Right to Be Mad

circa
I saw a video link to an American stand-up comedian's bit entitled "Religion is legalized madness." I didn't watch the video, but I imagine it's a video of the comedian explaining why religion is legalized madness. I can't be too sure, though.

People must agree with that sentiment, because, without seeing the comments, I noted that the video had more views than there are sets of eyes in my entire state, including potatoes and needles. My conclusion there is that people watched the video because they were intrigued by the idea--maybe even to argue against it.

My point is that, no matter what the video itself is about, I have a response to the very notion of religion being legalized madness: it's not illegal to be mad. That includes any definition of the word 'mad'. You can be crazy or angry and not break the law. Many of the things one might act out because of their crazy or anger could easily be considered illegal, but let's break down the common knowledge of religious practice.

Firstly, I know of no worldwide religion that doesn't offer prayer to their preferred Deity. It's not illegal to pray. In fact, the very action of prayer, in public or private, is protected under the umbrella of freedom of speech. So, prayer can't logically be described as 'legalized madness'.

Secondly, the standards of religion are not the same as the standards of fundamentalists or extremists. Religion is purely voluntary. Sure, you might get an earful of condemnation if you don't agree, but you're in no danger of violating something akin to paying taxes. You can't be convicted of being a member of a congregation or not being a member of anything, at all. Some religions are predicated on crazy ideas, but crazy ideas aren't illegal, and members who practice the standards of their religion aren't breaking the law if their religion doesn't break the law. That can't be logically described as 'legalized madness', either.

Lastly (because three), the entire notion of something being legal or illegal in the United States of America comes from the definition of what is moral or immoral as found in the Bible. The Ten Commandments were, for literally longer than half the age of the country, the definitive prescription for decided what is law and what is against the law. Without religion, there's nothing to hold up the phrase 'legalized madness', because nothing would be legal or illegal in this country.

I'm grateful this comedian was able to write, perform, and post a video of this bit, in all. That means he's not so oppressed by the legal system that he can't speak his mind about religion.

And thank God for that.

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