Although I'm not religious, I do respect religions

I'm rather proud and happy with the way my recent book, Chicano Sin Fin: Memoirs of a Chicano Journalist turned out. Although, quite truthfully, I'm not so happy or proud at some of the things I wrote in it, but, hey, I've always been one to say what's on my mind and suffer or rejoice at the consequences.

I'm referring to the first chapter, page xx. I wrote rather flippantly about Catholics and Catholicism, and what I wrote didn't turn out the way I meant it to. Speaking of religion, and the fact that one of my friends wanted to visit me at the hospital with a group of her friends to pray for me, I refused her offer. To quote from my book: "She couldn't understand why, but I was adamant. No praying around my bed. If I recovered, it was going to be my own doing and not because of some supernatural mumbo jumbo.." There, that's it - that's where I made my faux pas.

Religion is not "mumbo-jumbo." Religion is what drives peoples' lives, only it doesn't drive me. Yet, I do respect religions - mind you, I said religions (plural). During the recent presidential campaign, the Republicans were working hard to typecast President-elect Barack Obama as a Muslim. I wondered, what? A Muslim? So, what's wrong with that? Isn't our United States of America a nation that accepts all religions? Aren't Americans Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindis and other religious sects perhaps not as-well known? Of course, our nation was founded on the basis of freedom of religion. So, why were the Republicans trying to label Obama as a Muslim, even though he's a Christian. Did they think we wouldn't support him because he was being accused of being a Muslim?

I have made it a point in my life to study every religion, as much as I can, without actually getting involved in any of them. I was born into a Catholic family and to my mother, attending Mass was tantamount to being a good Catholic. I followed that religion, making my first communion when I was six. Thereafter, I confessed my sins, took the Holy Host, attended special Masses, such as Las Misiones, and attended Midnight Mass every Christmas Eve. I remember going into a Protestant Church that was located in our barrio. My sweet mother would have a fit, because she said I would be destroyed by the Protestants. I love you mom, but, to me that was laughable, because I couldn't see anything wrong with that Baptist Church that dared to exist in a Catholic enclave. But, she did see something wrong. Obviously, she feared that I would be converted. This caused me to slowly, but surely, turn away from Catholicism.

When I joined the U.S. Air Force, I was the Chapel Guide in Basic Training at Lackland AFB, Texas. I would march other Catholics to Mass every Sunday, even though I was starting to have doubts about religion in general. When I was assigned to Travis AFB, California as my permanent base, I made a total change. It happened one Sunday morning, while I was going to Mass that I decided that what I was doing was merely robotic because I had lost all interest. I made a media vuelta and walked away from religion. Instead, I went to the Airman's Club on base to eat dougnuts and drink coffee - while watching the Dallas Cowboys on television. Thus, my religious interest ended then and there and I've never been sorry.

But, you know, I still respected religions and religious people. And, I still do. Without religion, can you imagine the chaos that would ensue? As it is, even the most holiest of holys, who feel they are beyond reproach when it comes to religion, commit some of the worst atrocities against human-kind. But, not everyone. Without religion, there would be no basis for some people to act kindly towards their neighbors and fellow humans. Without religion, it would be a free-for-all, with people being murdered, being abused. Even Bible thumpers of the past and present have been known to carry a bible in one hand and a rod in the other - all to punish what they consider sinners. But, really, what is a sinner? Someone that has been adjudged such by someone else?

So, no, keep your religion to yourself, and I will continue to be a good person, who loves life, loves people and wouldn't harm anyone. Remember, I like religions, respect them and I like and respect religious people as well. But, it's not for me. I'm glad I got this off my chest. Forget the flippant way I dismissed religion in the first chapter. But, please, don't try to get me to think like you - because it's just not going to work.

Sin Fin