Well Darn. I have been working up a new thread post and find you have beat me to it. Instead of leaping out on my own with very similiar thread, I will join you.
Why bother! What can we do?
In this forum and uncountable other venues we find debates of evolution versus religion. In all cases, the believers fail to make a case supporting any deity. Yet that cannot find the courage to admit their error. This thread is predicated on the position that this condition is real and that this condition is dangerous.
Part 1: Why should we bother?
This is a rhetorical question as I provide my answer, but its purpose is a lead in to part 2. I feel I provided an answer but certainly not “the” answer. Please consider the question open for further discussion.
Sam Harris, The End of Faith writes:
It is time we recognized that belief is not a private matter; it has never been merely private. In fact, beliefs are scarcely more private than actions are, for every belief is a fount of action in potential . .As a man believes, so he will act. Believe that you are the member of a chosen people, awash in the salacious exports of an evil culture that is turning your children away from God, believe that you will be rewarded with an eternity of unimaginable delights by dealing death to these infidels --- and flying a plane into a building is scarcely more that a matter of being asked to do so. It follows then, that certain beliefs are intrinsically dangerous. (Italics from author)
Muslims are told that Seventy-two virgins await the martyr in heaven. What do those 72 virgins think about their fate? We are talking eternity here, 72 virgins will not last long. What happens when each virgin is no longer a virgin? Is she now useless? What utter crap. But the martyr’s actions are based on this belief and others that are just as preposterous. This is a problem.
A mild example of an intrinsically dangerous belief is that when the pope speaks ex cathreda (from the chair) he is infallible. (Never mind that this has been proven wrong time and time again.) When the pope speaks, people believe, and people act. And they cannot be convinced that their behavior is wrong. This is a problem.
Consider some current events. The pope says that birth control is wrong and to deny sex to one’s husband because you already have too many children is wrong. These beliefs are a fundamental cause of overpopulation. They and others reduce or eliminate effective AIDS prevention. Current belief is causing great harm. These beliefs are dangerous.
Sam Harris writes:
Nothing that a Christian and a Muslim can say to each other will render their beliefs mutually vulnerable to discourse, because the very tenets of their faith have immunized them against the power of conversation. Believing strongly, without evidence, they have kicked themselves loose of the world.
Unfortunately, they have not kicked themselves loose of control. They are not in touch with reality but demand control of the world. For the most part, they do have that control. This is a problem.
They also demand, that is to say with emphasis, DEMAND, that no one but believers are allowed to have political power. This is a problem.
Sam Harris writes:
Many Muslims for instance, are convinced that God takes an active interest in women’s clothing . . Should Muslims really be free to believe that the Creator of the universe is concerned about hemlines.
Hemlines is just one manifestation of this fundamental belief. Two examples. Muslims rioted and killed over two hundred people because a Miss World Pageant might be held in Nigeria. There were intentional murders, in the name of Allah, because some women would wear a bikini. In another case in Mecca, fourteen girls were burned to death in a fire because they were not wearing the right head dress and could not be allowed out. Paramedics and fire fighters could no be allowed to see the girls in this condition. These beliefs are a problem.
Christianity is no better. Although to a large degree they are held in check now, review the Crusades, the Inquisitions, Malleus Maleficarum, and on and on. All because “they believe.” This is a problem.
Some Muslim leaders have issued fatwas instructing their believers that it is not only good to set off a nuclear weapon in our country, but Allah wants this to happen. Its in the works.
I wonder what devastation would have ensued if Christians of 1000 to 1500 years ago had possessed nuclear weapons.
I may be said to have gone overboard here, but I ask the reader to understand that these few words have not even scratched the surface of all the evidence that supports my position.
The case has been made, further discussion is solicited.
Part 2: This is the important part: What can we do?
Making the case that religious believes are dangerous and are a problem is easy. The question of what to do is more difficult.
Sam Harris writes:
Of course, one senses that the problem is simply hopeless. What could possibly cause billions of human beings to reconsider their religious beliefs? And yet, it is obvious that an utter revolution in our thinking could be accomplished in a single generation: if parents and teachers would merely give honest answers to the questions of every child.
But of course, that will never happen. I wish I could quote again from Mr. Harris with a proposed solution, but I cannot.
As I noted earlier, debates and forums do not seem to accomplish much. The believers will cite the bible as proof that the bible right. They will look facts in the face and either pretend the facts are not there, ignore them, or dismiss them with “I believe and that’s good enough.”
The problem is greatly magnified by the fact that the majority of businesses and government are in control of believers. Most of us working people are rightfully concerned that to publicly crusade against religions beliefs will be devastating to our lives.
One start is to be a bright.
The Brights' Net - Who are The Brights? I saw a suggestion that a group of brights might be called a constellation of brights. I like the name and the idea. I don’t know how to start one, but am looking into it. Can you help?
But that really doesn’t do much. I want to do more, but I do have a fear that taking public action may well be cutting my own throat. However, not doing anything may be worse.
What do you do? Do you have any suggestions?
Truth fears no question.
bkelly
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