A Prayer Is Not A Good Deed
I’m sorry, but you’re not going to heaven
Somehow, the toxic boomer views on religion have devastatingly infested social media the past few weeks. If you don’t come across them, then lucky you! At least you do not have to deal with devout Christians and their petty fake struggles, justifications on human rights violations, and condemnation of people with opposing lifestyles. In light of this, I’ve done some extensive reckoning on Catholicism and its devout followers.
I grew up in a society and a culture that generally assumes and defines one’s morality based on their religion. While I have nothing against the practice of it — specifically Catholicism — I have come to realize that its strong ties to conservatism, oppression, and lack of inclusivity is something that I do not wish to be a part of.
In my theology class, we were required to bring a Bible every meeting. As disinterested as I was in the beginning, that certain class allowed me to see Christianity from a different field of vision. It taught me that it is okay to disagree with the Bible, considering that it barely reflects our reality anymore. Before you get your panties in a wad, this does not connote that it’s irrelevant or should not be read at all, but it’s just simply outdated — like Beyonce hoping to get paged in Crazy in Love. For starters, the Bible holds some pretty useless verses, such as Leviticus 19:19 which prohibits wearing two kinds of clothing materials. Even boybands have given up the denim on denim regimentals, what other reasons do we have to live by this restrictive fashion rule? In addition to that, Jews committed brutal atrocities in the name of Jesus, and human sacrifices, glorified violence and sexual slavery filled various books. Even in the New Testament, Jesus is pro-slavery. If he’s on Twitter, his account would easily be reported and suspended for hateful speech.
“If much of the Bible gets ignored because it is morally irrelevant, immoral, outdated, or factually wrong, another portion gets ignored because it sets the bar too high, like putting divorce on par with — omg — homosexuality. If you want to send a conservative Bible-believer into a froth, try suggesting Jesus was a socialist. Then, when he goes all Jehovah on you, quote from the book of Ephesians. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place (Ephesians 5:4 NIV).” — Valerie Tarico
In the earlier years of civilization, women did not have rights and were treated as possessions, which is why they were expected to be modest, meek, and submissive. People were also morbidly penalized — bones were dislocated and bodies were mutilated. The benefit of the doubt and a second shot to life were unknown concepts as supposed criminals were burned, drowned, or hanged. The Bible is generally a lot darker, gruesome and demanding than it is given credit for, and with all the explicit violence and oppression in it, it is only fair to focus on its timeless essence and teachings such as the value of love and acceptance, the concept of faith and humanity, and the heart of compassion and kindness.
I recognize how religious beliefs and ethics were strong foundations of human civilization in earlier times. Even so, I don’t think it should be treated as a handbook on how to be a righteous and respectable individual. Doctrinal views come favored in enacting laws. Thus, it is a roadblock we face towards a progressive society. Gender equality, sexual freedom, and divorce struggle their way, not only in the government, but also in every Filipino household. 86% of the Philippine population is made of Roman Catholics, so it is undeniable that this religious sector holds a strong power over the thoughts and opinions of the people in the country. Catholicism goes against a lot of things I believe and stand for, which makes it hard for me to sit through a 30-minute homily of an old man explaining to hundreds of people why same-sex marriage is an abomination. To me, it sounds like a prophet spreading the word of hate under a religion that boasts its value of loving your neighbor. Jesus died for human sins like greed, pride, and wrath, so why is it so hard for self-proclaimed pious individuals to grasp the concept of compassion, honor, and service? While it is wrong to generalize and assume according to a couple of bad fruits, it is undeniable that religion and cultural conservatism in the country plays a major role in misogyny and oppression against minority groups.
A progressive society is one that can practice faith and celebrate diversity at the same time. Spain, the country that brought Christianity to the Philippines, made its way ahead by legalizing same-sex marriage, divorce, and even abortion. Like many other counties, they have learned to see the LGBTQIA+ community as equals who deserve as much respect and rights; they started to see the value of abortion and contraceptives, especially for young women and victims of abuse, and; they have begun to provide an accessible avenue for broken families to start anew by legalizing divorce. As humankind continually evolves, it makes me think if the religiously conservative Filipino culture will ever learn to further embrace change. I am a strong advocate of feminism and rehabilitation, which is why I completely and strongly condemn devout Christians that champion cultural sexual oppression on women and the war on drugs. Somehow, the people who support these concepts ironically post Bible quotations on social media at least twice a week — like, make up your mind! Blind faith is the real abomination and it is holding us back from evolving into a progressive society, which is why it is important to practice religious beliefs with an open eye and a heart for the people.
I do believe in the existence of a higher power, I’d be self-centered to think otherwise. Besides, I am nothing but a temporary speck of dust in this vast universe, which I mainly know nothing about. I just feel like religion, specifically Catholicism, is dramatically institutionalized that it somehow values spiritual practice over embodiment. Bigotry turns prayers into mere empty words said in unison; like promises not intended to be kept. Influential figures within the religious sector, which is made of 80% men, tend to discriminate and judge and it makes them responsible for this chain of misinformation, oppression, and judgment among the people. The sad truth is that hypocrisy diminishes the value of being religious at all. What the community fails to recognize is how Jesus Christ was an activist himself who fought for change. He was a socialist who advocated for radical acceptance and fought for the masses. He challenged the status quo and in the end, he was persecuted by those in power.
Faith and spirituality is a personal belief that every individual holds freedom and power over. At the same time, one’s religious practice should not define their morality, as a prayer is not equivalent to a good deed, and compassion and honor will never be mutually exclusive to one’s Church activity. A person’s political compass and social environment will say more about them than their religious belief or practice ever will. Prayers and devotional practices are desolate, until a person embodies the life of a socialist, the ingenuity of an activist and the heart of an advocate for radical acceptance.
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