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The Problem With Christianity
To paraphrase Facebook, it’s complicated. I was raised in a rather conservative Catholic family who observed all the usual traditions, sacraments, holidays and upheld the proscribed values, no matter how hypocritical many those were within the reality they all inhabited. But just like good teachers, true believers are few and far between. In the sense that they practice respect, acceptance, humility and an open mind. But like that famous Nihilist Penguin, who decided to leave the pack and go on his own way into the snowy mountains, they’re lonely riders on the same train, but theirs tracks go in a different direction. Away from the performative, politicized and begrudged version of Christianity the rest has embraced. Not because they’re inherently bad people, but because it’s easier to follow the pack instead of following your heart, even when it leads to loneliness.
I was never one of the “cool kids” at school, nor did I ever truly fit in. Primarily because it seemed so unforgiving and it was all a lie. A dilemma occured to me: do I really need any of this? Most of them just struggled with their hormones, masculinity and tried to get laid in the process. The social contract was more or less exact in its layout without too much room for doubt. Gender was defined by what you have between your legs and your identity was ethnoconfessional. You get yourself a college degree, a job, get married…
