Reply #46: The special treatment accorded religion must end. [View All]

It is taboo to scrutinize or criticize religion. Why is this? Shouldn't religion be subjected to the same scrutiny and criticism as any other belief? Of course it should. The problem is most religionists know (deep down) how silly their beliefs are. I think this taboo arose as a way of religion protecting itself.

Look at this excerpt from an e-mail my ultra right-wing mother sent me a couple of days ago: "I have peace and love and that makes me happy. I also feel that I have proof both scientifically but more importantly in my own heart. If someone could prove to me this very day that God did not exist then I would continue to believe because I am content and happy. Life is good and is there anything more important?"

Religion is harmful to those who practice it, to the families of those who practice it, to the countries of those who practice it and to the entire world. Why? There are many reasons, but I'd say the top two are 1) it teaches people that accepting wacky ideas without evidence is the highest form of morality and 2) it teaches exclusiveness. Religion is divisive and dangerous and people like my mother will be willfully ignorant ON PURPOSE, neglect personal relationships, support disgusting politicians, hate homosexuals and force their narrow-minded views on others just so they can cling to their stupid beliefs and "be happy."

My mother's "happiness" is more important to her than anything or anyone else. I daresay this is true for many religionists.

I've stopped supporting moderate and liberal religionists for two reasons: 1) They betray reason and faith equally; their beliefs make no sense and 2) they provide cover for the fundies. If moderate and liberal religionists didn't insist that the rest of us respect their beliefs, fundies would look like the nutcases they are and we probably wouldn't be in the political pickle we find ourselves in today.

Moderate and liberal religionists, I would urge you to do some thinking. Subject your religious beliefs to the same scrutiny you would other beliefs. (Sometime religious credulity leads to credulity in other areas, but I'm hoping at least some of you will de-compartmentalize your beliefs and become more reality-based.

Religion is, at best, silly and at worst, lethal. If we don't end religion, religion will end us.

(Care to defend your god-belief? Come to The Rational Response Squad and we'll see how many of your beliefs are based on faith and how many of ours are based on fact.)