The Folly of Religion
Introduction
Religion, next to the flaws in human nature itself, is one of the greatest impediments to the human race's overcoming its myriad problems. Convincing a majority of the world's population of this, or at least those that make and influence policy, is a Herculean challenge. It is my hope that by pointing out example after example of how religion poisons rational thinking and decision-making, that minds will slowly be changed.
Links
Links to others who have contributions to make in the struggle against religion.
Richard Dawkins
October 28, 2009
In an earlier episode of "House", a doctor faked a test result to effect the death of an African dictator who was killing his own people.
In last week's episode, the doctor goes to confession and asks what he needs to do to receive absolution, and the priest tells him he needs to turn himself into the authorities.
This is a moronic statement.
Whether or not killing the dictator was the right thing from the perspective of Catholicism has nothing to do with the legal system. If the fictional priest couldn't see that, he's a moron, and if the writers didn't realize this, they are morons.
June 2, 2009
Late Term Abortions
Listen to the report about about late term abortions, and notice specifically the lady's description of how one doctor implied that the right thing for her to do would have been to carry the unviable fetus to term and then watch it die, that to terminate the pregnancy would be murder. The doctor explained, presumably with righteousness, that he watched his own child die and had photographs in an album. This is monstrous, and we can only assume that the doctor's wholly irrational position is motivated by religious belief. This is religion approaching its worst, a case in which a person is so convinced of his righteousness that he would gladly condemn another human to pain and suffering. For reasons like this one, religion is too dangerous to be allowed to continue. Yes, religion often takes on a benign and beneficial form, but there is no solid justification for disallowing the harmful expressions of religion while allowing the positive expressions. Frankly, if a god exists and commands both positive acts and negative acts, it is hyprocritical to endorse the positive acts but deny the negative. Hence, for the sake of creating a society with the least pain and suffering, religion has to go.
April 3, 2009
Egyptian Film Stirs Coptic Christian Controversy
First let me say that I am a cinephile, and I have no issue with this film if it is a good one. What I do oppose is any expenditure of sympathy or effort on behalf of people like Neveen for the simple reason that they deserve whatever suffering they experience. Any adult person who willingly participates in a religion is reposible for an deserving of any harm that befalls her because of that religion. If a religion is suppressing a person's freedom, then the only course of action that the rest of us should support is to encourage that person to leave the religion, no matter what the consequences. Any effort spent on trying to force that religion to change is wasted effort, because the very existence of that religion is a harm to society.
November 6, 2008
Black, Latino Voters Reponsible For Gay Marriage Bans?
Black voters helped ban gay marriage in California
I would say it's unbelievable, except that I've lived on this planets long enough to see countlesss examples of how an oppressed people, once attaining a measure of power, begins oppressing others. This happens all over the world, but the latest example of is particularly shameful because it hits so close to home. According to reports, blacks in California, who turned out in large numbers to vote for Obama and overturn a history of oppression, also voted in large numbers for Proposition 8 which bans gay marriage. The irony of this act is exceeded only by its raging hypocrisy. In fact, the irony and hypocrisy is twofold, because Barack Obama is the child of a black man and a white woman--a union which was illegal in many states at the time Obama was born. Can you believe that??? Had laws against miscegenation not been repealed in many states by 1961, Barack Obama might never have been born, and we would not currently have our first black President Elect. How could black voters in California not realize this as they checked yes for Prop 8.
The next time one of these Blacks in California experiences discrimination, I have to be honest and say that they will deserve exactly what they get. There is no excuse for the oppressed to become the oppressors. Religion, which is responsible for the opinions of many blacks in this case, is certainly no excuse.
Same goes for Latinos. While we weren't enslaved like the blacks (or at least to the same extent), we Latinos have suffered a great deal of oppression. I myself remember being called a "wetback" as a child. (I actually get it from both directions, because of my African features. I'm still pissed at the cop who told me I'd better "watch [my] black ass."
Oh, just in case you think I have something against blacks and/or Latinos specifically, let me go ahead and mention that the greatest example of oppression by the former oppressed that exists today is what Israel is doing to the Palestians. It's hard to see how humanity has any hope at all when a people who were killed by the millions, many of whom are still surviving, can just turn around and do the equivalent to another group.
December 6, 2007
Freedom Requires Religion
Romney's Speech Addresses His Mormon Faith
In his well-publicized speech, Mitt Romney makes the statement: "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone. "
This is an absurd statement, absurd because religion is absolutely antithetical to freedom. Established religion seeks to control humans by proscribing some actions and preventing others. This is not freedom. Freedom is the ability to make any choice regarding what action to take. To the best of my knowledge, none of the world's major religions allow this freedom. Either Mitt Romney's statement is a bold-faced lie, or he geniunely believes what he said, in which case he lacks the mental competency to make a good President.
November 6, 2007
Oregon Court Hears Circumcision Dispute
Egypt Reinforces Ban on Female Circumcision
There is a double-standard at play here. It is generally acknowledged, at least in the Western media, that that female circumcision is a harmful practice, and those who practice it are often condemned. However, little or no condemnation is heard about the male circumcision practiced within Judaism. I have not done the proper research on whether circumcision is harmful or not, but I have enough empirical evidence to know that such a body-altering procedure should not be imposed upon a child without good reason. In fact, the only thing that should be done to a child is to provide adequate shelter, clothing, nutrition, care, and education in order to raise him into a productive, ethical citizen. Bodily mutilation does not fit into any of these categories, and no religion is a good reason to mutilate a child. Unfortunately, because of the unethical manner in which advocates of Judaism turn any criticism into an ad-hominen accusation of anti-semitism, it will be hard to change public perception on this issue.
November 5, 2007
Abortion 'Isn't a Religious Issue,' Author Says
Listen to the first caller. She is mentally ill. Not mentally ill as defined by the DSM, I would expect. Instead, mentally ill from the perspective of being incapable of exercising full rationality. The caller appears to have a prejudice towards her preconceived position that abortion is a religious issue, and she expresses several illogical ideas in support of her position. She does not appear to give the guest, Garry Wills', argument any consideration. This is the primary problem and danger of religion, that it renders its victims mentally ill, incapable of full reasoning.
October 26, 2007
Neurotheology
Searching for God in the Brain
Very interesting.
June 8, 2007
Teaching assistant quit in protest at Harry Potter
This is almost so absurd that it requires no explanation. Sariya Allen is mentally ill, and the cause is ostensibly religion. Her actions are irrational. I suspect that Allen never stepped back from her own emotions and analyzed the effects of children reading Harry Potter. The novesl have been around for 10 years, so many of the children who started reading from the first book should be adults now. If reading Harry Potter led many of these children to be harmful citizens, there should be evidence of this. Did Sariya Allen seek out this evidence, or did she rely on her own feelings. I suspect it was the latter.
July 3, 2007
Child Goddess Fired After U.S. Visit Taints Purity
Nepali "living goddess" fired after U.S. visit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumari
First of all, there is the obvious folly of believing in Hindu gods. Then in believing that a goddess would inhabit the body of a human child. I cannot, of course, prove that these things are not possible, but what does seem an incontrovertible contradiction is that human priests would be able to "fire" a "goddess".
Another folly, the abuse of a child by the imposition of this so-called divinity on her. According to the Reuters article, "They are required to stay in temples blessing devotees until reaching puberty, after which they rejoin their family and lead a normal life." Presumably, during that time, the kumari are being deprived of education necessary for transcending their animal nature and becoming a true human.
Closer to home, it is folly for a kumari to be introduced as a goddess to elementary school children. This kumari should not be allowed anywhere where she could taint others with the absurdity that she embodies. Of course, I would hardly expect those in charge of arranging the visit to criticize the Bhuddist tradition because chances are that criticism would seem hypocritical in light of Christian beliefs.
That is one reason why those people who truly care about solving the worlds problems must reject even the most benign-seeming trappings of religion, because to believe in anything negates one's ability to credibly attack another's beliefs. In order to assert just how harmful belief is, you must rid yourself of all belief.
May 6, 2007
http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/06/ddn050607cup.html
Incanno says ""As someone who loves God, I was so offended by that. I don't think there needs to be religious dialogue on it. I just want coffee." Her thinking is flawed in several ways. First of all there is no benefit to society in her taking offense. To take offense, at anything, is an act of self-indulgence that detracts from whatever purpose needs be fulfilled.
Next, we live in a world in which there is constant disagreement about all sorts of issues, including religion. We always need concerning religion, and it whatever forum is available. To state that you do not want to participate in such dialogue is, again, selfish and self-indulgent.
Finally, this woman has children, and that is a true tragedy. Based on my understanding of how there is a propensity for children to inherit traits of their parents, it is likely that Incanno will infect her children with the same mental disease that she suffers. Her case is an excellent example of why the whole concept of allowing people to parent children as if they were property is irrational and needs to be abandonded. In fact, this woman should never have been allowed to have children. Because we allowed this, we as a society share in the resposibility for the harm that her children will do to the world.