"Religion started when the first charlatan met the first fool." Voltaire.
Religion claims to have the moral upper hand, but it only has that as long as it's holding all the cards. Morality doesn't come from rules, regulations, laws, prohibitions, and least of all from religion. Morality is based on the practice of virtues. There is no preacher, politician, or pimp that can rightfully declare what is or isn't moral.
I've seen the use of religion as both a weapon and a source of power over others. They preach about having a personal relationship with their god. But they don't teach what their god taught them. "Love your neighbor as yourself..." The message is about love, not what religion has morphed into today.
I quit religion. I'm not 100% Atheist. I can't disbelieve even when I want to. I've been so ingrained with it since I was a toddler. Now I'm 71-years-old. I share in what Martin Luther said "I regret ever having been born a Catholic."
This piece and the Fear Created the Gods piece make me think of Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens.
Thanks for fleshing out and sharing ideas that have been mumbling in my mind for the past 50 years. It's stuff we really need to pay attention to, sift out the distractions preventing us from become the critters we have the potential to be. Keep this shit up.
I used to be a staunch atheist, taught by my upbringing that religion is just a crutch for the weak. I'm still an atheist, but I have worked hard to unlearn my judgement about religious people. What tipped the scales for me was when I read a biography of Harriet Tubman (written by a non-Christian, in case anybody is wondering). Tubman was scared to do the work she did. She almost chose not to. What made her change her mind was her belief that God was watching over her. I do not have to believe in God to recognize that Tubman's belief was a powerful force that gave her the courage to do great good. One of my favorite books is "Faithiest," by Chris Stedman. This book further solidified my commitment to a non-judgemental acceptance and respect for religion. All religious people have a choice as to how they translate their belief into action and interaction in the world. If we are going to criticize what a person does in the name of religion, it should be that person's interpretation and resulting choices - not the religion itself - that we criticize.
Exposure to evangelicals in my youth makes me hate religion. But my favorite Musical, Book of Morman, teaches us that if it's open and flexible it has the power to profoundly change behavior, strengthen communities and bring individuals inner peace. Think how much more shitty life would be for those living a shitty life if they didn't have hope for something better. Only privileged Westerners would call for the outlawing of religion.
I'm a Christian, but I also agree with you completely about extremists, in any area of life. I'm a "share my sandwich" kind of Christian, and I just try to make the world around me a better place. All while being very "left of the dial" and completely pro choice. I like to read your pieces and Father Nathan Monk because you challenge me, and everyone needs that. I even hosted a night on his recent tour, which was amazing. Keep challenging people!!
Only ~10% of 'Christians' have a Biblical world view which is actually Christian. The rest are nominal ('in name only') 'Christians' who are essentially secular in their world view.
Worse, these nominal Christians do bad things with the halo of righteousness (self-righteousness), making them worse than secular people.
There are, therefore, many things done in the name of Christianity which are not Christian (= in accordance with the teaching of Christ). This is played out in large theatres (war, the crusades etc.) and small (e.g. marriage).
This nominal Christianity also suggests that the root cause of war and injustice is not religion, but (as the Bible says) the selfish human desire to do bad things and then to *justify* our actions with any story (including religion) that comes to hand. This seems to be consistent with research into human behaviour, which tells us humans make decisions emotionally (e.g. selfishly) and apply post-hoc rationalisations for their actions.
If you want to judge Christianity (rather than Christians, both real and nominal), you have to go to the source - the gospels. Perhaps start with Matthew 5-7 (The Sermon on the Mount),. If you read that, you might agree that the world needs to be more like Jesus, not less like Jesus.
Also, it's worth considering that if your story, James, is correct (there is no god, everything's random) then you might have nothing to complain about (there is no good, bad, better, worse, etc., only randomness). Is it possible that you've adopted the high standards of Christianity (love, justice, peace, etc.) to judge the world (and Christians, who clearly fail to live up to Jesus)?
Not in the secular world. Compassion was seen as weakness, justice was limited to citizens (not outsiders and enemies), men had the legal right force others into sex, etc.
Glen Scrivener's book 'The Air We Breathe' explains why we believe in justice, compassion, equality and progress (it's Jesus) and also explains the historical context that Christianity spoke into (which was not compassionate, just, etc.).
"Religion started when the first charlatan met the first fool." Voltaire.
Religion claims to have the moral upper hand, but it only has that as long as it's holding all the cards. Morality doesn't come from rules, regulations, laws, prohibitions, and least of all from religion. Morality is based on the practice of virtues. There is no preacher, politician, or pimp that can rightfully declare what is or isn't moral.
I've seen the use of religion as both a weapon and a source of power over others. They preach about having a personal relationship with their god. But they don't teach what their god taught them. "Love your neighbor as yourself..." The message is about love, not what religion has morphed into today.
I quit religion. I'm not 100% Atheist. I can't disbelieve even when I want to. I've been so ingrained with it since I was a toddler. Now I'm 71-years-old. I share in what Martin Luther said "I regret ever having been born a Catholic."
Where do the virtues come from?
This piece and the Fear Created the Gods piece make me think of Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens.
Thanks for fleshing out and sharing ideas that have been mumbling in my mind for the past 50 years. It's stuff we really need to pay attention to, sift out the distractions preventing us from become the critters we have the potential to be. Keep this shit up.
I used to be a staunch atheist, taught by my upbringing that religion is just a crutch for the weak. I'm still an atheist, but I have worked hard to unlearn my judgement about religious people. What tipped the scales for me was when I read a biography of Harriet Tubman (written by a non-Christian, in case anybody is wondering). Tubman was scared to do the work she did. She almost chose not to. What made her change her mind was her belief that God was watching over her. I do not have to believe in God to recognize that Tubman's belief was a powerful force that gave her the courage to do great good. One of my favorite books is "Faithiest," by Chris Stedman. This book further solidified my commitment to a non-judgemental acceptance and respect for religion. All religious people have a choice as to how they translate their belief into action and interaction in the world. If we are going to criticize what a person does in the name of religion, it should be that person's interpretation and resulting choices - not the religion itself - that we criticize.
Exposure to evangelicals in my youth makes me hate religion. But my favorite Musical, Book of Morman, teaches us that if it's open and flexible it has the power to profoundly change behavior, strengthen communities and bring individuals inner peace. Think how much more shitty life would be for those living a shitty life if they didn't have hope for something better. Only privileged Westerners would call for the outlawing of religion.
It’s called secular humanity and we would do well to practice it if we want to survive - and thrive - as a species.
Thanks for your post. Tolerance in every sphere might just allow Humanity to survive. The questions are more important than the answers.
I'm a Christian, but I also agree with you completely about extremists, in any area of life. I'm a "share my sandwich" kind of Christian, and I just try to make the world around me a better place. All while being very "left of the dial" and completely pro choice. I like to read your pieces and Father Nathan Monk because you challenge me, and everyone needs that. I even hosted a night on his recent tour, which was amazing. Keep challenging people!!
Deus Vulting ourselves to death.
(Continued from above... religions and other corporations have no soul)
I would prefer the exclusion of fuck and fucking in you writing.
Otherwise your writing is very good.
As you indicated, religions are corporations, which human tools used to harvest anything - money, labour, greed, the earth. Religion
Only ~10% of 'Christians' have a Biblical world view which is actually Christian. The rest are nominal ('in name only') 'Christians' who are essentially secular in their world view.
Worse, these nominal Christians do bad things with the halo of righteousness (self-righteousness), making them worse than secular people.
There are, therefore, many things done in the name of Christianity which are not Christian (= in accordance with the teaching of Christ). This is played out in large theatres (war, the crusades etc.) and small (e.g. marriage).
For a glimpse into this dynamic, I suggest listening to this interview from 10:50 to 17:20: https://natashacrainpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1593178/13196779-27-why-does-culture-think-men-are-toxic-with-nancy-pearcey
This nominal Christianity also suggests that the root cause of war and injustice is not religion, but (as the Bible says) the selfish human desire to do bad things and then to *justify* our actions with any story (including religion) that comes to hand. This seems to be consistent with research into human behaviour, which tells us humans make decisions emotionally (e.g. selfishly) and apply post-hoc rationalisations for their actions.
If you want to judge Christianity (rather than Christians, both real and nominal), you have to go to the source - the gospels. Perhaps start with Matthew 5-7 (The Sermon on the Mount),. If you read that, you might agree that the world needs to be more like Jesus, not less like Jesus.
Also, it's worth considering that if your story, James, is correct (there is no god, everything's random) then you might have nothing to complain about (there is no good, bad, better, worse, etc., only randomness). Is it possible that you've adopted the high standards of Christianity (love, justice, peace, etc.) to judge the world (and Christians, who clearly fail to live up to Jesus)?
Those standards existed long before Christianity preached them.
Not in the secular world. Compassion was seen as weakness, justice was limited to citizens (not outsiders and enemies), men had the legal right force others into sex, etc.
Glen Scrivener's book 'The Air We Breathe' explains why we believe in justice, compassion, equality and progress (it's Jesus) and also explains the historical context that Christianity spoke into (which was not compassionate, just, etc.).
The Speak Life Podcast features talks by Glen on the same subject (episodes 470, 471 and 472): https://speaklifepodcast.buzzsprout.com/1202891/13322249-why-we-believe-in-equality-slp470