Why religions are baloney, even if they're not

[CplFerro]

WHY RELIGIONS ARE BALONEY (even if they're not)

Take my dad, who's an atheist like me. The difference between us is, he does not study comparative religion, nor cares to. He has grown up under certain conditions, notably exposed to a few stripes of religious insanity, and with a certain logical temperament, that has left him throwing up his hands over this religious business. It's all madness to him, it makes no sense, and he is not enough of the investigative type to ever dig deeper.

In what fair system of morality can he possibly be blamed for his atheism? Unless a flaming angel descended from heaven and bopped him on the head with the Holy Two-By-Four of Conversion, he will go to his grave an atheist. He's been near death several times and always approached it not with fear or dread but simple acceptance and good humour. He said once he thought maybe he should pray or something, but he couldn't figure out who to pray to, so he skipped it and cracked a joke in the operating room instead that put the surgical team at ease.

Religions are baloney because of people like my dad, who don't care, don't have a reason to care, and can't possibly be blamed for that by anything resembling a fair deity. The "supernatural world" (whatever that means) may condemn him either because it is like a terrible meat grinder that functions automatically in regards to what people do regardless of their intentions, or because that world itself is petty, vengeful, and sadistic, but to condemn him for his atheism as such is simply evil.

Cpl Ferro

[Marc L]

WHY RELIGIONS ARE BALONEY (even if they're not)

Take my dad, who's an atheist like me. The difference between us is, he does not study comparative religion, nor cares to. He has grown up under certain conditions, notably exposed to a few stripes of religious insanity, and with a certain logical temperament, that has left him throwing up his hands over this religious business. It's all madness to him, it makes no sense, and he is not enough of the investigative type to ever dig deeper.

In what fair system of morality can he possibly be blamed for his atheism? Unless a flaming angel descended from heaven and bopped him on the head with the Holy Two-By-Four of Conversion, he will go to his grave an atheist. He's been near death several times and always approached it not with fear or dread but simple acceptance and good humour. He said once he thought maybe he should pray or something, but he couldn't figure out who to pray to, so he skipped it and cracked a joke in the operating room instead that put the surgical team at ease.

Religions are baloney because of people like my dad, who don't care, don't have a reason to care, and can't possibly be blamed for that by anything resembling a fair deity. The "supernatural world" (whatever that means) may condemn him either because it is like a terrible meat grinder that functions automatically in regards to what people do regardless of their intentions, or because that world itself is petty, vengeful, and sadistic, but to condemn him for his atheism as such is simply evil.

Cpl Ferro

On the other hand, most religions accept the the existence of the supernatural as a given. Rejecting that, to them, is rejecting reality. Further, they also believe in morality coming straight from god(s), and only from that source.

Atheists, therefore (according them) reject not only reality, but the source of morality. This makes them immoral, as well as crazy, and therefore a threat.

Now, if they are right, then it is fair that atheists be condemned, in the same way that we condemn psychopaths (who are immoral and crazy).

Of course, you and I both realize that the lack of evidence for the supernatural makes its existence unlikely, and that one can be perfectly moral without a supernatural source. As such, you, me, and your dad have nothing to worry about after we die.

Further, since we know we have nothing to worry about after death, then we needn't worry now about their condemnations.

Marc

[Meadmaker]

For what it's worth, one of the world's major "religions" agrees with you, almost. That's Buddhism. It teaches that if there is a God, his mind would be infinite, and with your finite mind, he would be absolutely incomprehensible to you. You could not possibly know what such a being would want, or what would make him happy. Indeed, you could not even comprehend whether or not he existed.

Therefore, there's no point in "blaming" him for non-belief, or any other offense, against the hypothetical almighty. The almighty, if such a thing exists, will condemn or not condemn as he sees fit, and we will not comprehend why he does that sort of thing.

[CplFerro]

For what it's worth, one of the world's major "religions" agrees with you, almost. That's Buddhism...

Dear Meadmaker,

My dad does have somewhat of a big belly...could he be...?

Cpl Ferro

[geni]

On the other hand, most religions accept the the existence of the supernatural as a given. Rejecting that, to them, is rejecting reality. Further, they also believe in morality coming straight from god(s), and only from that source.

Atheists, therefore (according them) reject not only reality, but the source of morality. This makes them immoral, as well as crazy, and therefore a threat.

Now, if they are right, then it is fair that atheists be condemned, in the same way that we condemn psychopaths (who are immoral and crazy).


The solution within christianity to this problem has tended to be either toneing down hell or limbo (although that is pretty much informal Catholic belife only).


Of course, you and I both realize that the lack of evidence for the supernatural makes its existence unlikely, and that one can be perfectly moral without a supernatural source. As such, you, me, and your dad have nothing to worry about after we die.

Further, since we know we have nothing to worry about after death, then we needn't worry now about their condemnations.

Marc

Well you haven't considered the Maltheist position.