Conor Whelan
Jul 6, 2021

Of course, but the worst examples don’t speak for everyone. There are bad examples within any group. The original spiritual leaders throughout time have come with a message of peace and compassion. When others pervert that message to spread fear, that’s on them. Religions today are often used to oppress, but so are all institutions of power. Whenever it is oppressive, it is hypocritical, just as it is hypocritical of a democracy to suppress freedoms. But the many whose faith leads to what Wordsworth calls ‘quiet, unremembered acts / Of kindness and love’ go unrecognised. And of course atheists can be loving too, but it is prejudicial to tarnish all people of faith with the same brush because of the bigots — evangelical even.

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Conor Whelan
Conor Whelan

Written by Conor Whelan

A poet, storyteller, actor and new dad connecting the self with nature through words and images.

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