Jesse and “The Mind”

Minnesota Governor Jesse “The Mind” Ventura has got his facts wrong. Contrary to his Playboy magazine interview, organized religion is not “a crutch for weak-minded people.”

A lot of tough people belong to organized religion. A radical Islamic fundamentalist, for example, has got to be pretty strong-minded to carry out a fatal suicide mission. It obviously takes enormous mental self-discipline to sit perfectly still while driving a car bomb through an Israeli tank or building.

A Buddhist monk has to be pretty tough, too. Remember their political protests on the streets of Saigon during the Vietnam War. They doused themselves thoroughly in gasoline and then lit themselves up in flames. They did not budge an inch while they burned themselves alive. That has to take an incredibly strong mind.

Could Jesse “The Mind” Ventura do that to himself? I seriously doubt it. I bet he would chicken out.

During the Easter Season, some Filipino men feel compelled to re-enact the events leading up to the Christian crucifixion. They either whip themselves or carry a cross for miles. That certainly takes a strong mind. A weak mind would quit. (A smart mind wouldn’t even bother.)

Members of organized religion aren’t all a bunch of wimps. Many tough guys are organized religion fanatics.

Ever watch a realistic combat tournament, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship series? Boy, these Jesus disciples can fight.

Some professional boxers are serious Jesus enthusiasts as well. Evander Holyfield is one. Buster Douglas, who knocked out Iron Mike Tyson, is another. (Tyson, incidentally, is Islamic.)

Interview these fighters after a championship tournament and they will swear that Jesus made them do it. Without Jesus, they would have lost the match.

Yes, that devastating right hook to the jaw was the master work of Jesus Christ himself, our Lord and Savior. Jesse “The Mind” Ventura ought to remember that, because a good number of these men of Christ could take him–easily.

There are far too many great men forming the ranks of organized religion. General George S. Patton Jr. Douglas MacArthur. Andrew Carnegie. John D. Rockefeller. Men of every segment of life, even some great scientists.

But there are some impressive atheists as well. In some cases, the Christian wins. In other instances, the atheist prevails.

Weak or strong, dumb or smart–minds come in secular and religious flavors alike. It doesn’t matter, so long as they are strong–secular or atheist.