| Religious Repulsion Upon flipping through various passages in Defoe’s A Journal of the Plague Year I realized a problem that existed in the Plague time world as well as before it, and is also extant today. That problem is the blight of man that we have come to call religion and its repulsive nature that descends upon the extremely pious, which causes countless disasters, unnatural disasters. In A Journal of the Plague Year the great land of Britain was succumbing to the onslaught of disease in its heart, London (Defoe 1). Of course, to ease the worries of the town folk an explanation of the unfathomable phenomenon was needed, and who better to provide it than the ever so insightful clergy (among other pious individuals). Therefore, the religious zealots proclaimed that the pestilence was the result of none other than a vengeful God, a God that the New Testament described as benevolent, but it seems as though they ignored that (Defoe 14). Well, the religious sect persuaded their fellow denizens that the plague was divine revenge against their sins for they were sinful folk (DeFoe 14). The good God fearing people agreed and began the disgusting process of penance (DeFoe 14). However, when this failed in various regions of the European world the good people began to persecute the progenitors of monotheism (and their own religion), the Jews, for their disbelief in the Messiah. This revolting display is much like that of the WWII era or that of the Roman Empire, except that the Europeans were Christians; the Romans had the excuse of being pagans and the Nazis were led by a mad man. Religion also seemed to have prompted a disregard for public health in the olden days. During plague time the church, in order to appease their malevolent (previously known as benevolent) God, held various sermons at which both the plague-ridden and plague-less citizens were present (Defoe 119). This totally undermined the health board’s pathetic but intelligent attempt at quarantining the infected people, and undoubtedly caused more infection. Though the intent was good the effects of the gathering were ill (yes, pun intended), which unfortunately meant that the misinformed populace that bought the ridiculous notion that prayer would cease the spread of the contagion, contracted it. Furthermore, the faith propagated a variety of absurd ideas. One of these ideas bore a striking resemblance to what is known as Calvinism, which incorporates the concept of predestination into Christianity. As described in the Journal a few disparate, desperate, despairing individuals tinkered with the thought of predestination because of the seemed randomness of contracting the Black Death (Defoe 123). Of course, an idea of this sort makes little to no sense because it meant regardless of their actions their fate would pass, or even that their actions themselves were, in fact, scripted by divinity, but was it not written that God gave man the faculties to choose their fate? Anyway, this line of thought leads to the complete disregard for any canons set forth by any body, both human and divine, and compelled individuals to neglect any measures protect themselves from harmful stimuli. Predestination is an ideal that is injurious to any social structure and causes much strife. Now to describe an idea that is not actually harmful to anyone but is repulsive none the less, divine guidance or intervention. Defoe’s narrator serves as a prime exemplar of a follower of this abhorrent theory. You see, on various occasions the narrator’s departure from London was delayed by unforeseen hindrances, which he took as a signal from God to remain in London. His conviction was later strengthened by another sign; the opening of the bible to a specific passage in which God said he would protect his follower (Defoe 12). Of course, this fervently (ostensibly) pious man could not deny that it was God’s will for him to remain. It is rather asinine to assume that an all-powerful being would take the time to speak to or protect an individual for no apparent, and anyone who believes so is certainly either delusional or under the influence of some state altering device. However, now it seems as though the first sentence of the above paragraph is a fallacy because if someone believes God is speaking to then can they not believe God is telling them to do harmful things as well as harmless ones? What if someone “heard” God tell them to murder people? Then there would be a guiltless killer on the loose doing “God’s Work.” Obviously, a person of this demeanor would be difficult to halt for his resolve would never waiver. Yes, great piety results in great disaster. The contemporary era is plagued with religious fanatics that cause tragedy. Take, for example, the Branch Davidians that holed themselves up in with their leader David Koresh, who thought stockpiling weapons was part of God’s will and would not be discovered by US government. Anyway, the obstinate Koresh and company would not comply with the ATF and FBI’s requests for an inspection of their facility. They, of course, facilitated comprehension of their refusal and contempt for the US by the law enforcement by firing upon them. The law reciprocated by launching tear gas into the domicile which quickly proceeded to mysteriously catch fire, incinerating all the inhabitants, which included young children. The tragedy was undoubtedly caused by the Davidians complete belief in their false religion and false Messiah. The Holy Land has been the center of strife for a multitude of generations, including the original ordeal in which the Jews first acquired it. During the period of Roman expansion the Jews were expelled from their “promised land,” which was later conquered by the Turks, a great Islamic Empire. Later, a great Pope sent his catholic armada to “recapture” the Holy Land in what is known as the Crusades. Though the crusaders failed miserably they were able to rape and pillage various lands they came across before their eventual defeat. Throughout the years the Jews continued to be persecuted until finally the Holy Land (at that time known as Palestine) was stolen from its occupants, and the nation of Israel was formed. Now, a war for control of the Holy Land has raged and still rages between Israelites (Jews) and Palestinians (Muslims). This conflict exists in part because of the importance of the area in both culture’s religious texts. Yes, millions die every year in the name of religion, in the name of religions that characterize killing as evil. It is undoubtedly obvious that religion illustrates the most disgusting of effigies, spawning and resulting in a myriad of atrocities. What is even more repulsive is the devoutness of some to the point which a logical discussion of the validity of ones beliefs becomes moot. Individuals so pious disgust me so absolutely that I can hardly speak of them without inducing myself to vomit. These are the people that get mobs to follow them to commit heinous acts such as the Manson Family murders or venture out on their own with their “Holy Axe” to destroy demons. Yes, religion is repulsive because it creates such people. |