Religion: it's all down to bacon!

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(Originally posted January 2012) Like a lot of writers I have a problem with religion - which I appreciate is a kind of ironic thing to say when your name is J C Christian (I think my parents were having a blonde moment when they came up with those initials) but let me explain. My issue is not with the belief systems themselves or with people who believe in religions. In fact in my fantasy writings, which not only encompass Christianity - particularly relating to apocalyptical matters - but also Islam, Buddhist and Hindu beliefs, I do my level best to treat them as valid and not ridicule their creeds and tenets.

However, where I do have a problem is with some so-called believers. The sort of people who turn their nose up at you when you tell them you spent Sunday morning writing a fantasy story, whereas they spent their time at church. (OK, we are primarily talking about the good old Church of England here, aka the Conservative Party at prayer.) "Fantasy stories," they say, "but those are just fairy stories for over-imaginative adults!"

"As distinct from religion," I reply, "which are fairy stories for unimaginative adults." Angels are just large fairies with halos! I mean have these people ever read the Bible? There are stories in there that would be rejected as over-the-top and too incredible for readers to stomach if they were submitted as a manuscript to a fiction editor. And that's before we get onto the apocalyptic visions of Saint John the Divine. Anyway as a final thought on religion, I would like to leave you with this infographic. 

Marx and Lenin both famously said "religion is the opium of the people" however this infographic suggests religion is really more about preferences in bacon, hummus and magical underpants. And thanks to poet and Facebook friend Myfanwy Fox for first drawing my attention to this graphic in the first place.