narrative. Avoid being one of them at all costs.

If you are blaming religion for the sins of this world, I’m afraid that you’re barking up the wrong tree. Deep down inside, I do believe most people are good, in most (if not all) religions… and good shall prevail.