"In summary, passionate kissing is a sin before marriage. If you are doing anything with someone that you would not also feel comfortable doing with your brother or sister while in the presence of your parents, then you are going too far and need to repent." I just happened to check the cruel site of the day and this page is what was there. The whole page is funny, but the last line, the one I started my entry with, is the best. Do you see what I'm living with here, folks? Surrounded by religion? It's weird. Kind of scary. Sometimes I feel like I'm surrounded by Quakers or something.

Anyone catch George Carlin on Politically Incorrect the other night? I really wish I'd taped it. It was a very nice episode. George pretty much tore everyone apart when they got to some question about religion. I love and admire that man because he doesn't worry about offending anyone; it's kind of his job. Plus, no matter what he says, he'll still be a comedy legend forever. He put everyone in their place regarding their archaic and insane views of God and religion, something which doesn't happen often enough. How we live in a society that actually sees people who don't believe in an invisible man that lives in the sky (George's words, to give credit) as crazy compared to those who worship and guide their whole lives by something which may or may not exist is beyond me. God is one thing though, and religion is a whole 'nother. Belief in God seems crazy to me, however it doesn't seem completely implausable that a god or creator may exist. It does seem implausable that a god is making up scads of rules that must be followed and tests that must be passed for us to get into heaven. That sounds more like something people would do. People generally fall into two categories though, leaders and followers. Either you're someone making up the rules to keep people in line (and put a dime of every one of their dollars in your pocket), or you're someone following the rules because it prevents you from having to think for yourself. People don't like to form their own thoughts, and that's why we consistently vote for more governmental control and intrusion into our lives. If someone else takes care of us, we won't have to. No responsiblity, no consequences. And on the topic of religion, I just need to mention that I know people who are full fledged members of some religion, not necessarily mormon, who go to church every week and say they believe in a lot of what their church says, but not all of it. Well I don't believe that a religion can be taken piece by piece that way. A religion is nothing more than a set of rules that you are supposed to follow. Once you start saying, "I don't follow that rule because I don't believe in that rule" you have basically denied the religion as a whole, because each of those silly, silly rules has it's place within that specific dogma. It's all or nothing kids, either you've got to choose to be a part of a religion by believing in everything they teach, or you have to deny it because you realize some of the teachings may be false. If you question your religion, maybe that's becuase you're realizing the insanity of it all. Keep questioning. It will make you strong. If you keep going to church just to appease your parents it will make you stupider.

This isn't trying to bag on Mormons specifically. Catholics, Christians, Jews, Muslims. You're all the same. You're all crazy in my opinion. As large groups you are making the world a worse place to live. But on individual levels, the friends and family I know that are parts of these frightening cults are fantastic, and I love them like crazy. A person should never be judged on what they are, they should be judged on who they are. But that doesn't make your beliefs any less archaic.

Just thought I'd give you something other than, "I woke up late, blah blah blah," today. Have a nice weekend, all.