Ist Religion das Opium des Volkes?
Now, before I start hearing regurgitated quotes from Adams, Hitchens, or Dawkins (or any other surname ending in -s), hear me out. I’m not going to write x number of paragraphs about how humanity believes in the “invisible pink unicorn” or how god is so wonderful. When it comes down to it, Atheists and Evangelical Christians have striking similarities and both really don’t prove anything.
Both Atheists and Evangelical Christians revel in sharing their beliefs with people who aren’t really asking for them. It’s a real friendship killer when someone comes out with their Spiel (”Hey! Do you go to church?”) two minutes after you meet them. Evangelical Christians like repeating Bible excerpts to “sinners” in hopes that they will consider converting. Atheists repeat quotes that they read from authors who are self-proclaimed experts on the disbelief in god. As with any other follower of a certain belief, the person is firm in the notion that their way of thinking is superior to others. Aren’t we all?
What most Atheists misunderstand is that no matter how many scientists gather around old piles of bones or books, god cannot be disproved. Science is a tool used to achieve knowledge through the senses (touch, feel, taste, sight, hearing). Even though science has bettered humanity, a lot of the perceived information comes from assumptions which can’t be easily confirmed until technology progresses. No matter how advanced we get, proving something so intangible isn’t imaginable. The main thing, however, that Atheists enjoy asserting their beliefs over are discrepancies in religious beliefs. Now, some of these assertions are completely accurate. Let’s face it, guys, evolution happened and seeing narrow-minded people attempt to argue against it is sad. Other assertions, especially ones bordering on philosophical assumptions, are completely speculative and often unprovable. For example, “religion was the cause of all wars.” I’ll get to that later.
This whole let-me-tell-you-how-how-right-I-am talk brings me to my criticism of Evangelical Christians. Being told that you’re going to hell for not subscribing to a lifetime of church donations, painfully fabricated sermons, and constant trembling fear of god is a bit of a downer. It appeals to people who are vulnerable and manipulates them (which isn’t always bad) into a mindset. In fairness, this happens in all religions and it sure as hell happens in Atheism too.
Back to the theory about religion and war now. The thought that religion is the main cause of past wars is really half true. Humans, by nature, will fight their enemies for dominance. I believe that religion is often the excuse used for waging war on neighbouring people, just like Kleptomania is often the excuse for shoplifting. Yes, there are people who are actual Kleptomaniacs, but most just wanted to get something for nothing. I think the same can be said about religious wars.
Religion is, and always will be, part of humanity and culture. I’d like to ask how many Atheists who are reading this blog celebrate Christmas, Easter, Hallowe’en, St. Patrick’s Day, etc. If you feel that you have the right to tell others what to think, how about you give mummy and daddy back those Christmas presents and tell them that you don’t want them? The same is true for Christians. If you think that you’re entitled to determine the fate of non-believers, how about you stop celebrating Hallowe’en (Samhain), Christmas (Yule), and Easter (Ostara)? If you look up any of the alternative names I provided in brackets, you’ll see that something Christian-related events magically coincided with formerly Pagan holidays.
I seldom ever bring my religious views up for the reason that it’s not necessary. If you think that by sitting around on a forum or blog debating the existence of god is going to advance human knowledge, you’re sadly mistaken. God is neither provable nor disprovable. Religion IS the opium of the people, as Marx says. It serves as a pacifier to most, but it takes one who is disillusioned by it to be truly independent.
Tags: Miscellaneous |
January 23rd, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I’m an Atheist, I celebrate Christmas as much as the rest of the modern world. I give and receive presents. But it has absolutely no symbolic or religious meaning to me whatsoever. I don’t see how your implication that celebrating Christmas somehow makes me hypocritical of my non religious beliefs.
Once again my problem is not with people believing the existence of God, I have always followed the ethic that people can believe what they want to believe. But when religious types are so forceful of their belief with absolutely no justification, and reject any kind of questioning of their beliefs. Atheists are, in general, not forceful, Atheists don’t go door to door, Atheists don’t take offense at people suggesting their is a god. Where as religious types take offense and practice at all of the above.
I notice your entry is trying to remain neutral to the subject although it appears to waver towards supporting religion. But one huge misconception about Atheists is this, we do not claim to be able to prove that their is no god. In Dawkin’s book “The God Delusion” He himself says he is not 100% sure there is no god, he makes not attempt to try and he disprove it. He merely presents reasons why there, in his words, “Is almost certainly no god”. The old religious “We can’t prove, you can’t disprove” Is so old and tired. One would have to be very fallacious to think they can disprove the idea of something as vague and mysterious as a god. But the simple facts of the matter is; science can provide answers, where religion just lets the rather shallow idea of a “god” fill the gap. I will take Dawkins and Darwin over religion any day.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:34 pm
In respect to your first paragraph, accepting/giving gifts during Christmas acknowledges that one is celebrating the holiday by participating in it. To accept the purely commercial parts of it while at the same time denying any involvement to the religious meaning of the holiday, in my opinion, is hypocritical. I understand that many Christian holidays has lost their meaning (especially Christmas with the arrival of Santa Claus, thanks Coca-Cola.), but they’re still identified as religious celebrations.
I agree about forceful religious types and I think any other sensible person would agree also. No one likes having beliefs forced upon them as the truth. The types of people who go door-to-door are mostly Christians, more than anyone. This is because the Bible (Acts 20:20) talks about how Paul went to the doors of “heathens” to convert them. Most other religions prefer people to come to them on their own accord– not vice versa (and I agree with that). The people who have come to my door leave after I politely tell them that I’m happy with my religion. It’s about as inconvenient as having the local gardener ask if I need my grass cut. That doesn’t make the solicitation of religion any less wrong though.
Of course Dawkins, or any supporter of Atheism, can’t prove that there is a god. A believer in god can’t prove it either. It’s really a choice between devoting the whole of your beliefs to what can be affirmed by your senses or allowing yourself to believe in things beyond them. Many people nowadays choose to do both. What puts people off are religions that assert that obvious fallacious histories are concrete truths. This is the fault of religions that don’t attempt to evolve to modern standards.
I really do think that leaders of religious groups naively try to warp science to promote their religion. If religion relied more on spirituality and less on rubbish about the world being made literally in seven days, it would be given credence. I feel that when religion tries to invade on humanly aspects, it gets misrepresented and disproved. To me, the Bible (and many others religious texts) wasn’t written to be an accurate account in history. It was written as a vessel to communicate the foundation of a religion through stories. I believe in god and I never see him as an answer to everything I don’t understand. I see god as a spiritual equivalence to science. I see him as a tool used for understanding things that aren’t understood by our senses.
Life doesn’t really guarantee us all answers by means of science. I don’t think I’m wrong in suggesting that.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Hmm, to be honest, I believe in A God. Unlike a lot of people, I do not allow myself to be “led to the heavens” by a single belief but with the idea in mind that the theory of evolution has not given any evidence to suggest that free will was “created” through the simple change between ape and human. Free Will is what gives me my belief. Other creatures appear to stick to a certain pattern of lifestyle, Apes do not travel around the world in search for new places to go, Dogs do not race each other for fun, and Insects do not know that that nice smell is actually a Venus Fly Trap.
A man can argue that an animals brain does not have the ability to think like we do - Why? Evolution? Where as evolution most certainly did happen, Humans appear to have benefited the most. That is why I believe in A God. I’m not saying any of it is “factual”, because It’s related to religion, and unless the theory disproves the existence of A God or the possibility that A Holy Book is in some way correct, it’s always going to be considered a belief.
I hate having people tell me what to do, what to believe and what they think is “right”. Everyone has a different point of view and it is very hard to distinguish one from another unless you’re actually talking in great detail about the issue with them. If a man says to another “I believe in a god”, what is the other man’s thoughts? “This guy goes to church and doesn’t drink alcohol”?, “Religious Queer”? We seem to assume that the belief in A God must mean that a person is heavily religious and is against science in every way, and because of that, a person who doesn’t believe in A God is likely to stay away from that person, creating a sort of “religious apartheid”.
Why are there so many different religions? Because we’re idiots? No. If you look closely, you will find that all religions are connected in some way, shape or form. The main difference between Christianity and Judaism for example is that the Jewish do not believe in Jesus or Hell. Somewhere along the way, a group of people interpreted Religion in a different way than another, causing a split. This happened several times, creating a lot of different religions, and eventually - a few wars.
Think about it, does religion cause wars if it were the humans who decide what is and isn’t the correct way to worship A God?
In reality, Religion is the main factor which has influenced our lives from the start. Laws and Social Standards are similar to the Ten Commandments of the Bible for example. “You Will Not Kill”, “You Will Not Steal”, “You Will Not Commit Adultery”, while the latter isn’t illegal, it is most certainly looked down upon.
Without religion we would most likely still be warring over land. Religion is our culture, and set our standards a long time ago. Whether you believe in A God or not - you have to assume there is a meaning for us to be here. A meaning for us to have this Free Will, unlike the rest of the animals on this planet. If it it your free will to disregard the possibility we have a meaning and a reason to have much more advance brains than the rest - then so be it.
On that note - I do not wish to push my views on someone, I like to discuss rationally with other people but I do not tolerate someone blindly saying what I believe in is “Wrong”, there is no “Wrong” or “Right” with religion, as religion is “The Belief.”