Elton John is an avowed homosexual who is put out that religion, by-and-large, is "hateful" toward his lifestyle choice. And so he would ban religion.
Is he hateful toward religion? What would make that OK? How, exactly, is this banning going to happen?
I’ve decided that this pronouncement, notwithstanding Mr. John’s obvious ability and intelligence, is less than the sparkling rhetoric one should not expect anyway. Banning religion is one of the dumbest ideas one can imagine. Just as well ban breathing or water or trees. Craziness, sheer craziness.
And imagine how it would be done. This is totalitarianism in the good old-fashioned way. It is tinkering with the most fundamental reality of life — the realization that we are not invincible individuals, that we are accountable to something/someone greater, and that that entity — whatever it is — is worthy of worship. Worship is as natural an instinct as breathing. The key to it all revolves around the object that one selects for worship.
When Elton John says he would ban religion, to what is he claiming ultimate allegiance? Whatever that is, it is guaranteed to have religious trappings of some kind. You don’t need a church as such or a typical altar, etc. to worship and conduct religion. Religious exercise has always been with us and it always will be.
Banning religion is like trying to bannish life. We may try, but it ain’t gonna happen.