If you have been following this blog lately, you’ll know that I recently got into a debate with one Elmantheman on the subject of Logic and Religion, in which my aforementioned fellow blogger decided to make up a quote to attribute to me (perhaps he felt his arguement wasn’t strong enough for him to argue honestly). As of this typing, he has yet to delete it from his site. If there’s one thing to learn from all this, it’s that there are, sadly, some people who simply will not listen to logic and rational discourse. The reason for this hearkens back to my first post: foundations. If one bases their entire system of logic off of a single book, it would stand to reason that they would conflict with someone who bases their logic off, well, logic. I have, as I said before, nothing against religion in and of itself. So why, then, did I argue so vehemently against elmantheman’s views? He did insult me, my love, and everyone who is not a ‘True Christian’ by his standards, but there was something more than that. His way of thinking makes absolutely no sense. It makes no sense to base your entire system of beliefs solely upon one book. Especially when the rationale behind it is that the book itself says that you should believe it. Now, of course, I would be fine if this way of thinking did not affect me. If it did not hurt anyone. But the fact is, a lack of logical thinking, such as that which is caused by fundamental religious thinking, can and does hurt people. In his previous misquotation of me, Elmantheman said,
“…And the Holy Bible says that people will get more evil because of the lack of teachings. You yourself can observe that as far as religion is concerned, the earth was never out of it, but then again, listen to the teachings and you won’t wonder why people become more crazy and evil.” [strikethrough his]
Now, let’s try to ignore the horrible, horrible sentance structure here, and try to figure out what he was trying to say. He seems to claim that Bible says people are evil due to lack of teachings. Then, he appears to say that people become ‘crazy and evil’ because of the Bible’s teachings. Or religion in general. An interesting thought. Let’s examine that thesis, shall we? In more comprehensible terms, of course. Throughout human history, the minds of mankind have been warped by organized religion, and religion has caused untold amounts of suffering through the ages. The obvious example that springs to mind is the crusades. Then, of course, the holocaust and World War 2, easily one of, if not the most pointless war in human history. There are current examples of needless suffering caused by religion as well, most notably in two areas of the world; the conflict in the middle east, and in India.
You know what? I was going to write an entire essay on this, but I don’t have the energy to research it all. And you know why? Because it’s too damn obvious. If anyone cares, read for yourself on these topics. The point is, conflicts were, and are started for no good reason, other than pointless religious reasons. And why do these people do this? It’s because people believe that their beliefs are the only thing that could possibly be right.
Note the wording there. Everyone, by definition, believes that their beliefs are the correct ones, or at the very least the ones that work the best. And most of these people get along fine with those of different faiths or values. That’s because they acknowledge that theirs aren’t the only set of values. Now, the reason I have nothing against the religious per se, is that even though I don’t agree with what they believe, I realize that there is a possibility (however minute) that they may be right. It is when people don’t stop to consider the other point of view when the harm begins.
When they start to think that they are definitely right, and others are certainly and completely wrong, that’s when harm starts to come from religion. Which was why I took issue from this argument in the first place. I say this to everyone, and anyone who will listen: you are most likely not right. You are most likely wrong in many things. I am most like likely wrong in many things. You can not know what, if anything, gods, if there are any, want. What you think is right may not be right. What you think is wrong may not be wrong. Everyone, just get the fuck over yourselves.
One thing I do know is that thinking one is superior only leads to hatred. And than can never be a good thing if we want to live in a peaceful world.
