Thou Shalt Not

Listen to Cal & The Kat on Plato’s Cave™

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Thou shalt not . . . talk about politics and religion, especially together.

These are probably the two most volatile conversation topics anyone can toss into the ring to start a fight between good friends, family members or neighbors. This is why most people would try to avoid them whenever possible.

Then there’s Cal and me. On today’s episode of Plato’s Cave, we discuss illegal immigration and the state of Oklahoma’s moral wrangling of ideals that divide families, communities and good hearts, everywhere.

Thou Shalt Not Hassle - the 11th Commandment

First, there is the saying that, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” This quote has been attributed to many such as Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain and even someone in the Bible. I don’t care who said it. It’s a great quote.

Second, I don’t mind being thought of as a fool, thus I don’t mind opening my mouth. I believe in Free Speech, Free Thought and Freedom to Express myself. Whether you agree with me or not is irrelevant, but if you think I’ll shut up just because we disagree, then you don’t know me.

Third, I may not fully agree with Cal on everything or vice-versa, but what I think we both agree on is our right to believe as we see fit and that the federal government tends to stick its nose in where it doesn’t belong far too often.

I believe in separation of church and state. It is the interpretation and implementation of this tenant that can be an unholy mess, legally, when peoples’ hearts are so wrapped around an ideal, moral or otherwise, that they lose sight of what may be best for a community, state or country as a whole.

I don’t claim to know the answer. I’m obviously not a legal expert. I was raised a Southern Baptist by a well-intentioned mother and I mean no disrespect when I say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but I don’t approve of any religion or organization that wants to tell me how to think, what to believe or how to act upon my heart’s desire.

If my beliefs and thoughts are not physically harming you, then I don’t think anyone, especially the government, needs to become involved. A monument to someone’s beliefs that resides on the capitol lawn does not threaten me in any way. Why? The Source of my belief is far bigger than the individuations of others’ perceptions of that which they call god.

I did not just belittle their gods. I said that my Source is not threatened by someone else’s version of same or perception of totality. The devil is in the details. Now, if you start slinging mud, rocks or bombs in my direction because I won’t bend over and kiss the holy ground at the feet of your savior, then we have a problem.

You believe how you want and leave me alone. But let’s stop getting our knickers in a twist because someone wants to honor their heritage or perceived heritage, if it doesn’t physically entail dragging your sorry ass to Sunday School, which might do it some good. I’m just sayin’.

I endured many a Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday night and revival service trying to please my mom and grandmother, so they’d love me and think I was a good little boy. Then, I promptly went off and did whatever the hell I wanted, anyway.

Going to church was fun in a way because I lived in the country and didn’t have many friends who lived nearby, so prior to Facebook, Twitter and the 10,000 other social mediums, church was the great socializer. Most of it bored me, but some of the girls were quite cute and held my interest far more than the begats ever would.

Fear and tradition are powerful tools for trying to train youngins right. I never forced religion on my children. I believe they turned out quite intelligent, self-empowered, motivated, talented, well-behaved, tolerant and respectful of their neighbors. I did not spare the rod when they were little. Well, maybe with my youngest – a daughter.

Sorry, boys, but you caught the brunt of my poor parenting skills, just like I received my father’s wrath when I lied or didn’t obey. I love and respect my father and, though we don’t always agree on a few things, we get along quite nicely and don’t force our beliefs down each other’s throat.

Good fences make good neighbors. Good hearts make space for differing opinions. Good ideals that have the needs of the many firmly in mind are better than anything that is only “good” for a handful of people. ‘Tis all relative.

I believe that all religions, philosophies and lifestyles should be discussed in high school, which gives parents an opportunity, first, to firmly indoctrinate their children as they see fit, during their formative years, whether I agree with their approach and final outcome or not.

However, if you’re going to be a part of the world, living amongst the “sinners,” then you should strive to understand them a little better and not be some self-righteous, sanctimonious cretin.

You may find that most people, races, colors, cultures and beliefs have some common ground. In fact, there are some specific, weighty through-lines contained within all major religions. Why not focus on the similarities rather than the differences?

If you want to worship Satan, I don’t give a shit . . . until you start sacrificing humans or using your perception of power for anything less than harmonious inclusion of all living creatures. Then I’ll sacrifice your sorry ass to my god. I also don’t believe in creating that illusion of separation, anyway, but that may be a longer conversation for another time.

If god is totality, then everything flows from god or Source as I choose to call it. I call it Source because it is least offensive to me. The true Tao can never be named. In naming it, you’ve already lost it. Funny, huh? Only if you get it. Hey, call it the Great Spaghetti Monster or Bob, just don’t expect me to pick up the tab for whatever gets you through the night.

My belief in totality or Source is equally mystical as well as scientific and devoid of any patriarchal or matriarchal bullshit. Most “believers” have so diluted totality by their inability to grasp it fully that you have given god a bad name. Please try to transcend the father and mother archetypes. Knuckles-dragging-the-ground religions are highly overrated.

Stop creating gods in your image, please. This is the source of the majority of religious strife, persecution, wars and enmity between brothers and tribes.

Your arrogance and need to cling to separation is appallingly primitive. As long as you choose to only see separation and why you, your people or beliefs are superior to others, then you are far from the divine, which is totality. Whether you’re an atheist, a scientist or a thousand other points of light seeing only what is in front of your nose, then I say you’re missing the point, if you’re exclusive rather than inclusive.

I am guilty of being exclusive in my own intolerance of others, including their beliefs. Even now, speaking or writing to someone or something other than myself is truly laughable. I get it. There is no other. Stop letting the illusion fool you into hating your brother or sister.

However, if I’m going to play the game of life, it seems as though I was born in the modern land of milk and honey of which I’m most thankful. I will remain loyal even when I see some tarnishing the image of her that I hold in my heart.

I can believe in Totality and still believe in my country. Existential conundrum though it may appear, I liken it unto not killing mice on the outside of my house, but if my home becomes infested, then I reserve the right to deal with the little vermin however I damn well please. I may feel connected to all things, but I will certainly connect with you in a way that seems less than spiritual if you sneak into my home and think you have a divine right to my pantry.

I leave you to your own thoughts, devices and beliefs to meditate upon, scientifically dissect, pray about or shrug off, but I caution that if you cannot honor and respect this country that I call America the Beautiful, then get the fuck out.

I won’t see you at church, this Sunday. I may see you in the supermarket, next week, though and if you’re not respectful, tolerant and trying to be a good neighbor, then Thou Shalt Not Be Surprised if we don’t see eye to eye.

The Kat