The Tower Reversed

I find the word religion beautiful.

How it looks, sounds, and the reverence that rises from its utterance.

For the last decade, it made me want to spit every time I said it. The word was bitter in my mouth like it was a virus I had to reject in case I'd be infected again.

I was raised and baptised into a Christian cult, so believe me when I say that I have zero sympathy for organised sects. But my heart still aches and overflows for the humans whose faith is held by them.

And how wrong would it be if I couldn't sympathise with even the most extreme minds when I too was as fanatical, as deranged, neurotic, and sincere?

Your salvation was on the weight of my being, and I rejoiced at the task. My conduct could either draw you close to God or repel you from his organisation — I'd be bloodguilty forever.

While my notes from 'The Tower Reversed' are most definitely not in support of any religion, I would like to say that not all Christians are cult members, not all Jews are Kahanists, not all Buddhists are kind veggies, and not all Muslims are Jihadists, not all Daoists are in alignment with the Dao, and you can find atheists with more staunch and zeal than someone who claims to be religious.

You can have faith and be fanatical, or be without faith and just as frenzied.

Pay attention to yourself. And take a breath before you squint your eyes at another and bring down the hammer of your decree — decided with or without doctrine. R