The Sum of All Unproven Belief
by Religion is a worldwide fascination, but why?
Let’s start this article by clarifying my position on the topic, I’m agnostic. Religion has, of yet, failed to win me over, a pope who claims a higher link with the divine that offends the millions brashly and the pastors found guilty of sexual abuse on children have caused me to sway from faith. Yet it is predominantly the overruling failure of religion to prove anything, perhaps that is the beauty of the faith.
Yet so many believe happily in such a thing, I do not condemn them, I do not seek to mock them or to laugh at them for ignorance and blindness. No, I envy them. For we blind ourselves to the world, for it is all we know to do to keep us happy, and god willing if there was a sanctuary after life that could wish away all those burdens and sins in the world then by god I would drop science and proof in a jiffy and devote my life to a monastery. I wish I could believe it all, I wish I could.
For religion appears to me, and I must say it is just how it appears, not what I know or claim, that religion is a sentiment of blinding the masses to the bigger picture, and my oh my does it work. I dread a world where religion is inert and non-existent, for no-one could any longer draw pleasant vibes from the lathered promises of the priest. No longer would so many souls be kept in good behaviour out of fear of eternal retribution, anarchy I tell you.
Religion is a gift and a curse, a pattern amongst humans. Newton’s third law is that everything has an equal and opposite reaction. Purely a law of physics, but it applys to far more then just that field, entropy of social life, entropy is universal, not merely combustion. If we were to spend our lives studying without blindness, to have a truly open mind to the world, I honestly believe we would be consumed. I’m content being a young teenager, going to a good school and getting my grades. I’ll travel later and see the world for a bit more of what it is then. For now, my happiness is a derivative of my sheltered life. The peace of religion is a gift to be held sacred, for those out there with a mind less analytical then mine that can believe it. I envy you.
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Post Commentpostpunkpixie
On February 23, 2009 at 8:20 am
You really know how to get stuck into contraversial debates, don’t you? I sort of agree with you when it comes to organised religion, it can be a method of control as much as a faith. Beleif helps a lot of people to rationalise a very complex and difficult world. For some, like me, it’s because seen things that have lead me towards the beleifs they hold now, for others I don’t know if they’ve really thought about it.
Interesting article though.
Tom Beasley
On February 23, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Another thought-provoking article.
I’m with you on the agnosticism front. I don’t want to go out and say that there is no God, but I am yet to see a reason strong enough to make me believe that it is all true.
However, religion gives your life a direction and a purpose, something that many of the modern day atheists don’t have.
rutherfranc
On February 23, 2009 at 3:25 pm
thank you for respecting the choice of those who believe in religion.. I am a living example of somebody raised up religously and I found peace and joy accepting it.. as you pointed out, it is not the faith that is wrong but the leaders using that faith as a tool to take advantage of others..
teachersmith
On February 26, 2009 at 4:39 pm
thats a generalistion tom and not backed up by my experience. life is what you make it.
Rana Sinha
On March 1, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Good article Michael. It’s good that you keep an open mind. Religion is an organized attempt to find higher truth and meaning. Faith and belief systems are very difficult to understand from outside. Life experience teaches us that life is more than a summation of quantifiable components. What works for one, may not work for another. But respecting other people’s religions does go a great way to help create a better world.
You said it very well. Religion can be a gift or a curse.Now tell that to some of the hotheads and hatredmongers.