Religion is a flame in the darkness. It provides warmth and light to those that gather around it. Yet it leaves you blind to the darkness and dependant on its glow.
We are born into this existence in the cold and dark. We are given a few senses to learn the world around us and interact with those who came before us. In a cold and dark place such as this, it’s no wonder so many of us are drawn to the seemingly pleasing, populated glow that is a flame called Religion.
We come into life and see our family and the families of our friends gathered around what seems to be the only source of light in this world. A flame that lights the faces of all around it and brings a warmth to our own. Those that don’t get too close start to notice other fires in the distance, also with people gathered around. Some with many, some with few. We start to ask questions of the people around us what they know of the other flames. We might get answers such as “It doesn’t matter, our flame is the brightest and warmest, and when we die, we will be one with the flame” or “that use to be part of this flame, but theirs is kept alight by a different fuel”. Some people might even venture to the other flames and see for themselves what the difference is, maybe even settling at a new one because they like the people around it or are more comforted by the new glow. Those close enough to touch the flame light a smaller source to go find others in the darkness, or the edges of other lights, and lead them back to its origin.
At some point, or even many points, human beings began to question where these flames came from and what else lay in the darkness. It wasn’t enough to have all that we were, our entire purpose, to just surround and bask in the light that so easily quenched our fears. We needed to face our fear of the dark. We needed to turn our backs on the light and see the world with our own eyes, see the world behind the shadows the flames of religion cast.
Most people will only venture as far away from the light while still being able to see it in the distance. Where as others have turned away but still stay close enough to receive warmth and keep the company of friends and family. They may not be worshipping the flame yet they are still bound to it. It is not easy to completely tear yourself away from the fire, but it is something mankind must do. Very few people truly wander the darkness. Those that do see a new world.
To give yourself to the darkness is terrifying. To abandon all hope of seeing purpose and meaning. To never feel comforted by even the slightest thought that in the end, there is no end. However, when you do, something amazing happens. You realise your were not closing your eyes, you were just now opening them. A whole new world opens up before you with limitless possibilities. You are able to find answers for yourself rather than have them given to you. Everything you look at is lit from every direction with no shadows.
Unfortunately, when you look back towards the flame you see countless people with their eyes closed, gathered around a candle with a flame that gives no light and heat that you can see or feel. Although a tempting thought enters you mind to close your eyes and imagine the warmth and glow that candle must be feeding these people. The fears and questions about our purpose still remain to you. It would be so much easier to go back to shutting your eyes and imagining a collective purpose with loved ones.
But where would that get us? A world of sheep surrounding a false light is no purpose. Imagined answers based on little evidence and whispers heard by those closest to the candles are no answers at all.
A breeze is forming. The winds are shifting in the world and the flames of religion are flickering. The calm and serene faces of the blind are fading to ones of anger and fear. More and more people are opening their eyes and the wind grows stronger. The human race will soon be rid of lightless flames and we will have no choice but to accept our fate and venture further out in this existence than we could ever have thought possible.
It will be frightening, it will feel pointless and frustrating. But it will be real! All we will know is out there. All we can be is out there. Humanity must open its eyes.
Pisces Star Shipwreck, Carpenter Rocks, South Australia
Camera Settings
Canon 5D MKIII
16mm
F16
1/8sec
ISO50
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