I read an article in this morning's paper that got me to thinking.  It's from the AP and I copied it to "word" to attach it here - because I had to use my password to access the article on-line - but I put the link on the top of the attachment. 

I read a book one time When God Becomes a Drug by Father Leo Booth.  I think religion is the subtance this book really speaks to.  Because each religion tells its followers what God is.   In the forward to this book, John Bradshaw says: "No addiction is more toxically shaming  and soul-murdering than the religious abuse that flows from the actions of religious addicts." -- I think some us who used to be premies fall within the realm of this sort of an addict.  One could compare organized religion with the cigarette manufacturers who, like the stereotypical drug-pusher, prmote addiction, in order to keep 'in business'. 

Some of the suggestions in this article, especially that the local police force discouraged investigation of priests in this murder, sounded much like some of the premies I knew, perhaps even myself, who turned a blind eye, or rationalized any questionable actions or activities by GMJ or those close to him (i.e. Jagdeo, Fakiranand...) simply because we were addicts. 

People who know me now, who did not know me 30 years ago, are sometimes surprised when I tell them I am not an athiest, only anti-religion.  Surprisingly in our culture, that is a hard concept to grasp.  In our culture it is difficult to imagine it is possible to believe in a god or spiritual force without being told what to believe. 

Anyway I just wanted to share this article -- it made me think.