May/101
easy to be hard
Apr-25, originally uploaded by tomleu68.
The old Three Dog Night song says “it’s easy to be hard; easy to be cold; easy to say no; easy to be proud; easy to give in.”
It may be easy to give in, but it’s [not] easy to be hard… to say “no.”
It IS easy to give in RATHER than standing up for what you believe in.
Because it’s often easier to believe in what everyone else believes in.
There’s a bigger market for believing.
There’s less resistance. There’s already an infrastructure in place. Power in numbers… that whole thing.
I’ve heard it said it’s easy to be cynical and skeptical… particularly when it comes to matters of faith, religion, and spirituality.
It’s not.
It’s much easier to embrace blind faith than to ask hard questions.
The faithful are applauded while the reasonable are ridiculed.
This contemptous relationship endures.
Cynicism and skepticism are often used as synonyms. It’s semantics, but there’s a big difference between the two.
Cynicism is a mistrusting of the motives of others.
Skepticism is a doubting or questioning attitude or state of mind.
I’m often skeptical, yet only sometimes cynical.
It’s not easy to be skeptical.
It’s not easy to ask hard questions.
It’s not easy to doubt and demand.
It’s not easy to go against the grain.
It’s not easy to risk.
It’s not easy to reject the status quo.
It’s not easy to stand alone.
It’s not easy to choose the minority.
It’s not easy to be hard.
It’s not easy… but necessary.
More necessary today than ever.
©2010 Tom Leu
Apr/100
started to feel silly
Mar-07, originally uploaded by tomleu68.
Used to believe
But often times not really
After doing the homework
Started to feel silly…
Circular reasoning
It all goes back to the book
Written by men
Banking few would really look
Evidence when it’s serving
Faith when it’s not
It’s all or nothing
Shit or get off the pot
Searching for followers
Saving converts and sheep
Who ask no hard questions
While staying deep asleep
Power in numbers
Believing all the “good stuff”
Perpetuating the myth
Of never being good enough
It’s really big business
Selling only one way
Us vs. them
With many willing to pay
Wondered if others
Feel the way I felt
Freedom at last
Exiting the bible belt
Compelled to share
Knowing the reception would be chilly
But the burden is lifted
Now I no longer feel silly…
©2010 Tom Leu
Jul/081
a new religion
Our purpose is not to create a “new” religion, to endorse a movement, nor a devotion to a tradition. But rather, it’s about remembering an old realization:
The realization of who we are… what we are capable of… where we are going… and when we will finally realize why we are here.
©2008 Tom Leu
Jun/080
Why is it…? #5
…when a group of like-minded individuals gather together that the perceived believability of the group’s rhetoric goes up?
©2008 Tom Leu
May/081
lost and found
Many religious adherents applaud those who claim to have been “lost” but are now “found” - this is viewed as good.
Their system is set up to save the lost and free the found. The lost are herded into the confines of the flock where they are shown the way… the right way; the only way, some say. They join the team and begin to identify with the like-minded, previously lost, but now-found-fellowship. Their new-found conviction now requires the recruitment of new converts. And on and on it goes…
But what about those who claim no need for some brand of spiritual group identification or belonging? There are many well-adjusted people who have no need to be affiliated with some group to know who they are - and no need to be told and sold what to believe in. This is viewed as bad because these folks (according to the fellowship), are still lost – blindly believing they aren’t. See how it works? The only true way is their way… those who “believe the good stuff” as I’ve heard it said. You cannot win for losing. And “winning” of course means an eternal spiritual victory and everlasting life because you chose the right team.
This is self-serving, circular reasoning that initially appears very compelling, but is hardly true. One’s identity need not be produced from some group ideology. As soon as one has to “belong” to some group to really belong, the purpose of the group is now defeated and its value diminished.
Here’s a thought:
Instead of “lost” → “found”
How about ”learning” → “growing” → ”fulfilled”
Works for me…
Photo – July 17th, 1963: A collection of bibles at a lost and found area at a Jehovah’s Witness convention. (Photo by Reg Lancaster/Express/Getty Images)
©2008 Tom Leu
May/080
Why is it…? #4
…that some assume enthusiasm equals evidence?
…that so often feelings get confused with facts?
…that some adhere to religion at the expense of reason?
…that so many attempt to make science out of that which is only speculation?
©2008 Tom Leu
May/080
Why is it…? #3
…that those with the greatest natural need to convince and convert - usually claim something supernatural as their source?
©2008 Tom Leu
May/080
Why is it…? #2
…that so many don’t realize that separation theologies thrive because they are cleverly promoted and consumed as inclusionary, when in reality, they’re extremely exclusionary?
©2008 Tom Leu
Apr/080
Why is it…? #1
…when a person is not regularly bowing to, worshipping, or even idolizing some collective, man-made creation, that those who are adherents, arrogantly assume and insist that this person must be “lost,” backsliding, or deceived?
©2008 Tom Leu
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Tom Leu is a writer, speaker, photographer, and teacher with degrees in Psychology and Sociology. Tom's RockStar Way™ brand uncovers the extraordinary "images" within music, marketing & motivation.
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