Cling is too nice a word. We gravitate towards it. We seem to need it. Religion. It is the last bastion of stupidity on the planet.
Personally, I don't think religion is stupid at all. In fact, I think it is a noble philosophical pursuit. Fundamentally, it is an attempt for humans to understand not only what happens after we shed this mortal coil, but an ultimate meaning for our existence.
However, historically, that is not the case.
I blame the Romans and Muhammad (yes, that Muhammad)
Why, you may ask?
First, the Romans. During the first Council of Nicaea, Constantine allowed the divinity of Jesus to become doctrine (see Arian Controversy). A great philosophical debate at the time because it could be neither proved nor dis-proved at the time of the argument. It was, however, a great mechanism for ruling a large population. It is no coincidence that the birth of Christ coincides with Saturnalia, the Roman new year associated with gift-giving.
Second, Muhammad (I've drawn much of my understanding of the man from Edward Gibbon). The Prophet of Islam. His sole claim to legitimacy is his final victory over Mecca, a city that cast him out because of his lifestyle/beliefs. His victory was not a diplomatic one, he was able to organize an army to destroy Mecca's leadership to allow him to move back home. Nevertheless, he set the precedent of one religion at all costs. He guaranteed benefits that he could neither deliver nor conceive. The real indictment, IMO, is after Muhammad's death when the Sunni and Shia sects were formed. Historically, this is a political decision on who is most qualified to lead the religion after the founders death. Politics in religion. Which brings me back to Christianity.
For those of you Christians reading this, check this out from the Spanish Inquisition:
The methods of torture most used by the Inquisition were garrucha, toca and the potro. The application of the garrucha, also known as the strappado, consisted of suspending the victim from the ceiling by the wrists, which are tied behind the back. Sometimes weights were tied to the ankles, with a series of lifts and drops, during which the arms and legs suffered violent pulls and were sometimes dislocated.[57] The toca, also called interrogatorio mejorado del agua, consisted of introducing a cloth into the mouth of the victim, and forcing them to ingest water spilled from a jar so that they had impression of drowning (see: waterboarding).[58] The potro, the rack, was the instrument of torture used most frequently.[59]
Last part sound familiar? Stuff a rag in the mouth and pour in water. Done nearly 500 years ago, how quaint. Read the whole post, it was primarily a tool to extract false confessions from Jews and Muslims who were forced to convert to Christianity. Hopefully, you learned this in high-school like I did.
Unfortunately, many did not. That is why we had eight years of the last administration. Which brings me back to my original point: Unless we learn from history, we are destined to repeat it. Indeed, we already have.
As an American, the use of religion by political leaders as a talking point is obscene and goes against the Constitution. Period.
Based on what I've said here, it isn't religion that should stay out of politics, it is politics that should stay out of religion.
There is a popular saying: "Those that can, do; those that can't, teach". As a teacher I find this statement almost ridiculous. Almost. Just remember that power, in any form, relies on you being stupid.
Don't be stupid (and I'm not talking about religion). I find it sad that today's society can mock science, while depending on it so deeply (this will be the subject of my next post).
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