Being  a ‘PK’ (preacher’s kid) meant that a lot of time during my childhood was spent within the confines of church listening to dreary speeches and sermons about a concept I didn’t even understand.

To me, church was nothing more than a concert for old people.  The church choir was the supporting act for the main event (the priest and his sermon), the deacon was the master of ceremony, the usher(usually standing by the door) was the bouncer, donations made on the money plate served as the cover charge.

Speaking of the money plate, to whom did that money go anyway? “Come give your money to God”. Priests always spoke as though they would personally transfer the money into God’s bank account. Status and preference is given to those who donate ‘holy money’ (anything above R10). The higher your ‘donation’, the higher your ranking on the social hierarchy. That always made me wonder, is religion still relevant or has it become a means of manipulating people out of their hard-earned money?

It always amazes me how religious people are quick to condemn others. As soon as you don’t fit the mould of what it means to be a ‘devout believer’ you’re immediately slapped with “You’re going to hell!”.

Why do people have to conform to norms? Religion is the biggest form of hypocrisy. It talks about forgiveness and loving one another yet it relentlessly condemns, ostracizes and alienates anybody who doesn’t succumb to its expectations. So-called believers are quick to throw bible verses at you as soon as you’re an ‘other’, but it’s funny how quickly they forget the part which says “love thy neighbour”.  Is religion still relevant or is it a means of controlling the masses? Furthering people’s political agendas? A case of , “how can I get people to become subservient? Aha! I’ll tell them God said so”.

As soon as you question religion, you’re deemed satanic, nothing less than a blood-sucking demon. I won’t be surprised if I get a couple of “she’s going to hell’s or even hate-mail from devout ‘believers’ for criticising their saintly ways.

I’m a firm believer in ‘live and let live’, I’m an activist of individuality, being who you are without society trying to turn you into some sub-ordinate inanimate robot. Spirituality is such an intimate thing, so very personal. What business of yours is it how I exercise my spirituality? Believe it or not I do have a relationship with God, I just refuse to be dictated to as to how I should carry-out that relationship.

That’s one thing religion fails to recognise; God gives us free will, the right to praise Him in whatever way is suitable to us. With religious wars ensuing and the poor putting their lifetime savings on the money plate, is religion dead?

Pretty obvious don’t you think.