My Take on Religion

[moralmonkey]

Greetings. I recently stumbled on the Agnostic Forums in the links section of evolutionary- metaphysics.net. I am someone who has long been fascinated and terrified by the control, hypocrisy, and pervasiveness of Bronze Age superstition in modern times. We recently had a Presidential candidate give a major speech in which he said, "freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom." This to me is like saying; “you can’t be free unless you are enslaved.” Or; “pain requires pleasure just as pleasure requires pain”.

This type of thinking has led me in recent years to contribute a small piece of every paycheck to the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF). Although I was baptized and went to church and sunday school as a child, I have long since passed the point where the terms “christian” or “religion” have a positive connotation. I do not pray, but if I did it would be for a day when humanity outgrows superstition and xenophobia and mutual exclusion. Clearly if god created everything, then he also created evil. Apologists may say that there can be no light without darkness, and the lord works in mysterious ways. But to me this is like a little boy hitting himself in the head with a hammer because it feels good when he stops.

I consider myself to be an I-don’t-knowist-and-neither-do-youist. The term Ignostic appeals to me. I think most people are capable only of perceiving themselves as being central to the reason for the existence of everything. Like infants. Therefore they have created a god or gods in their own image. Even the most intelligent among us are wearing genetic blinders. To most of us, on a daily basis the earth is flat, the sun orbits the earth, up is up, and down is down. We cannot envision unified field theory, superstring theory, 11 or 13 dimensions, or parallel universes. It is easier to invent vindictive supermen and jealous demigods. We are like a microbe on a guard rail at the top of the Empire State Building trying to visualize the Pacific Ocean.

It is reasonable to demand proof of any theory or belief. A questioning attitude is an attribute. Ultimately I hope religion is seen for what it is…allegory. The sacred texts of religions may be of historic and instructional value, but they are not history books. To take them literally and inerrantly is insanity.

I look forward to reading and perhaps contributing to the comments on this forum. Thanks, Moral Monkey

[romansh]

Welcome MM
Hope you enjoy yourself here.
Look forward to reading your stuff.

My only quibble (it's my hang up) I'd ask for evidence rather than proof.

anyway have fun here

rom

[moralmonkey]

Thanks for the welcome. I'd be interested in in reading any threads on proof versus evidence. Is the term proof too fuzzy and soft? Is the word evidence harder and more exact? I'd be interested in your take on this. I'm a newbie so forgive me if you've thrashed this one to death. My intention in my first post was to say that the burden of proof rests with theists and not atheists and agnostics. But, I guess I didn't exactly say that.

[shanoxilt]

Originally Posted by moralmonkey

Thanks for the welcome. I'd be interested in in reading any threads on proof versus evidence. Is the term proof too fuzzy and soft? Is the word evidence harder and more exact? I'd be interested in your take on this.

Proof is for mathematics and alcohol.

When it comes to empirical reality, proof is nigh impossible.

[UnReAL]

Originally Posted by shanoxilt

Proof is for mathematics and alcohol.

When it comes to empirical reality, proof is nigh impossible.

Agreed, the whole idea of "absolute proof" is almost inconceivable. There isn't even trace of true evidence to begin with, & even if there was something that someone claimed to be "evidence" it would go under high scrutiny. Scientific truths only explain how things happened, not what caused it or why.

[moralmonkey]

Good point.

[NewPath]

Probably (sorry rom, I know you don't like that word) if some rational proof or evidence is eventually found, it will have to be analyzed and studied for many years to understand it and adopt it as fact and absolute.

Most dream of that event that will turn the heads of both religious and scientific thought. In the meantime...we hammer it out!

BTW, welcome MM

Nice to have you join us.

[UnReAL]

Originally Posted by NewPath

Probably (sorry rom, I know you don't like that word) if some rational proof or evidence is eventually found, it will have to be analyzed and studied for many years to understand it and adopt it as fact and absolute.

Most dream of that event that will turn the heads of both religious and scientific thought. In the meantime...we hammer it out!

BTW, welcome MM

Nice to have you join us.

Ditto. Welcome to your new home of free-thinking.