I'm in the smaller sauna at the smaller gym, because I subbed a morning yoga class. Only me and one silent man. I lay down. I can hear and see three older men talking clearly outside of the glass door.
"A respected theologian said that he doesn't consider Scientology a religion. If it's not a religion than what is it? Apparently, the Scientologists built a nine million dollar mansion out in the middle of nowhere in California. The mansion is so that when L. Ron Hubbard returns he'll have somewhere to live. Isn't that ridiculous? A big empty mansion for when L. Ron Hubbard returns."
If L. Ron Hubbard and Jesus return to Earth at the same time, Jesus is gonna be so jealous.
Maybe Jesus can live in L. Ron Hubbard's guest house.
The skepticism fits. This weekend, I'm "dancing" with Penn Jillette's NoGodBand, at Penn Jillette's Private Bacon and Doughnut Rock and Roll Dance Party, adjacent to TAM, an annual celebration of science, skepticism, and critical thinking held every summer here in Vegas.
"What does a fish know about the water in which he swims all his life?"
The men continue their talk.
"Mormonism's got to be the silliest though. Some of the things they believe are ridiculous. They have holy underwear that's supposed to protect them."
"Seriously? Magic underwear? That is silly."
Cuhhmmm ohhn, that's not fair. All religious beliefs are equally silly. No one's beliefs are sillier than anyone else's.
In Einstein's book, Out of My Later Years, one of my favorites, he talks about science and religion.
"All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual toward freedom."
Einstein explains that the question of the sages throughout history had been how to encourage the common man to live a life of love. Their answer was to attach these guidelines for better living to religion.
I've reluctantly been in sales for what feels like my entire life. If only I could sell my "wares" to people by telling them that they'll be rewarded when they die... If only all manipulations could be so simple.
"At least religion tricks stupid people in to not killing each other," Jim said.
Einstein explains that our disillusion with religion is due to realizing the stories we were told were bunk. But just because the stories aren't true, doesn't mean that their aim was.
"But this part of the Bible can't possibly be true! Therefore, there's no God! There's nothing more than shitting, eating, fucking and dying."
Maybe that's true, but a book written thousands of years ago being proven inaccurate doesn't prove anything. It proves people wrote and distributed a book a long time ago. That's all that proves.
As long as religion reaches towards love then I'm for it. But we've bastardized the word to such an extent that it's synonymous with ignorant people spewing hate and being cruel in the name of "God."
"I pay 1,700 dollars a month for health insurance," one of the old men says. I guess, that's because he's much more likely to get sick and die, any day now, than I am.
"What a drag it is getting old!"
Time: 19 minutes
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