Today I finished reading the excellent blog-turned-book
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh. She likes to use irreverent hand-drawn comics to illustrate different things from her life - some funny, some sad, some random - but all touching and accompanied with an often equally moving blog post. I will admit a few things from the get go - I am NO Allie Brosh (although her thoughts on depression almost mimic my own) - I'm not trying to be like her nor could be, both in artistry (as proven the left/top) and dialog (as proven below). I am not the most committed blogger (I have like eight dead ones, and two on life support). But I liked the idea Brosh had of revisiting things from the past, even the dark things, and reflecting on them with a bit of humor. I thought I would write a blog focusing on my uber-religious upbringing, but I would apply Brosh's approach of not just being bitter about everything. I have had a few people tell me I should blog more, but I suspect that was just a way to get me to shut up to them about all the things in my life that bother me (and boy are there many!). My first instinct was to just write a blog about all the things I hate about organized religion - a take-no-prisoners expose of the endless hypocrites that are out there. The problem, if you can call it that though, is that I remain a Christian. A proud Christian -
not the
Duck Dynasty watching, evolution mocking, gay-hating, vandalize Planned Parenthood buildings, and Republican voting follower of white Jesus. I'm a guy who is smart enough NOT to know everything, sensitive enough to know there are probably things I believe that are wrong so I shouldn't go judging others, and stupid enough to think there may be other Christians out there who might just have a thing or two in common with me. If nothing else, even if nobody reads this, it will provide me with some self-therapy to try and get over some things that have haunted me for over a decade. If you get to know me along the way, and want to chime in, I welcome it - even if you completely disagree with something I write. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Dan, and if you haven't picked up on it already, I'm angry.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
That is a great Bible verse. And it will help me to remain civil and keep my profanity to a minimum while writing this blog. As I said though, I
am angry, however I did not get here quickly. I am thirty years old, single, and just about over organized religion. Not over God. Not over Jesus. I'm talking about church, where many spend their time not only ignoring the part of the Bible that says not to cast the first stone, but actually hold classes in how to pitch said stones.
Now, I am sure there are some great churches out there. This blog is not meant to bash on the hard working folks who are bringing those into God's Kingdom. This blog is meant as a way for me to vent about my awkward upbringing in the church I attended, specifically in my teenage years, as well as other things that bother me (not just religious, but that's the major inspiration for this blog). I want those that aren't Christians to know that not every Christian is a monster.
Why start this blog now? I have a major motivation I cannot discuss publicly (yet), but let me just say, I have seen one too many times the failure of a church to act in a scriptural way, and I cannot keep my anger in any longer. Jesus was and is awesome. I love Him. But I hate many of His so-called flock. I don't want this anger, I don't want this hate, so I need to work through it. And I have no qualms with doing that publicly.
