Katie Holmes loves cupcakes.

I was thinking yesterday about religion. I often ask myself, “Myself, why do people need religion?” What is it about religion that people are drawn to? I’ve said this before and to date have not received any sort of feedback to allow me to change my position, but I believe religion is responsible for most of the ills of society.

In this season of pomp and celebrations among the world’s religions I wondered what the big deal about religion is. I have friends that are devout in their religious beliefs, they follow the scriptures, attended those mass things and give back to the community (And I’m not referring to giving away last season’s styles to the church rummage sale). They believe in the good that religion brings and that gives them hope.

But I see the bad. I see a lot of bad. I see airliners crashing into buildings in the name of God. I see white men on horses, covered in armor invading a foreign land in the name of protecting it from the godless people that reside there. I see white men in tanks invading a desert land because, well, I’m not really sure why they did that, but you see my point. I see men of faith on television telling others to hate, to bury their head in the sand and have no compassion for anyone different. I see people shunned by their families because they like butt sex and sucking dick (I’m not saying who, I’m just saying I’ve seen it) and their “religion” doesn’t approve. I hear people utter the words “love the sinner, hate the sin” while hating both and making sure everyone knows of their disgust.

Religions have a place in this world. They must have, or they wouldn’t be so awe inspiring and powerful. But I believe that the organizations running these religions have become not just flawed, but fundamentally flawed and corrupt.

The Catholic Church, in an effort to be a kinder, gentler religion, opted to completely re-organize the afterworld and do away with Purgatory instead of allowing condoms and birth control. I mean the sheer volume of communications with God and the negotiations with Satan to allow this re-organization must have been monumental. What happened to the souls condemned to Purgatory? Were they bussed to the Super Dome to await processing? What happened to them?

When I think of the word hypocrite, I envision organized religion. The pain and anguish caused is inexcusable. The judgment they claim only God is allowed to dispense flows from their twisted mouths like the scent from a skunk’s glands. Sweet smelling to themselves yet ugly and repulsive to those around them.

Not all religious people are bad, but the ones speaking out in the name of their God in such public displays of intolerance, fear, judgment and anger are doing a horrible disservice to those that allow it to continue unabated.

So in the spirit of the season, I suggest we contemplate what it means to be spiritual and forgo what it means to be religious, and while you’re at it, go have a cupcake with Katie. She needs our love and support and I’m sensing you need a cupcake.