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100 Thoughts - Life, Politics, Science and Religion

Religion

As long as humans have had the ability to think, they have wanted to understand the mysteries of life. Those that had some knowledge, tried to make sense of the world. Religion has tried to supply answers to those questions that humans have had. Generally, those questions were: Where did we come from? Why are we here? And what happens to us after we die? To various degrees, the multitudes of religions that followed have succeeded in appeasing those questions.

Prior to science, there wasn’t any way of systematically determining a real answer to those questions. But, gradually, humans learned to write, which allowed knowledge to be collected. That allowed others to learn from those that came before, which meant scientific knowledge could grow. Each new generation of scientists added to understanding of our world. Charles Darwin was able to piece together a vision of how animals evolve. Hundreds of thousands of fossils support that vision, without any evidence to the contrary.

The difficulty for those that believe in a formal god is that evolution (see Where do we come from) undermines their religion. Many religious people would reply with the statement, “What’s good enough for my father is good enough for me.” That response is like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand, for, over the past 50 years, science has discovered and validated so many theories. Many theories might have been controversial/questionable when they were first proposed, but now they are just taken as facts. To deny evolution is like denying the existence of genes, or molecules, or atoms.

Evolution shows that not everything in the Bible is correct, which should be evident since it was written by man. Evolution does not say that religion does not have some value. Most religions give wise and moral guidance via values and ethics. Religions also offer a valuable sense of community. Being a religious follower does not have to be a one lane road. Other roads can be added, which run in the same direction and can lead to the same destination. In many ways, that is what was achieved when religions diversified into denominations. That is the goal of many nondenominational churches.

Religious fundamentalists have become more powerful in these troubled times. It is my hope that we can stop relying on ideas that developed thousands of years ago, and move into a rational 21st century. We need to reassess ancient, counterproductive ideas and walk into an evolving world. The world, and everything on it was not created in 7 days. Noah did not take two of each animal on an Ark, and the whole world wasn’t flooded by rain for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus was a man, not the Son of God. Jesus may have been a great man, like other great men that have come afterwards. Mohammad may have been a wise man, with many great words, but he did not get his beliefs from a deity. Many great men may have gotten their strength and endurance from their belief in a god, just as many other great men and women might have gotten their strength and endurance from the love of their mother or father. The Bible or Koran can be read for guidance, but people should realize that a Divine Being is not the source of those books. The Bible or Koran stories should not be viewed as laws, rules or facts, but as metaphors for morals and ethics. There are many other great books that can and should be read for morals and ethics. Religious fundamentalists should be exposed as delusional fanatics who are trying to keep the world a thousand years in the past. Religious fundamentalists may accept modern medicine (which is based in modern science), but reject evolution (which is based in modern science). Religious fundamentalists are like stubborn children who believe that if we leave cookies and milk out for Santa, he will give us more presents.

Religion also serves another purpose. Religion is promoted by most rulers because it pacifies/appeases the people. For thousands of years leaders have known that religion is better at controlling people than armies. Many rulers try to use religion to their benefit by connecting any of their decisions to religious doctrine. These rulers try to have God on their side, so that the people will follow. With God on their side, they can get the people to kill millions in war, to move millions of boulders to build pyramids and great walls, or to sacrifice their young to save their country. Isn’t it odd that wars are almost a battle to see who’s god is stronger, with the side that wins thinking that might makes right.

For most people on this planet, religion serves a valuable purpose, and I would like for that to continue. Religious believers just need to realize that their “holy books” are stories, metaphors, and not divine facts or rules. Ministers and other clergy need to study science so that they can learn the language of God (see Science). Religions must come to realize that science is a reality that they need to embrace and adapt to. We must stop allowing religion, or religious language, to be used as a reason for killing or war (see Dualistic Thinking).



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		100 Thoughts Table of Contents Life Politics Science Religion More		100 Thoughts - Life, Politics, Science and Religion Religion As long as humans have had the ability to think, they have wanted to understand the mysteries of life. Those that had some knowledge, tried to make sense of the world. Religion has tried to supply answers to those questions that humans have had. Generally, those questions were: Where did we come from? Why are we here? And what happens to us after we die? To various degrees, the multitudes of religions that followed have succeeded in appeasing those questions. Prior to science, there wasn’t any way of systematically determining a real answer to those questions. But, gradually, humans learned to write, which allowed knowledge to be collected. That allowed others to learn from those that came before, which meant scientific knowledge could grow. Each new generation of scientists added to understanding of our world. Charles Darwin was able to piece together a vision of how animals evolve. Hundreds of thousands of fossils support that vision, without any evidence to the contrary. The difficulty for those that believe in a formal god is that evolution (see Where do we come from) undermines their religion. Many religious people would reply with the statement, “What’s good enough for my father is good enough for me.” That response is like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand, for, over the past 50 years, science has discovered and validated so many theories. Many theories might have been controversial/questionable when they were first proposed, but now they are just taken as facts. To deny evolution is like denying the existence of genes, or molecules, or atoms. Evolution shows that not everything in the Bible is correct, which should be evident since it was written by man. Evolution does not say that religion does not have some value. Most religions give wise and moral guidance via values and ethics. Religions also offer a valuable sense of community. Being a religious follower does not have to be a one lane road. Other roads can be added, which run in the same direction and can lead to the same destination. In many ways, that is what was achieved when religions diversified into denominations. That is the goal of many nondenominational churches. Religious fundamentalists have become more powerful in these troubled times. It is my hope that we can stop relying on ideas that developed thousands of years ago, and move into a rational 21st century. We need to reassess ancient, counterproductive ideas and walk into an evolving world. The world, and everything on it was not created in 7 days. Noah did not take two of each animal on an Ark, and the whole world wasn’t flooded by rain for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus was a man, not the Son of God. Jesus may have been a great man, like other great men that have come afterwards. Mohammad may have been a wise man, with many great words, but he did not get his beliefs from a deity. Many great men may have gotten their strength and endurance from their belief in a god, just as many other great men and women might have gotten their strength and endurance from the love of their mother or father. The Bible or Koran can be read for guidance, but people should realize that a Divine Being is not the source of those books. The Bible or Koran stories should not be viewed as laws, rules or facts, but as metaphors for morals and ethics. There are many other great books that can and should be read for morals and ethics. Religious fundamentalists should be exposed as delusional fanatics who are trying to keep the world a thousand years in the past. Religious fundamentalists may accept modern medicine (which is based in modern science), but reject evolution (which is based in modern science). Religious fundamentalists are like stubborn children who believe that if we leave cookies and milk out for Santa, he will give us more presents. Religion also serves another purpose. Religion is promoted by most rulers because it pacifies/appeases the people. For thousands of years leaders have known that religion is better at controlling people than armies. Many rulers try to use religion to their benefit by connecting any of their decisions to religious doctrine. These rulers try to have God on their side, so that the people will follow. With God on their side, they can get the people to kill millions in war, to move millions of boulders to build pyramids and great walls, or to sacrifice their young to save their country. Isn’t it odd that wars are almost a battle to see who’s god is stronger, with the side that wins thinking that might makes right. For most people on this planet, religion serves a valuable purpose, and I would like for that to continue. Religious believers just need to realize that their “holy books” are stories, metaphors, and not divine facts or rules. Ministers and other clergy need to study science so that they can learn the language of God (see Science). Religions must come to realize that science is a reality that they need to embrace and adapt to. We must stop allowing religion, or religious language, to be used as a reason for killing or war (see Dualistic Thinking).