Anger

I wonder why there is so much gut-wrenching anger spewing forth from religious people. Radio talk show hosts who espouse religious views, and many major religious leaders these days are filled with hate and vitriol. Why? It seems to me if I truly believe that I am among the saved, the blessed, the righteous, I would have no reason to be angry at gays, Muslims, Baptists, Papists, the Lakers, Nancy Pelosi, the NRA, heathens, infidels, or anyone else.

Seriously, why the anger?

If I truly believe that I am among the saved, the blessed, the righteous, why would I have reason to be afraid of things of the world?

I remember reading Marshall Frady's biography of Billy Graham years ago. The one section that stuck in my mind is the one dealing with a minister in the hills outside Nashville. The man drank a bit, smoked a bit, drove a beat up truck, and lived in a very modest home that he made available to anyone who stopped to talk. KKK or Black Muslim, Baptist or Quaker, atheist or deist--it did not matter. This man did not seem fearful or angry. This man opened his home. I wonder why?

I am an angry man. Haven't always been so. Don't like it. But I am. I am not a religious man.

Wonder why I'm not religious and angry?

Most religious folks I run into these days, on the streets, on TV, on Facebook are as angry as I am, or so it seems. I wonder why they are religious and angry?

And the number of guns held, and bragged about, by religious folks in their homes speaks to mass fear. I wonder why?

I wonder what it takes to get rid of the fear and anger. Are these natural states of human beings? Why would religion not help?

It hasn't.