LOOK AT THIS HODGE PODGE OF RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES

WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK IS TRUE?? WHAT WOULD A REASONABLE PERSON BELIEVE?
Here's a quick photo survey of the religions represented at the Tucson Book Festival.

See this line of booths--there were 3 more lines just like it.  Each regular sized booth cost $600 for the two days.  Got something you want to say to the reading public?

Or----just make yourself a sign and walk around with it.

I will begin my survey with Eckankar:  curious about these folks--click here.

I didn't get this story.

I won't burden you with a summary of each--I'm sure you can guess what most of them are about.

I once associated with one of these groups in DC.  

The Seth books of yesteryear (ouija board messages from beyond) brought this group into being.

These folks want everyone on the planet to have a bible.

There were 3 Islamic booths representing 3 versions of that faith.  Each more anxious than the other to persuade us they are peaceful.

 This program was aimed at children in private religious schools.

Curious about this guy? click here

The Muslims would do well to persuade the West that they are livable with.  They have a limited amount of time to "reinterpret" their Holy book as Christians have theirs.

Speaking of which---this association supports Christian oriented education.  (the indoctrination of children)

This was not a religious booth.  They really want to teach children how to get along without violence.

I read some of their stuff.

This brand of religion is the one most likely to destroy humankind---by resisting any sensible kind of population control.

???

These are followers of the teachings of Gurdjieff.

Want to "wake up"?  Check his views out here.

AAAAHHHH---Finally--we come to MY People.  The FREETHINKERS.

Got an open mind??  Give a listen here.

This guy must be one of us.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES;   We are soooo lucky to live in a secular tolerating society.  We owe a great debt to Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers who prevented the establishment of a state religion and at the same time allowed free expression to so many whacky religious ideas.

As for me --let me declare myself:  I am content to live in this mystery, enjoying the wonder around me; having no certain knowledge of our origin or destiny; participating in the creation of culture and ethics;willing to speculate and listen to others' speculations.

I have two ideas on how to reduce religious tensions:

1. Teach a course in school on indoctrination--how people come to believe what they believe.

2. Create a "Religion Warehouse." as I have suggested in my book: 4o Years A Nomad.

THE RELIGION WAREHOUSE

Kids are gathered outside at eight,

Doors are opened at nine.

They are here to sample religions of the world,

All strung out in a line.

Row upon row, every living faith

Represented in spacious booths.

And every booth has people anxious

To share their “eternal truths.”

They have pamphlets and films and all 27

Major “holy books,”

The Bible, the Koran, the Bagavad Gita.

Every kid’s invited to look.

As they wander up and down the aisles,

Believers of every bent

Urge the children into their booths,

Like barkers at a side show tent.

The Christian section has 200 booths,

Each with a different slant

On God, salvation, Jesus and heaven,

That they wish to implant.

There are nine different versions of Islam,

Six different kinds of Jews,

A host of Buddhist sects,

A hundred types of Hindus.

The New Age section is replete

With people pushing “spiritual” stuff,

Smiley-faced believers in a thousand things,

Like crystals and superstitious fluff.

The American Indians drummed up a crowd

With dancers adorned with feathers.

Truly believing that Shamans can heal,

And Kachinas can change the weather.

Cults took up a whole wall–

Gurus of every stripe,

Dominating tyrants trolling

For the total submission type.

The atheist booth had scrappy folks,

Dead sure in their conclusion

That religion is the opiate of the people,

A dumb and deadly illusion.

Agnostics had a cheerful booth

With banners above and below.

The upper one said, “Keep an open mind;”

The lower said, “Nobody knows.”

The Mormons were talking ‘bout golden books.

The Quakers pushed peace and hope.

The Amish urged us back to the land.

Catholics said obey the Pope.

Back in the corner were Unitarians,

Of all the churches most odd;

The only church that didn’t claim

To have a message from God.

Muslims were a backward lot,

Their religion frozen in time,

Their nations ruled by autocrats,

Their women treated like slime.

Voodoo believers sacrificed chickens;

Spiritualists summoned ghosts.

Urantia folks told of flying saucers;

Tantrics urged sex uppermost.

On and on the religions stretched.

Children came and went until

In a day or a year, their minds were clear,

Or perhaps just had their fill.

Then back to the world, having chosen

“Truths” that suited their taste.

Most took bits from several faiths,

With a job of “cut and paste.”

Gone was arrogance and dogmatism.

Their study of religion and history

Lets them tolerate ambiguity,

Embrace the human mystery.

In a few short years, religious wars ceased;

All nations made a truce.

Every civilized person now agrees

Indoctrination is child abuse.

Freedom to choose your religion

Is a universal human right.

Parents stopped laying their trip on kids,

And the world sleeps better at night.