I found this as an image somewhere a while back, but I don't know the author. If you can site the original source, please post it as a comment.
- You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of your god.
- You feel insulted when scientists say that people evolved from lesser life forms, but you have no problem with the Bible claim that we were created from dirt.
- You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Trinity god.
- Your face turns purple when you hear of the 'atrocities' attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how god slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in'Exodus' and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in 'Joshua' - including women, children and animals.
- You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life, and then ascended into the sky.
- You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of the Earth (4.55 billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by pre-historic tribesmen sitting in their tents guessing that the Earth is a couple of generations old.
- You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs (though excluding those in all rival sects) will spend eternity in an infinite hell of suffering. Yet, you consider your religion the most 'tolerant' and 'loving'.
- While modern science, history, geology and physics have failed to convice you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor 'speaking in tongues' may be all the evidence you need.
- You define 0.01% as a high success rate when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% failure was simply the will of god.
- You actually know a lot less than many Atheists and Agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity and church history - but still call yourself a 'Christian".
All religion, be it Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, or any other, is there for no other purpose than that of giving people hope, and a "club" to join. Someplace to feel that you belong.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone knew that there was nothing after life, that once you died, that that was it, there would be billions of people running around acting like, well, like they did before
any of these religions existed: Tribes or clans grouping together and fighting other groups for food, lands, etc. with no thought of basic human rights. In essence, a return to their basic animal instincts. A pack of wolves works as a team to defend it's keep and hunt for food. Humans are no different.
But when you have religion, people have a reason to act civil, as if they believe they will "burn in a pit of fire" for an eternity should they commit these man-made crimes, they're less likely to commit them. The conscience is simply your mind reminding you of those things society has deemed inappropriate. Imagine if you will: Several hundred years ago, ifa man stole your property, whether it be food, livestock, anything, you were entitled to procuring your own justice. Today's society views killing a man as "bad", even if he committed a crime against you.
Anyway, I've strayed a bit. The points is, without religion, there would be chaos. There would be mass killings as people took to their basic instincts again. Oh wait, millions have been killed in the name of religion anyway...
Here's my religion: You live your life, anyway you want. As long as you don't try to push your views on me, I wont push mine on you. We're all humans, and we're all gonna die. Whether or not any of these Gods exists is irrelevant. Believe
what you will, and make the best out of your 75+/- years. If you're not having fun, then you have no reason to live anyway.
-Tiberius