I Call Bullshit

The image above was found on Pinterest.com

It's not often I get up on my soapbox and do a full-on sermon but today is one of those rare occasions. This post was directly inspired by things I've seen and heard of late from people via regular and social media about events happening in the world today. Honestly, most of the things I've heard have been stewing inside of me for awhile now and apparently today my heart and mind have reached critical mass, i.e. I'm going to give my two cents worth about them because I can't hold it in any longer. Here goes...

I've lost track of the amount of messages I've seen about "kill the Syrian refugees", "lock up all Muslims", "______ lives matter", etc. On and on the social, racial and religious divides seem to grow larger and larger and the world feels as if it's gone absolutely crazy. I have seen these things and most of them are attached to one Faith's teachings or another...except they are NOT. That is nothing more than rhetoric used to further an agenda and no person with any true intelligence actually believes that nonsense. I call bullshit on anyone using any religious or moral excuses to harm another human being on this planet (...which is not to say there ought not be true Justice in the world, because any of you who keep up with my writings know that I'm a firm believer in Justice). Beyond just my own calling out of this garbage, let's look at some ACTUAL facts...words found at the core of major belief systems around the world.

Some quotations from the Qur'an:

Honor each other: "O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should despise one another). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous." Chapter 49, Verse 13
About Jesus: "And in their [the earlier prophets] footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the law that had come before him. We sent him the Gospel, therein was guidance and light and confirmation of the law that had come before him, a guidance and an admonition to those who fear God." Chapter 5, Verse 46

And what does Jesus have to say about humanity...

From the New Testament of the King James Bible:
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Or how about the Jewish faith...

Some quotations from the Talmud:
“The highest form of wisdom is kindness.”
“Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world.”

Perhaps you're more inclined to a Native American approach...

Lakota Instructions for Living

Friend do it this way - that is,
whatever you do in life,
do the very best you can
with both your heart and mind.

And if you do it that way,
the Power Of The Universe
will come to your assistance,
if your heart and mind are in Unity.

When one sits in the Hoop Of The People,
one must be responsible because
All of Creation is related.
And the hurt of one is the hurt of all.
And the honor of one is the honor of all.
And whatever we do effects everything in the universe.

If you do it that way - that is,
if you truly join your heart and mind
as One - whatever you ask for,
that's the Way It's Going To Be.

passed down from White Buffalo Calf Woman

Hindu?

Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house... let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness.

 Mother Teresa Of Calcutta

How about Buddhism?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama:

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well being.

Real compassion comes from seeing the suffering of others. You feel a sense of responsibility, and you want to do something for them.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.
Without them, humanity cannot survive.

Or perhaps you prefer a more pagan belief system...

From the 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief:

10. Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be ‘the only way’ and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.
13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

There are many more examples of core belief systems whose foundations are built on love and peace, tolerance and kindness. So, if you tell me (or anyone else) "I am doing ____________ (insert bigotry or atrocity here) in the name of ______________ (insert deity, person, concept, or religion here)", I will, without hesitation, call you a liar. People have used (...and still do) all kinds of excuses, both "good" and "bad", in order to do horrible things to others or further their own agenda. Not enough people call them out on it and stand up, saying, "Not on my watch". I can promise you, I'm not one of those people. I WILL call you out on it every time. The simple truth is that if we want a better world to live in, we must create that place together. If we want a better future for our children, we must give them a place in which to thrive. And if we want Peace around the world, we must find a way to live together harmoniously. If what "we" want is none of these things, then someone needs to tell me because if that's the case, I've got to figure out a way to build a spaceship and get my Tribe off this planet A.S.A.P.  before it implodes from within.