Driving in Second Gear { Updated! Hope for the World! }

Yesterday our transmission went the way of the Sasquatch and became a legend.  Okay, not really.  It just died a little.  Okay, a lot.  We can now only drive in 2nd gear.  Driving in second gear kinda sucks.  I mean, we're still moving forward, but at such a ridiculously slow rate. 

Funny, that was my life for so long.  When i subjected myself to being told how to feel, what to think and believe, and what was right and wrong, it was impossible to move forward at a pace consistent with where human intellect should be in 2010.  I was living in 2nd gear.  And it felt wrong.  So very wrong.  There were certain things i KNEW in my heart, like:  gay people do not choose to be gay.  They are born gay, just as certainly as i was born straight.  Aside from the fact that it should be common sense, i knew it in my heart.  I feel it in the quiet moments of reflection and when i'm consumed with love for humanity. 

It doesn't matter that science can prove it (and they have: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111663.php), or that gay people can so eloquently state it (and they do: http://charlie-itsnotpersonal.blogspot.com/2010/10/love-is-not-morally-wrong.html); what matters is that when i'm thinking in a loving space, i know it. 

I believe religion is one of the most stifling, repressive and dangerous creations man has ever thought up.  When i think of how many people have committed suicide because they were told who they were was wrong, or an "abomination" or that they can choose to be something they are not, it breaks my heart.  It hurts me, as a caring and loving human being. 

People, wake up!  The world will not fall apart if you learn to think for youself, despite what you've been told.

UPDATE:  just read this and now have hope for many in the world: http://blog.beliefnet.com/flunkingsainthood/2010/10/lds-apostle-boyd-k-packer-is-wrong-about-homosexuality.html