Why do we need to keep talking about religion?

[Riddil]

I hope to avoid turning this into a flame-war. I actually don't want to argue one side or another. But these past few years I'm beginning to wonder more and more frequently... why is there still so much talk about religion?

A lot of people rejoiced when Palin headed back to Alaska. "Finally we can start forgetting about her". No matter if you liked Palin or were glad to see her go, most people understand the logic: if there's something you consider inconsequential then it's best just to "forget about it".

Why can't people have the same attitude toward society's wish to impose our own personal view of the "right answer to the big question"? Most people don't feel the need to argue til they're blue in the face about other parts of philosophy, so why this topic? I'm not only talking about the religious zealots... it seems atheist zealots are increasingly vehement. We've all seen comments threads on fark like this one.

But why does it matter? If you're religious why not use India as a model, and let your neighbor have their own faith? Go feel contented with your unerring faith in God while you pass out your religious fliers. And if you're atheist feel content living free of the burdens of religion while you throw away the fliers the religious folks hand out. Why does it ALWAYS turn into a holy war?

After almost three years of living in China I've really had my eyes opened how an entire people can have complete impartiality toward religion. It's funny, when I was home last holidays I went with my parents to their church, and the pastor began talking about Christian persecution in China, and how we need more resolve to "penetrate the Great Wall".

I found it funny, because the truth is that the government and the people really couldn't care less about Christianity, or any other religion. It's just that the government takes extreme measures because that's the way they handle *all* groups. I live in Shanghai, and the government continually steps in to kill all attempts to set up an amateur soccer league. They're not fearful of soccer and fight to deny it to their people. They just fear any organization with a strong membership that's not loyal to the party.

And the local people... they're not hungry for religion. There's access to churches in even some of the smallest of towns. They're just very small and overlooked because most people really couldn't care less.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not citing China as an example of progressive cultural philosophy. I just think it makes common sense. I'd be overjoyed if we could get to the point when we didn't have to worry about not only did our President go to church, but does he REALLY believe in God?

What does it matter?

My parents are part of the Palin nation. My Dad was continually sending out emails claiming how wonderful Palin was for President. But why? If I was a school principal and I needed to pick a new football coach, would I interview coaches and ask football questions, or would I interview coaches and ask them about the rapture?

It's silly. I vote we just forget about it, and move on. Both sides.

PS: if you're Christian and you're trying to spread the word in China... please, don't be silly and try to lug 500 heavy Bibles through customs. They'll be nicked, the same way if you tried to lug 500 identical copies of anything through customs. Seriously, just put a copy of the Bible on a USB key, get to China and have a local print shop churn out 20,000 Bibles for the same cost you paid for your 500. Then stand on the street-corner and hand out as many as you want. Much easier.