A battle has been raging for some time in the local Herald Times letters to the editor concerning religion. The online version affords subscribers a way to comment online on the content and logic (or lack thereof) of letters. Today a subscriber called attention to some of my comments and suggested that that "believers" might like to review them. She was even kind enough to provide a link. So with my ego fully inflated, here they are. I stand by every word.
COMMENT # 1
Will Rogers said, “We are all ignorant; just about different things.” He was right. We humans tend to know a lot about one or two things but very little about most other things. If congress passed a law banning ignorance, I would be one of the first to be incarcerated.
But I think what Will Rogers might have overlooked is that there are two kinds of ignorance; one: my kind of ignorance which always causes me to get sparks when I mess with anything electrical, as opposed to a knowledgeable Christian electrician who never gets sparks, and two: willful ignorance. Willful ignorance is defined as: “The practice or act of intentional and blatant avoidance, disregard or disagreement with facts, empirical evidence and well-founded arguments because they oppose or contradict your own existing personal beliefs.”
Imagine there really is an omniscient god that desires to convey his presence by revealing a book to a trusted prophet or scribe. Just think what a wonderful book that might be! No doubt (since the Christian god is supposedly benevolent as well) germ theory would have been discussed. Instead, hundreds of millions died before germ theory was discovered in the 19th century, revealing that the simple act of washing one’s hands could prevent disease. Would that have been asking too much from the Christian god; letting us know we should wash our hands? Is that the mark of a benevolent benefactor; causing hundreds of millions of agonizing deaths, just because he didn’t want to reveal to us that the mustard seed was actually not the smallest thing on earth; that we could fit a hundred thousand aids viruses on a mustard seed?
Robert Ingersoll, when asked, "Is the Old Testament inspired?", had this to say:
"If it is, it should be a book that no man -- no number of men -- could produce.
It should contain the perfection of philosophy.It should perfectly accord with every fact in nature.There should be no mistakes in astronomy, geology, or as to any subject or science.Its morality should be the highest, the purest.
Its laws and regulations for the control of conduct should be just, wise, perfect, and perfectly adapted to the accomplishment of the ends desired. It should contain nothing calculated to make man cruel, revengeful, vindictive or infamous.
It should be filled with intelligence, justice, purity, honesty, mercy and the spirit of liberty.
It should be opposed to strife and war, to slavery and lust, to ignorance, credulity and superstition.
It should develop the brain and civilize the heart. It should satisfy the heart and brain of the best and wisest.
It should be true."
The sordid fact is the bible fails every test.
Here is the ugly truth. There is not a single line in it that could not have been written by a first century ignoramus. Thousands of words are expended on who begat who, which animals should be sacrificed, how to treat slaves, which tribes to wipe off the face of the earth, stoning recalcitrant teenagers to death by their own parents; what to do with a captured enemy (keep the virgins for sex slaves; kill everybody else) even how we should dispose of our fecal matter: "And you shall have a paddle on your weapon; and it shall be, when you will ease yourself abroad, you shall dig therewith, and shall turn back and cover that which comes from you": (Deut 23:13) And here is the reason: "For the LORD God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee."
Let me get this straight. God, who has an entire universe to look after, has his knickers in a knot about how to dispose of our body wastes? Is there anything more ridiculous than that? Apparently God is not troubled in the 20th and early 21st century by the horrible sight of tens of millions as their bodies rotted while suffering from aids. But if he happens to see, smell, or step in, our bodily wastes, Lord have mercy on our souls.! The author wasted a lot of words on how to cover up our crap (as if that was necessary) but nary a word about how to prevent malaria, yellow fever or polio.
The bible is not divine, it's disgusting. One could walk into any middle school library, pull any book off the shelf at random, and it would contain more knowledge than the entire bible. Not one line in the Bible can be found in praise of intelligence. Not one.
There is now no excuse for ignorance. Information is readily available to anyone who has the courage and curiosity to seek it. Allowing your children and grandchildren to be influenced by an ignoramus preacher is the greatest sin of all. You are teaching your offspring to be willfully ignorant. Teaching something based solely on belief rather than knowledge, just because it makes you feel good is no better than not caring where your money comes from so long as you have it.
If I were a parent and were forced at gunpoint to make a choice between allowing my son to read the Bible or Playboy, I would choose Playboy without hesitation.
COMMENT # 2
We evolved into "humans" some 200,000 years ago when we attained our present brain size of around 1400 cc. Since then the Christian "benevolent" god watched while humans suffered unimaginably from starvation, cold, heat, exhaustion, disease, and fear of wild animals. Few of our ancestors lived past the age of 30. One out of four women died, along with their babies, during childbirth. Why? Because our intelligent designer failed to make the female birth canal large enough to accomodate our enlarging cranial size.
Meanwhile, the "malevolent and loving" Christian god stood by twiddling his thumbs for 198,000 years while all this misery was taking place, doing nothing. Then in a moment of magnificent prescience, he popped his "son" out of a virgin in one of the most remote places on earth, among the most ignorant people on earth, where the news wouldn't filter out for another 300 years. There! That oughta do the trick!
Meanwhile after 2000 years of effort by Christians, fully two thirds of the earths population of 6.7 billion totally reject Jesus as their personal savior. And of the over 1500 denominations and sects that do buy into this deluded notion, they all think the other 1499 are going to hell because they don't possess the real truth.
For all "believers" I have some disconcerting facts. The evidence for evolution has been with us for 151 years. There was no "Adam and Eve". There was no "original sin". Evolution long ago swept away the very foundation of the Christian religion. "Oh", the moderate apologists say, "The story of Adam and Eve was only symbolic." Symbolic!! So, Jesus had himself tortured and executed, in vicarious punishment for a symbolic sin committed by a non-existent individual?
This goes beyond delusional. Its downright crazy! Christians reserve their harshest criticism for the Michael Newtons of the world who would do them the favor of releasing them from their delusional prison. Unfortunately the cell door is locked from the inside. How can we know the door to reason is locked from the inside? If you are a Christian living in Indiana, knowing full well that if you were born and raised in Iran or Afghanistan, that you would be a Muslim, your door is locked from the inside. All you have to do is lift the latch.
Remember, after 2000 years of effort, 67% of the world population of 6.7 billion do not buy into the Jesus myth. He promised his disciples that "some standing here today" would not taste death before he returned. Well, he is 2000 years late. Do you suppose there just might be a slim chance that he himself (if he existed) might have been somewhat delusional?
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Charlie! Congrats! I could envision an actor reading this and other of your pieces on stage. They have a "listenable" rhythm. Should it be put together with the "other side's" opinion, a dialogue of sorts? Obviously, I loved this piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping me understand and be willing to deal with the real world. It is much pleasanter than pretending.
BTW, I have found myself, late at night, wanting to believe just in case I die (or, as christians say, "get called home"). I think I have found why this myth is so hard to break: ego forces folks to believe that if they "believe" they won't just go away after they die. I would like to believe I'd go on too. But I don't know why I'd feel that way other than ego. Ha! Wait minute. Or fear. Fear of the unknown is a powerful thing. Of course, I do not let my emotions get in the way of reality very often and I cannot believe (no pun intended) how comforting that is. I am able to roll over and go back to sleep. "And the truth shall set you free."
Thank you, Kind Sir. You are a scholar and a gentleman.
Above was:
ReplyDeleteCA gal!
Charlie said, "All you have to do is lift the latch." This sounds like a simple solution, but is it really that simple? If the latch is too high, some simply can't reach it. An older person will likely have all his family and friends in the same prison. They have adjusted well and want to be with them during their sickness and ultimate death; after all that prison has a high percent of older folks (our educated young have escaped that prison). When they leave, they are usually far remove from the family and feel little pressure from their peer group (the 70% of 19-29 yr. old group who left by age 23). But, what about the lonely old abused 75 yr. guy? He knows full well his religion, along with Christmas, Easter, and Valentine day are all part of the Greek myth (which itself is part of more ancient myths). He knows where the latch is and knows lifting it will bring a flood of shocked hurt family and friends who will feel they have failed in some way. Does he lift that latch and walk away from a family and friends of 50 plus years? If so, where does he go? Is there a compromise he can live with. Perhaps, he can stay, visit sick friends and weep with the family when they die, and allow them the false comfort of another world beyond. In the meantime, he can use every opportunity to show them their faith is based on a myth (which results in being verbally abused) and gradually help them find that latch their children have already found. What one does will always be a personal choice and must be done after weighing all possible considerations. If you procrastinate long enough, time alone will solve the problem.
ReplyDeleteJim
Having stated above, I would also agree with CA gal who said, "Thank you, Kind Sir. You are a scholar and a gentleman." I might also add a personal friend for 65 yrs. or so. Thanks for providing me an opportunity to examine what I believe and not cutting me any slack when I try to take the easy way out.
ReplyDeleteJim
Jim: In response to your much appreciated comments on family, I have only this to offer. When the pain gets too hard to bear, we quit doing whatever it is that is causing the pain.
ReplyDeletePossibly you have a higher pain threshold than me. For me, it would be unbearable to attend a church every week and take part in all the rituals, the singing, praying and all the rest of it, knowing "in my heart" that I didn't believe a word of it. That would be more painful to me than severing ties with my family. Especially if (as you hinted) they verbally abuse me for my disbelief.
I have found there are certain questions one can ask Christians that will eventally lead them to a blind alley from which there is no escape..... unless they abandon all reason. And this of course is exactly what they do. I think this reluctance to face up to the evidence stems mainly from three factors.
First: Willful ignorance which is a by-product of intellectual laziness, Second: Fear, which has its roots in ignorance which can be traced right back to willful ignorance and lack of education, and Third: An overpowering urge to be a part of a group and all the benefits that bestows.
It's important not to confuse intellectual laziness with plain laziness. Most Christians I have known have been hard working individuals.
Charlie said, "Third: An overpowering urge to be a part of a group and all the benefits that bestows." Old friend, you may have just nailed it. I try not to lie, especially to myself. That's probably the real reason. Remember, when I join a group or make a commitment I tend never to leave it. Army National Guard and Reserves age 16 to 60 (mandatory retirement); democratic party age 5 to death; educational pursuit age 6 to death; marriage age 19 to death; religion age 19 to death perhaps. It may come as no surprise, but I have had disagreements with all of the above mentioned, and stayed with them. Is it loyalty or fear. I'm the last one who could give an objective answer to that question. And that's the truth!
ReplyDeleteJim