Reason

I recently read an article on Burnside Writers Collective talking about Faith and Reason. Essentially, it is saying that the word "religion" doesnt mean much anymore because anyone can attribute their actions, or lack of actions, to their religion they subscribe to. It is the trump card, you cannot argue with someone if "their religion is okay with it." it is this culture of relative belief that allows everyone to make up what they think sounds good, believe it, and call it religion. It is so sad really. it makes sense that it has come to this point, but it is sad. In the article the author goes on to talk about how this girl put her virginity on ebay, selling it to the highest bidder and saying it is okay because it is not against HER religion. This whole issue of religious affiliation is no longer a crux for an argument. The convoluted cosmos that has become this word no longer allows for any platforms to exist from which to make points. Our culture, however, relies on reason now more than anything. Well, at least more then the ever-ubiquitous "religion," whatever that means anymore. The faith systems we used to call religion have been converted into different kinds of faith systems. I won't get into what those have become in my opinion because I am not versed enough in the broad array of everything out there right now. I will, however, say that our faith systems are now formed from within ourselves, from looking inward, then searching discovering, and pursuing answers externally. If it feels right, or if you don't feel wrong, then it must be Ok. I believe it is and believing it makes it true, right?
I heard a girl talking tonight about how someone asked her at work, after they found out she was a Christian, if she thought they were going to Hell. A man was sitting at a restaurant, overheard that his waitress was a Christian and his first question is, "Do you think I am going to Hell?" Not "how are you?" Not even "Why are you a Christian?" How many steps does that question skip and how presumptuous is it to jump to that point? At that point is this question a genuine question or a means of attack? I would venture to say the latter. It is interesting that in todays world one must have a million and one reasons to believe in God, but to say God does not exist doesn't require the same amount of reasons, the same amount of thought. It seems that it is acceptable to say he isn't there. It is as if Atheists and Agnostics are saying: "You have to have reasons why you believe, but I don't have to have reasons why I don't." I am being slightly facetious when I say that, but for the most part it is true - that Christians are under a higher scrutiny than anyone. Why is that? Why is the Cross so offensive? Is it really more offensive than other religious faith systems?
It is too bad that people can't meet Jesus before they meet Christians.