“Can you tell me what’s the core of the controversy?”
“Yea, sure. That’s easy. Their gods aren’t my gods and they take offense to that.”
“That’s it?”
“Yup. All else is side dishes.”
“What about the accusations of impropriety and impiety?”
“Secondary. Again, I do not hold their gods as mine. Of course I’m going to be seen as impious towards them. I don’t give them the due they think I should.”
“What about ancestor veneration?”
“Secondary. It is demanded by their gods and overlooks a very important fact. Not all non or pre-Christian belief systems venerated ancestors. The only thing universal about human religious systems is human participation.”
“Offerings?”
“To who? Quibbling over offerings assumes the quibblers are worshipping the same gods. Which I’m not. Which brings us back to the meat on the plate.”
“Why did it get so vicious?”
“Because all sides forgot that different people live in different ways. Everyone thinks what is good for them is good for all. Then some folks set themselves up as gatekeepers and sentinels against the hordes and all hell broke loose under the banner of ‘I’m right, now kneel!’”
“Sounds like a free for all.”
“It was. Still is. Just more folk came to their senses and left the field.”
“And you?”
“I stayed out of it. My opinion doesn’t shift dust in those halls. My opinion being that if you want to worship, then worship. If you don’t, then don’t. Let every person decide for themselves, and have the freedom to change their mind later if their oaths allow. Well, I tried to stay out of it. I caught flack just the same.”
“You sound bitter.”
“I am. I watched people I used to respect declare that anyone who doesn’t worship gods, are diseased dogs fit only for burning. I read screeds that proclaimed that those who do not venerate or honor their ancestors are filth to be purged. I saw people that only weeks before spoke to me with warm words suddenly declare me an enemy to them for no other reason than I did not worship their gods. I never challenged them. I never spoke on the so-called controversy. I did my thing as I do. But they made sure to let me know that I am parasitic filth to them because their gods are not my gods. Yes. I’m bitter as fuck.”
“So what now?”
“I wipe my hands of the shit, that’s what. I’ve paid attention to who near me has made an ass of themselves trying to prove how devoted to the gods they are. I’ve noted one in particular that asked me to do certain works for her, and then condemned me for doing them. I continue doing as I do. If my existence continues to offend them, that is their problem. Not mine. … To be honest, though, they won’t notice me cutting them away. And that is what hurts about this whole shit.”
“Explain. Before the pain grows.”
“They called me friend. When I was getting shit for daring to speak their gods name, they stood up for me. Well, I thought it was for me. They extended invitations and offers of hospitality even though I did not worship their gods. And now, not even a year later, they are throwing curses at me and calling for a life of suffering for the very same things they praised me for only six months before! I was never a person to them. I was a stock photo for publicity. I was a token person of color that was convenient and quiet enough to let hang around. And now I’m their sacrificial scapegoat and evidence of what is wrong with the world.”
“That’s… betrayal.”
“Welcome to humanity. The language changes and the pantheons change but the core behavior repeats over and over. I just can’t figure out a thing.”
“What thing?”
“What and, or, who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter. Thank you for talking to me. I’d best be off.”