Fear and Paranoia (My Take on Religion Today)

Has America forgotten what these men said; Mark Twain (American Writer, 1835-1910): "In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing." Man is a Religious Animal. Man is the only Religious Animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion -- several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn't straight. Abraham Lincoln (American Statesman, 1809-1865) I see a very dark cloud on America's horizon, and that cloud is coming from Rome. I am for liberty of conscience in its noblest, broadest, and highest sense. But I cannot give liberty of conscience to the pope and his followers, the papists, so long as they tell me, through all their councils, theologians, and canon laws that their conscience orders them to burn my wife, strangle my children, and cut my throat when they find their opportunity. James Madison (American Statesman, 1751-1836, Co-Author Declaration of Independence) "During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution." "In no instance have ... the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people." "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise." "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." [from The First Amendment to The United States Constitution] "The civil government ... functions with complete success ... by the total separation of the Church from the State." Thomas Jefferson (American Statesman, 1743-1826) "The clergy, by getting themselves established by law, & in-grafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man. They are still so in many countries & even in some of these United States. Even in 1783, we doubted the stability of our recent measures for reducing them to the footing of other useful callings. It now appears that our means were effectual." "But a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandizing their oppressors in Church and State." Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, January 19, 1810 "Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined, and imprisoned, yet we have not advanced one inch toward uniformity. History I believe furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose. "Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense." Voltaire (French Philosopher, 1694-1778) Of all religions the Christian is without doubt the one which should inspire tolerance most, although up to now the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men. GREAT SAYINGS eh? Just after Thanksgiving 08, I got home from a long day with family and sat back in my ole desk chair and the melody and chords for this song began to play from my fingers. I got a bit excited and began to write the lyrics that evening and following day. Before long the song turned into a little expression about one of Americas big and growing problems with religion which likes to inject a good dose of fear and paranoia into the masses. The 2008 election was a prime example of that. Anyway I hope you like my song. Peace to you all! Ray Tutaj Jr.