ADVICE AND DISSENT

Can’t we be religious without the pontification?

By Hill Roberts

The February 27-March 5 edition of the Forum featured a short introductory essay on Nicolas Wade’s new book, The Faith Instinct: How Religion Evolved and Why it Endures, and provided a link to a review of the book in the December 17, 2009 issue of The Economist entitled “Spirit level: Why the human race has needed religion to survive.” The book makes a rationally argued view against the contention in the best-selling books of Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist, and Steven Pinker, experimental psychologist and cognitive scientist, that religion is a useless human enterprise. Drawing vigorously on the findings of archeology, social science, and natural science, Wade argues that the religious instinct is an evolved part of human nature, and that humankind’s propensity for religion has some adaptive function.

The article drew a strong, passionate reaction from Hill Roberts, a Forum member who lives in Spain, and we are presenting her postings in their totality here so Forum members can read and respond to her views. 

Religion has indeed become a very touchy subject matter. Over the weeks, we have been discussing with atheists and religious believers about God, Jesus Christ, the supernatural being. Many Facebook users and friends, though, especially those who fervently believe in the God Almighty, seem to stand back and say nothing. Yet many of my atheist friends have come forward and discussed in no uncertain terms that religion is total nonsense. I, too, have expressed my personal view that religion had come about by starting out as a pagan thing, then evolved into a cult, and then, when membership grew, became what we now know to be proper religion.

But can’t we be religious without the pontification? There are many women who seem to treat Facebook like some kind of a pulpit. I myself, over a period, got tired of the same God-like message(s), and usually, it’s the women doing the calling, since, no doubt, they’d shout, “It’s my calling.” I am for being good, kind, generous, understanding. But there are those who profess to be religious to the extreme, but who are actually spiteful within themselves. One big example was the former and first female President, Mrs. Cory Aquino. I will not apologize nor will I even attempt to denigrate her memory. However, in all the Philippine newspapers, I somehow get the feeling that these so-called religious people are actually Christian Militants in my eyes, who, for want of a better word, are more inclined to lambast than to do the right thing. What is the right thing in this case? Tell the world that Mrs. Cory Aquino was, indeed, godly? A saint in the making? A gospel according to her fans, co-believers of Jesus Christ? I mean, what is it about religion that ends up looking crass? Well, just because she prayed all day, carried a rosary, and went to church regularly, did that make her a saint?

Yes, Mrs. Cory Aquino, according to some priests—these Men of the Cloth and Gentlemen of the Pope (?)—are truly baffling in their insipid approach as well as in their self-belief that this “gentle woman” should now be catapulted to sainthood (and just now, I almost typed this word incorrectly, reading it as “sanityhood”)—hmm, another new word from me? When Mr. Ferdinand Marcos, in his dying moments, summoned—or perhaps requested—Mrs Aquino’s presence to negotiate his return to the Philippines for a proper burial in his hometown up north in the Ilocos Region (not just once or twice but five times), what did she do? She ignored his pleas and sent only a relative or two to speak tell him that “No, you aren’t allowed to be buried there.” Her words, I can imagine, and I don’t doubt at all that she said those words with conviction. Not for any damn reason, but only to please her adoring fans and constituents who at that time, were full of hatred, yeah, fierce loathing...these are the true believers of God. They pray for the souls of others. Yet, their true colors shone through: evil, from the word go.

I know some who are reading this now would damn me, condemn me, and even search to play hell with me, but, heck, do I care? Cory was the epitome of false kindness. She did the most unChristian thing by not allowing a former Head of State to be buried in his beloved hometown. What is Christianity but to compromise? If one believes (in) religion, then this should have been applicable under those unique circumstances that she and Mr. Marcos had both been in. Yet, the baffling behavior of this woman left much to be desired.  

Indeed, she and her flock clamored for change. What a laugh. Change? What was there to change when their own unkind attitude refused to even consider Mr. Marcos’s request? Was he really all that bad, ugly, nasty, and unpleasant as a person? Why the lack of magnanimity when in her speech at the US Congress, she even mentioned “magnanimous in victory”—were these just boastful words? Something for the historians to lap up, without the feelings? Wasn’t she numb in that personal request that she never even bothered to take the time to visit him as a Head of State?

This is what gets me about Philippine politicians: they are so mindful of religion, preaching their own constituents about God, God bless, and going to mass with their backers, hookers, fans, henchmen, all in the name of God. Was Cory Aquino any different? I can put my hand on my heart and say that, despite all the bad things they said about Imelda Marcos, at least she had not been amiss with good manners and right conduct. They accused her of stealing endlessly—so said the media, local, national, or foreign. But who isn’t a thief in Philippine politics? Had the previous tenants of Malacañang kept their hands off the coffers of the Treasury? I am totally disdainful of these politicians, but of course, let’s not forget that unelected politicians are crooks, too, many of them just as bad. As we go down the ladder of government agencies, one can find a good number who are honest, but there would also be a large number that would try to con and trick their way to steal. 

So to put Mrs. Aquino on a pedestal, recommend her for sainthood isn’t just stupid, but really crass, demeaning to our intelligence and idiotic to the point of insult, perjury, and willful imbecility. Mrs. Aquino doesn’t deserve all that attention, let alone having her colossal monument flaunt the streets of the capital. When she was president, she put the country in suspended animation. She was xenophobic—never allowed foreign investment in; she simply paralyzed, destroyed all the development projects of the Marcos administration. Why? She was full of hatred and nothing would change her mind about the Marcoses. But this is the woman whom many see now as a saint? Indeed, a saint who loathed […]? And, before I forget, these are God-fearing, regular churchgoers, who, in their designer bags, carry gold rosaries that are perhaps emblazoned with these words, “I am kind, I am good, and I am religious.” Beware, when people flaunt their religious fervor, emphasizing it to you and me, start walking away from them. They are one of the most devious, pretentious, evil people one can ever meet. Religion: what the hell is this?

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