The Handmaid's Tale- Response to the Novel

Now this is exactly the opposite of what I think of when I try to imagine a religious fanatic society. Well, perhaps I'm imagining the wrong thing, as this isn't quite a religious fanatic society. My idea of religious fanaticism is a world that lives inside a monastery. This world of Gilead merely says, "well we're God's community and we're in charge and if you don't think we are the rulers of the universe then you can (quite literally) go to hell. We fund the travel expenses!" Religion is simply a justification. Though that's probably why it's so freakin' creepy, because today's world has religious justifications out the wazoo. Islamic radicals purging the land of infidels as Heaven wills, us trying to spread Christianity to those same people because Heaven wills, and then both trying to impose religious-centered rules and regulations in their own lands because Heaven wills...It's all about what our respective Gods may have or may have not subtly implied. Quite frankly, if anyone ever willingly rejected any specific form of salvation, I'd say it's their own choice. Religion and respective salvation is a choice that someone's gotta make on their own. I've never known anyone to try and drag someone to Heaven with them, although quite a few threats for an excursion in the opposite direction have been made. The trick is to understand that not everyone believes in the same exact thing you do.

Now I mention rules and regulations. What could I possibly be referring to...Ah yes, the frequent demands to ban gay marriage and abortion. I personally am a Catholic, and I do understand why these things are against God's will, but I really don't think that there's any need to go around on a crusade. Firstly, the Constitution hasn't said bubkus (I hope that's spelled right) about either, so those powers go to the people. Therefore, why the church is bugging the government is beyond me. If anything, it's a state right, and they can more than willingly decide on their own. Secondly, America was founded to escape any restrictions the people would ever be bound with due to religion. The great forefathers would be turning in their graves if they thought that religion is causing restriction of rights, after they spent so much time and blood getting that freedom. Put in Aunt Lydia's words, they fought for freedom FROM religion, not freedom TO place your religious beliefs on somebody else. At this time I do acknowledge that several of the forefathers could be very opinionated, and maybe would have pushed for the prevention of gay marriage, but I'm sure you all get the point that I'm attempting to make.

Getting off that rant a little, a militarized takeover and impression of biblical passages and rules actually is somewhat prevalent in today's world. Many extremists believe in the Bible or respective religious novel to such an extent that they would follow it unswervingly, believing it to be the only path to salvation. The militarized utopia of Gilead is in its own way becoming utopian in their minds. If the will of God is followed, and God is all good, then they must be perfect holiness themselves and should then be happy. Now, besides the fact that a great deal of the Bible is historical text and figures of speech, I really don't think much of it was meant to be followed to a T. It was merely a guideline, if you will, with only a few "if I were you I really wouldn't do this or I might have to smite you" clauses. The notion of following one's religion this closely can almost be described as valorous and pious, being as they technically are the pinnacle of goodness by their rules. However, this religion is twisted. Much of the religious messages have been adapted for the purposes of the Gilead army and government. When one molds religion to fit their own needs, it destroys whatever goodness and purpose that may have been in the actions and thoughts. As a result, it creates only evil.

Now one can't deny that religion is used as an argumentative point in today's world. It is a quality we look for in government officials (wait, what about the separation of church and state?); we often use religion to justify wrong actions that we may have taken, taking it out of context to make us appear to be in the right; some people use religion as an aid to sell their own ideas and supplies. Religion is being used to a large extent in today's world as a form of justification and rationalization. It is the will of the greater powers, and you cannot hope to oppose me, or you oppose an unstoppable force. Well, aren't you so impressive? NOT! All that makes it is an excuse, and nothing more than a bargaining chip. To make God nothing more than an excuse for you to do as you please is not only insulting to said higher powers, under your own definition it is, in fact, sacrilege. To put yourself in the shoes of God and give orders is something only done by those drunk on power. You are free to express your beliefs, but you really shouldn't impose them on others. I think this novel is a good reminder of what corruption happens when people bring religion into governing, and a warning that we should keep them at opposite points of the spectrum as much as possible. Guide yourself, not others, along whatever path you believe in. Walk it yourself, and if you walk it alone, then so be it.