Pro-Choice on the #12

I was riding the bus last night from work to home when I spied these two little punk kids bundled up. They were teenagers and one was a boy and the other was a girl, and they were obviously together. They looked sad in their wet clothes and soaked backpacks, but I didn’t pay them any attention and sat down.

The two were talking quietly to each other. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they were distraught about something.

A large woman was sitting next to them in the seats facing in and she suddenly turns to them and says, “You will go to hell if you get an abortion.”

To this I say, “It’s really none of your business, now is it?”

She says, “It’s my duty as a Christian to spread the good word, so it is my business.”

Which I shouldn’t have said, “So God sends a fat lonely woman who probably has too many cats to do his bidding?”

The bus was full of Halloween revelers and they erupted in laughter and applause. She didn’t say another word for the rest of the bus ride.

I shouldn’t have said it, but I can’t think of anything more obnoxious than a Christian forcing their will on other people. These two kids were scared out of their minds about having a baby and discussing it and this lady decides to interject her silly mythology on them. Not helpful. Not a good example. Not okay.

I don’t fear Muslim terrorists. I don’t spend anytime looking at a Muslim and wondering if this is the one that’ll open his jacket and seeing a bomb vest. I fear Christians. With the way the country is divided and the kind of people that get their own radio and TV shows now days spreading biblical fears into the minds of scared people makes me believe that it’ll be a Christian terrorist that ends my life.

I know lots of religious people. “Some of my best friends are Christians.” Some of these people are absolutely awesome examples of their faith. They work tirelessly helping people in need and always seem happy with their lives and love me unconditionally – and I’m atheist. I know a couple of Muslims who are the best people on earth. They love and are happy in their relationship with God and the people around them.

Then there are the Christians who would rather be right than happy. They want laws to match their books, pray for the death of abortion doctors, berate and humiliate homosexuals, and curse women’s health care because a book of questionable editing is dictating their decision for a better world.

This same book was used to rationalize slavery, underage sex, genocide, sexism, racism and all the other isms that made history awesome.

I’m not going to dispute the existence of God. There are whole books written from much smarter people than I on the subject, nor am I going to say the hell with faith, but goddamnit, don’t let your faith and your gods be the moral compass to my life. I have never needed God to help me make the right decision, nor have I needed faith to keep me from knowing right from wrong.

To the kids who were on the bus, do what you think is right. There are people out there that will help you. I had to go through that before and I did it without God and I was fine. It wasn’t painless and without consequences, but I know it was the right decision that both the woman and I made. Luckily we were at home and not on the bus when we had to have that talk.

One final thought before I wrap up this rant. Some people use Pascal’s wager of it is better to live like there is a God and find out there isn’t rather than live like there isn’t a God and find out there is. First thing, if there is a God, and he’s that petty to feel like I had to have performed certain rituals to deserve his love, then he’s not all that powerful.

Secondly, if a scientist could absolutely prove there is a God, he’d do it in a heartbeat. He would be rich, famous and he would solve life’s biggest mysteries. If he could prove absolutely that there isn’t a God, he would do it with as much enthusiasm. If there was proof that there isn’t a God, a proof that could not be disputed, than religions would lose billions of dollars.

Now you can start your hate mail. I’ll be sleeping like a baby.