Religion has its Heroes

Election day is nearing. And once again I am starting to think that politics and the process that we go through to elect our special interest figures is as revolting as watching Sunday morning Christian TV.

Yes, that is what I said. There really is no difference to me; politics and religion. Both vie for the attention of anyone feeling guilty, needing inspiration, craving attention, lacking motivation, requiring the ass kick for re-invention, a renewal, a place to go, a line to fall in to, a march, a rally, a stadium filled with men who collectively are convinced that they have treated their women poorly.

Lets all get on a bus and find the best orator we can find, in a stadium, in a park, a tax free Taj Mahal of a church like...anywhere. Lets let that person and that congregation fill our heads with something that eventually...somebody else benefits from (monetarily). Yep, someone will rise up, get up on the pulpit and have...influence. Whether its a political rally or an Oral Roberts spew for repentance, both promise that which seems too good to be true. Both have the only way; follow or get your ass kicked someday.

I say this after reading a squirmy article comparing Ayn Rand and Jesus Christ. If you don't know who Ayn Rand is please do one of two things immediately: Google her and cliff note Atlas Shrugged, or go ahead and purchase your ticket to get on the bus to the cattle calling. I assume most of you know who Jesus Christ was. If you are unfamiliar, turn your brand spanking new Sony Bravia to any channel, it is Sunday Morn.

My take on Ayn Rand is that she was an intellectual with a heck of a bone to pick with socialism, and an atheist centered on exposing a society grasping at anything other than self reliance. While not necessarily an atheist myself (go ahead and call me one if you like), I tend to agree.

Honestly? I find myself flipping through the channels of Christian TV for the sole purpose of studying enigmatic orators. Disregarding the rhetoric, seeking those practitioners of "the hook". I watch it like Sunday football, a touchdown being the moment when one or more of the parishioners fall to the floor and/or raises their hands in total trance like fervor. The extra point is when Velma and Eugene down in Southern rural Missouri call in and pledge 50 bucks while wiping a tear in front of the TV. I could replace Christian TV with C-Span and get the same results.

What I find interesting is one of Rands quotes:

"THE MAN WHO SPEAKS OF SACRIFICE, SPEAKS OF SLAVES AND MASTERS, INTENDS TO BE THE MASTER."

Ain't that the truth? I find this to be at the root of both religion and politics. The liberals on their need to attack the rich, the sacrifice of personal wealth of business for the benefit of the poor. Right, they still have their eyes on the power, being the master. The same goes for the conservatives, those centered on creating and maintaining wealth for that which provides opportunity for the poor to benefit. Sacrifice the handouts to the poor, invest further, create a self reliant culture. They still intend to be the master. Yup.

I am not sure where I am going with this. But think it has something to do with calling out bullshit. you can read the whole article here. It is slanted towards the benevolent, but it was interesting nonetheless.

I have a question. Does the fact that I study the contrast of these types of things mean that I am on the path to Rand's "objectivism"? Better yet, because the Christian writer calls this a religion of its own, am I to disregard this for fear of being one of the orators someday? I WILL DO IT!

Again, never a backdrop; politics and religion. My spiritual connection to things has far greater value to me than anyone else. I'll take the Randian approach, keeping it to myself in the spirit of self actualization and later, as the writer puts it, self righteousness. So be it.