James+L’s+Final+AmEx+2013+Speech

=Title of Speech=

Counterproductive Dogmatism
=Text of Speech= I don’t believe in God; nor do I believe in any other particular deity for that matter. But the purpose of this speech isn’t to persuade you to follow my beliefs, and it’s definitely not to offend any of you whose faith is stronger than mine. No, my intentions are quite simple. You see, despite my skepticism in a superior being, I don’t consider myself an atheist. My goal isn’t to bash those who share a separate belief than I, because frankly, I don’t care what any of you think. Whether you pray to the almighty Flying Spaghetti Monster, or the predominant Jesus Christ, your opinion really doesn’t matter at all. Honestly think about it, regardless of your religion, until the clouds part over Detroit and God emerges to bless the entire city with everlasting harmony, any conceivable theory is potentially correct. The truth is that no matter how close you feel you are to reaching spiritual enlightenment, no matter which beliefs you hold dearest to your heart, the truth is unattainable, and the reality of our creation will forever lie beyond human capacity for comprehension. So this is all well and good, but I don’t want any of you to misinterpret what I’m saying. I acknowledge the positive assets of religion, it just simply doesn’t appeal to me. I understand many of you utilize your faith as a guide, not unlike many others who turn to God in the middle of a crisis. When tragedy strikes and it appears that no one is able to provide aid, religion acts as a helping hand. It’s when prayers are seemingly answered that hope is restored. Religion also provides the benefit of a system of morals. I’m sure if the idea that eternal damnation awaits you after a life of sin had never been created, there would be a hell of a lot more crime in the streets. Death is the second ranked phobia amongst humans behind only public speaking (How ironic, right?). Well, this mysterious occurrence of an afterlife causes quite the dispute amongst certain religious affiliations. Heaven and Hell for Christianity, reincarnation for Hinduism, the Third Realm for spiritualism; all provide a possible explanation for the unknown. Humans tend to fear the unknown, and we rely on religion to supply ourselves with a bit of comfort as we lie on our deathbed. So yes, the values of religion benefit society in ways that nothing else can. The problem doesn’t occur within faith itself, but in the dispute that is sure to follow. Religious discord is a catalyst for aggression. Plenty of extremists are willing to die for their cause, so when two particular affiliations maintain contradicting viewpoints, it isn’t uncommon for violence to transpire. This simply should not be the case. I’m typically not the type to say “Everybody get along,” but I find it simply ludicrous that so much hostility has risen from such a pointless subject. Indeed, religion may occupy the void in your life, but is it really something to get worked up about if another’s theory differs from your own? In the America I hope to grow old in, I wish to see a blatant disregard for other’s religious affiliations not unlike my own. Carry these values close, but don’t judge others for opposing your beliefs. To put it simply, stop giving a shit what people think and live your life the way you determine it to be. Thank you. =Cite Your Sources= //http://www.victorzammit.com/articles/religions3.html// //http:////www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-alan-lurie/is-religion-the-cause-of-_b_1400766.html