This is Bo Burnham’s “From God’s Perspective” song. I wrote this commentary on Facebook first and edited it on my phone, just to forewarn you. Also, I welcome any respectful comments either agreeing or disagreeing with anything I say. "If you want love then the love has got to come from you" --Bo Burnham I agree with the above, and enjoyed this video to an extent. I say to an extent because I think Bo Burnham makes some wonderful and powerful statements in this parody (I mostly prefer the ones at the end), but I feel inspired to comment on my sentiments in which I dissent from what he says. I agree that the institution of religion can definitely be problematic. There are many instances of this historically and currently. But, let's also remember that people have done wonderful things in the name of religion. People do horrible things in the name of atheism too. That makes the person or people who did the deed, and those who helped that person or people believe that what they were doing was right the responsible party or parties, *not* the religion or non-religion. At the end of this parody Bo Burnham also mentions that Heaven can be made on Earth. I don't know his background, so I don't know if he knows this (he very well may know this), but that is actually a teaching that long pre-existed him saying that. I know for a fact that Judaism and Christianity teaches that we as people should be spreading love, and not hate in order to create Heaven on Earth. I’m 99.9% certain that other religions say this also. I don’t know how they exactly word it, as I only intimately know it was taught in the Church in which I grew up in those words. I have since studied other religions throughout college and since I graduated almost five years ago and have seen clear parallels, similarities and more that have only served to help me have even more respect for other religions than the respect that was initially taught to me as a child. I have seen that teaching to love one another pop up cross-culturally. I know in my heart that that teaching is why religion is important, and why it is so good for so many people. That also doesn't mean that you can't also be working towards that goal outside of religion. As Bo Burnham said, it's a secular teaching also. This teaching of loving each other (be a good neighbor, etc) is why religion is still important, and why it is so good for so many people. That also doesn’t mean that you can’t also be working towards that goal outside of religion. Secular shows like Mister Roger’s Neighborhood are perfect examples of ways you can learn to be a good person. Also the Harry Potter series, The Golden Compass series, other works of fiction and more are some other secular examples. Please don’t trash religion, but please also don’t trash non-religions. Please don’t trash other people, period. That’s the point, right? I hope we all can agree on that one…That is to say, love is love, right? This extends to all people, regardless of religion or as identifying as not having a religion. From the New Testament of the Christian Bible, the story of the Good Samaritan is the one that feels most relevant to my words right now. I highly recommend not only looking up the story, but also doing some research on what it means in context -- it is a valuable story that has been retold cross-culturally, and probably pre-existed the Bible also (I just currently can think of no specific evidence beyond my gut feeling for my statement that The Good Samaritan story pre-existed the Christian Bible. If you're reading this and have evidence, I welcome you to add it to the comments here). And side note: the Old Testament of the Christian Bible is the Jewish Torah because Jesus was Jewish and wanted to add to the story, not take away from it. At least, that's how it was explained to me growing up, which is just one small piece of evidence that we should respect religions or non-religions outside our own!!!! We're far more connected than you may think! Anyhow, here it is for those who don't know it: Luke 10:25-37New International Version (NIV) The Parable of the Good Samaritan 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=NIV&interface=amp Thank you, again, for reading. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." ---Mahatma Gandhi (or someone else: https://josephranseth.com/gandhi-didnt-say-be-the-change-you-want-to-see-in-the-world/ ) #coexist #loveislove #bethechange
