First things first: I’m back in Rhode Island. If I have a home, Rhode Island is it. Yesterday marked a journey of 563 miles that began with my alarm clock sounding at 4AM. By 5AM, I was on the road. By 2:15, I had arrived at my destination.
But it was the hours between 5 and 2 that were the most interesting – particularly those hours spent traversing the farmlands of upstate New York. I was surprised to discover many religiously-themed radio stations in New York’s heartland. I tuned in for some time, as I quite enjoy listening to people that see the world differently than me.
More surprising than the number of these stations was the language they employed. I learned about “prayer warriors”, “the battle against evil”, and “love crusaders” just to name a few. It was the language of war, and I was bewildered by its obvious pervasiveness in these modern-day religions. Though war and religion have been historic bed-buddies, one would assume that there would be a movement to separate the two; religion is based on love and war is based on hate, and thus the combining of the two is rather baffling.
I learned that liars are going to hell – as are blasphemers, adulterers, masturbaters, homosexuals and thieves. (See you there?) I learned how to convert people to Christianity through various fear tactics and threats of damnation. I learned that we sin when we vote for pro-choice candidates. And I learned that even though God is all-knowing, the various churches desperately need our money “now more than ever.”
And in all the reporting and commentary that I was able to consume, I learned nothing about making the world a more loving place. From my vantage point, I wondered where love’s place was in all of this, and I couldn’t help but wonder if these religions had become what they fear most.
September 26, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Religion is built into our society no matter what, but anything that seperates people such as religion will cause war. Its a never ending cycle and it’s how we handle it that counts. Loving one another is key to peace.
PS. It’s good to hear you made it back safely. Canada misses you already though, lol.
September 26, 2009 at 2:09 pm
That really surprised me too how religious and conservative people are upstate. I made a bit of a mistake coming here
Downstate is so much better, the closer to NYC the better 
However, Boston is by far my fav!!!
September 26, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I also found this while traveling through New York on my journey from Iowa to Vermont, sometimes it was bordering on the obscene. I hadn’t heard that kind of language anywhere before and haven’t since I returned to the UK… That kind of aggressiveness and fear mongering isn’t as commonplace here, for which I am eternally glad.
September 26, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Religions are always manipulative.
September 26, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Hello
I live in the south of Brazil, today discovered your blog and I’m already more than an hour watching your posts
in Rhode Island people are liberals? Here where I live if people could they eliminate gays from the earth
September 26, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I can assure you that not all Christians are so box minded. To generalize would be like saying that all Muslims are terrorists which is far from the truth. Unfortunately love comes from your heart and is displayed more in your actions than your words and that is why it is so much easier to spot out haters than lovers. Whereas hate is a mindset love is a lifestyle. It kind of reminds me of a quote by Aristotle that I have always tried to hold dear that says:
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
I can place myself into a perspective or thought process without deeming it my personal belief. This is what I believe allows me the ability to love blindly. I can experience the perspective without actually internalizing it. Does that make sense?
September 26, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Onward Christian Soldiers! In graduate school, I took a class in Renaissance music, and on the first day, the prof drew 3 columns on the board: Popes, Kings, and Battles. That pretty well summed it up.
At the recent Values Voters Conference (sponsored by one of the leading anti-gay organizations, the so-called Family Research Council), one of the speakers proclaimed that viewing ANY porn, gay or straight, caused people to become gay. If only that were true. I have a long list of hot-looking straight men I would like to convert. All I would have to do would be to wear a Tshirt with a topless girl pictured on it and walk down the street.
But the lie got worse, and much more damaging, when the speaker urged his audience to tell 11 year old boys not to look at porn or they would become gay. He was sure that would guarantee they would keep to the straight and narrow. Maybe he didn’t know that by age 11 some boys already know they’re gay or leaning that way and those boys might seek out porn…
September 26, 2009 at 2:42 pm
religion that just an acuse for war and hate, all they do is preach on thing they dont know to be bad, they insight hate ,not inspire love!
i am grateful i live in a contery that gives no time to religion! we know god is in our heart not in empty words of prests
September 26, 2009 at 3:09 pm
so sad that churches misuse the kind and loving words of god to spread fear and hatred!
Jesus spoke so full of love and so kind how can churches justify to abuse and misinterpret his words?!?
there’s no phrase in the bible where Jesus sais it’s a sin to be gay! on the contrary he tells his disciples that some are born gay
It’s only the churches that mis-translated the phrases! one has to go back to the original or to someone who translates it right!
(and I can’t remember reading anything about mastrubaters either though I didn’t really make sure on that topic – other than about gays)
Imagine ppl. telling years from now that you said we should hate a certain group of ppl. and fight them with all might… it would make you as sad as it must make jesus how his words are used
September 26, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Davy,
Once again your post is spot-on. I was brought up as a protestant in a a Presbyterian church that was accepting and loving. I never heard hate-preach until I started listening to the tele and radio evangelistas. My God, they completely pervert the message of the bible which is supposed to be love and forgiveness of sins. The political right has subverted religion and now use it as a tool to manipulate people who sometimes do not think very deeply for themselves. Because of these people I no longer participate in organized religions. I prefer to put my hope in either not being judged at all or being judged on the way I treat other folks.
Thanks for a great blog.
Mike
September 27, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Excellent post, well expressed. Thanks.
September 26, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I think this is a great post and a great way to begin some discussion, specifically about the dichotomy of religion incorporating war so much in their wording.
I’m disappointed by your stating this:
“And in all the reporting and commentary that I was able to consume, I learned nothing about making the world a more loving place. From my vantage point, I wondered where love’s place was in all of this, and I couldn’t help but wonder if these religions had become what they fear most.”
I believe that means at the last moment, you gave up. I’ve experienced you, Davey, if “only” over the internet, as someone who learns from EVERY situation he experiences, so this truly disheartens me.
In Love & Hopes That You Will Reflect Again On Your Journey,
Ryan
September 26, 2009 at 3:44 pm
It is not surprising the amount of war references there are in religious talk. Religion is about “defending” ones beliefs against the “forces” of evil. It “us” against “them” (the believer against the unbeliever, pagan, ungodly, infidel…) Although in “defending” ones faith to outsiders it is important to come across as loving and inclusive. (after all it is for everyone, so long as they believe as we do). But behind it all is the, sometimes spoken and sometimes not spoken, goal of conversion.
There has got to be a better all inclusive way.
Love.
September 26, 2009 at 4:09 pm
David,
Well, I’m glad you’re back in Rhode Island. But tell me, are you still gay with all that brainwashing diffused by those so-called religious radios? Aren’t you afraid to burn in hell?
bye,
September 26, 2009 at 4:29 pm
My wish for the world is peace, and particularly in this year, a return to civility and recognition of truth. We cannot begin to understand each other if we will not first listen quietly. We cannot find the essence of truth if we are forever surrounded by lies and hate, and are afraid to stand up to the loud and rude voices of injustice. We became better human beings when we learn to listen and make intelligent choices. We become more productive citizens of our world when we learn to recognize the difference between lies and the truth.
Think before you speak/act, then think again, then be quiet. Know the difference between passion and anger. None of us is perfect, I’m certainly not. Be ready to apologize, be ready to forgive.
Let us all be peaceful, be quiet, be loving! Love is the answer.
I lived in upstate NY – Cortland – for 16 years, and still have relatives in Rochester – my partner’s family. And I can tell you that liberals, Democrats and even gay-friendly folks are alive, well and plentiful up there.
Davey, my gift to you and your readers for the New Year/Rosh Hashanah: new free download of my song THE GOOD SIDE (www.jordanesp.com) – believe in miracles – keep hope alive! Enjoy!
September 26, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Yet another good reason to subscribe to satellite radio!
September 26, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I’ve found that most of the time when I’m driving from my home downstate to my school upstate in NY that I usually just listen to music when I get to those areas. I’ve found that many areas of the United States, at least on the east coast, are somewhat more religious where they are rural. I’ve never listened to it enough to feel this same thing, but I find that most of the time it is hate mongers that somehow get a ridiculous amount of followers–if only to disagree with them. However, in high school I did go to another church once for an Ash Wednesday mass and vowed never to celebrate mass at that church again because the priest’s sermon was ridiculously mean-spirited and hate-filled. I mean, yes, I’m a lapsed Catholic, but there’s only so much anger and guilt I can take, you know?
That’s when I just move around to find a more loving place. Or I just try to be my best with love in my heart.
September 26, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Davey, I am from upstate NY and I know firsthand what you are speaking about. My entire childhood & young adult years were spent in fear and feeling less-than because of what I heard and saw around me.
My blog on my web page goes into detail on how i came out to my father 20 years ago. He has not spoken to me since that day.
Now that I’m older, and feel like I’ve got my stuff together, a trip home can tear down my defenses with just a look or a stare, or a rude comment. It’s tough to forget.
But….on the bright side – upstate NY has some of the best natural beauty and vibe-energy if you know how to tune into that sort of stuff. particularly, you (or, at lease I) can feel the “good” and the “bad” kind of vibes. Once you pick up on this energy level, you can clearly see how they are in opposition with one another. This is where your free will kicks in and you’re off and running.
I would encourage anyone to visit upstate NY, expecially during the Fall. I’m just throwing this out there, but would anyone want to organize a Davey-Wavey Retreat in Upstate NY?? Thanksgiving time! It would be a perfect way for us likeminded people to get to meet-and-greet! I’ll do whatever I can to help bring this together in any way, shape, or form. contact me through my web site and let’s talk!
September 26, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I’m shocked that radio stations like this exist in that area. I live in the south, Texas and would expect that here. I was raised in this sort of atmosphere, until I moved out at 17 and was no longer forced to go. I am always confused why fear is used to bring people to God, it seems so counter productive to what religion should be, but it doesn’t obviously mean all Christians are like this. I know that, but it still is a large % of Christians. I am atheist now, but I bet whomever Jesus was, he would be completely horrified to see what his message has been turned in to in our world today.
September 26, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Northeast USA is kind of the hotspot for homosexuals, bisexuals and other “different” sexualities. So, in order to combat this, zealous Christians will make radio programs to combat the evil or so they call it.
The thing is they have the right to do that, just as we have the right to be the way we are. (I am gay myself, but not very open about it thanks to a homophobic campus). I just bear it, even though they preach about me being condemned to hell, but I don’t react even though it hurts.
September 27, 2009 at 2:32 am
Religion can be so pesimistic. Urgh why are they so destructive when they should be proactive in helping those in need. I mean i’m sure there are a lot of open minded churches out there but when you hear things like this or the Pope
says things like: ” homosexuality is a disease which we must fight” you just think why dont they try being positive and using their energy to do good and make the world a better place rather than trying to convert people sexual orientation.
September 27, 2009 at 6:25 am
Glad you are “home” safe! I actually prayed for safe travels for you. Yeah, those who profess Christ have a long way to go in presentation. Been working on it a long time. But, aren’t we all works in progress? So glad your are home safely. Sending love to you Davey!
September 27, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Amusing that you PRAYED for Davey to be able to safely get through the Christian-infested territory. But clearly your prayers worked because he made it. I pray daily that no rouge elephants invade my second story walkup apartment in Van Nuys, and that works. I’ve been here three years, AND NOT ONE SINGLE ROGUE ELEPHANT!!!! Prayer works!
September 27, 2009 at 10:54 am
>>Though war and religion have been historic bed-buddies, one would assume that there would be a movement to separate the two; religion is based on love and war is based on hate, and thus the combining of the two is rather baffling.
This was a really thought provoking post Davey, but I’m really struggling trying to believe that religion is based on love. I have never known it to be such. Am I naive?
September 27, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Musings: Spirituality is based on love. It is each person’s individual attempt to understand his/her place in the Universe and relationship to it. Spiritual people don’t make others wrong. (Although they may share their spirituality by writing books and thus make some money. ) For the most part and with a few exceptions, religions are groups of people banded/bonded together in a belief that their perception of man’s relationship to the Universe is the correct one. The benign religions are ok with being left alone in their delusions. The aggressive ones try to enroll or force others to adopt their view, usually through fear. Most Christian religions fall into this category and they have been responsible for some good –and considerable misery and death. They use the media voraciously to make others wrong, insist on their rightness, dominate, avoid domination, invalidate others and justify themselves — and to make money. Sounds like a racket to me…. a do-good public face, with a back-room ulterior motive….something that provides juice for them at the expense of others. (If your religion is not a racket, don’t take this personally. But if your religion continually asks you for money to combat the evil that surrounds you, please DO take my comments personally and I invite you to examine your soul, if you believe in one, or your heart if you have one. Meanwhile, Davey, great post today and great topic. Love to you, keep up the good work, and either London or Sydney would be fine with me…. I look forward to your cogent observations of either place.
September 27, 2009 at 11:14 am
I really enjoy your thoughtful posts. They make me believe that the world has some form of intellectual homosexual. =]
September 27, 2009 at 11:41 am
My aunt and uncle are pastors at the church that they built 20 years ago here in our small town of about 1500 people in northeast Oklahoma. They too are always condemning people to hell and teaching hate towards others. Not to mention, ‘preparing’ for war against all sinners.
But look at what they are worshiping, A hateful, jealous and vengeful god. Myself, I prefer worshiping the natural wold that surrounds us. I find this to be more spiritual and fulfilling than joining the Cult of God and Son.
And if that means,that everyone else around me thinks that I am going to ‘hell’ so be it. At least I will have led a happy life full of love for everyone and everything around me.
Okay, I am through with my rant now.
Welcome home Davey!
September 27, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Very well said, Larry.
September 27, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Kudos to you for your intellectual curiousity. I’m curious myself, though I doubt I would have lasted more than 30 minutes.
September 27, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Religion is God’s way of keeping populations under control (through war.)
September 27, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Boy howdy, did you hit a nerve! Haven’t seen this many comments in a while…
I was raised a Catholic, and we were definitely taught that everybody not like us was going to Hell, as well as any of us who loved the wrong people physically (including ourselves). For Lent – you know, AFTER Mardi Gras? – we were supposed to give up a luxury. I gave up guilt one year, and ceased to be Catholic…
(Now, I’m a sort of neopagan Wiccabuddhist -ish…)
September 27, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Who can know that homosexuals go to hell?what worldly being can decide who deserves to go to heaven and who doesnt? Surely that can only be decided after this life. I beleive that we can only live as our self in the present and that being homosexual is just how some of us were made to be ( ergo is it no contraditatory that religious people should question the works of God). plus i defy anyone to prove that homosexuality is not natural seen as over 1500 animals other than humans show these tendancies. ( and nice touch with the ” it really made me wonder…” – very Sex and the City).
September 27, 2009 at 7:35 pm
And…I defy anyone to prove that there is such a place as ‘Hell’ after lifeto go to anyway. For many people there is some form of hell on earth, internally or externally imposed. But to my knowledge, no one has come back to tell us about an afterlife (heaven OR hell) — at least in any way that makes sense (scientific and/or philosophical.) I look for and appreciate people who follow some form of The Golden Rule (every religion and most free thinkers have one), and who are committed to contributing to others and to the world in a positive and unhurtful way, and who believe that if we each do a little something to leave the world…or some portion of it, a little better for their having been here. Not to avoid Hell, but simply because these things make the world work for everyone.
September 30, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Absolutely Lance, you are dead on. Exactly.
September 28, 2009 at 4:05 am
our post reminded me of this song by Blossom Dearie (click on link):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig2daWp-Pls
I think she died earlier this year. At any rate, Bon Chance in Rhode Island!
September 28, 2009 at 4:10 am
That first sentence is supposed to read – “Your post reminded me of…” Apologies for leaving out that ‘Y’!
Love, peace and Hair Grease!
September 28, 2009 at 9:34 am
Home sweet home, what the world needs is love, sweet love…
September 28, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Yes they have. More wars have started, continued and perpetuated for the cause or at the cause of religion. (You can quote me on that.)
September 28, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Yup
September 30, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Oh my god, yes, your conclusions are exactly on target. They have become the thing they fear most. Brilliant, yes, that’s it!
October 3, 2009 at 7:55 am
I find it alarming that people here are so conservative. This is the northeast, we’re supposed to be progressive! Just a few weeks ago I saw a bunch of people protesting same-sex marriage right here in Schenectady (it surprised me because we are one of the most culturally diverse cities in New York State). There isn’t a lot going on for the gay community in New York State. It’s too bad, because our region has a lot to offer and we are finally standing up to the City and distinguishing ourselves from it. It would just be nice if it were a little… gayer – it would make me stay here, but I’m not because of the strong religious/conservative sentiment in New York State.
October 6, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I stumbled on your blog today. This is what I have been waiting to hear from someone. I am stuck in religion. Almost if not all of them are teaching some form of what you said here. It takes a lot to break down the stain of religion but if you did it…i sure I can. I have always tried to exert peace and love but I have been pushed down from religions in today’s society. I am going to keep on coming back. thanks