Hi Madfish,
I was just peeking in on my vacation and caught this thread and decided to stick my 2 cents in.
Yes, I do not think it is fair to judge people for things that are beyond their control. Is that view arbitrary? I really don't know, but i'm sure a case can be made that it is.
Do you think the situation I described is arbitrary as well?
Religion as social control is in one sense arbitrary yet a functional tradition. Religion is an expression of pre scientific and even pre logical humans so in that sense it's arbitrary also but the central needs of the society are greater than those of any individual member of it and control by guilt has been proven effective, no?
Belief is necessary for social cohesiveness and smooths the task of those in power to maintain the laws and social traditions. Society has used this to maintain itself and that is usually a good thing though it also has resulted in various sorts of persecutions and injustice of course.
Human beings are rational only on occasion and justice is an ideal that can vary from one person to the next.
Yes Christianity like all religions is irrational and imperfect like everything else humans have created. On reflection none of this should surprise us, though growing up and out of the myths of childhood can be traumatic at times.
I'll leave you with another good book to supplement Who Wrote the Bible:
How the Bible Became a Book
by William M. Schniedewind.
The irrationalities of any given religion are not objectionable to the majority of the believers in the religion or they wouldn't remain believers. You find what makes the most sense to you and live the best you can. I've largely lost interest in arguing with believers whether they be religious or believe in grey aliens visiting earth, etc. But I wish you the best as you carry on.
Cheers,
lfen
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