I'm very happy being the heretic in the attic

[eumelia]

This post contains criticism of religion and belief in god. If that sort of thing bothers you scroll by.
I do not mind or care whether anyone believes in a god (or gods, or any other deities), that isn't my business, but I have a great many issues with the way god as an idea and what religion as an institution does in the world we live in today.

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I was told my previous post about religion was a tad sombre.

Let me just reiterate. I'm very happy having no soul.

I'm very happy not being religious.

I'm actually really relieved that I've come to the conclusion that I didn't need to believe anything, because I tried to be a believer, but unfortunately my scepticism and doubt are always my greater motivations towards curiosity.

I do think religion constricts thought. I think the idea of "God" (or any dogma) that relies on an ultimate absolute truth is something humanity needs to overcome.

Traditions and histories that bring "tribes" together are important, I wouldn't be who I am without the Jewish tradition and its blood drenched history.

I've been called intolerant more than once for being vehemently anti-religious. Because, I am. I think religion as a rule does more harm than good. You can call Reform as much as you like, the notion that there's some underlying law removed from this world and it somehow is a force of causality in this world just doesn't make any logical sense.

It also comes down to the fact that religion is a force of tangible law and affects people's lives in a way that doesn't mesh with the right to be free of and from religion. That some, not all, but enough, follow the "ethical" decrees of religion without any question asked is bothersome and scary.
That there are laws that apply to one subset of the population, but not to another is prejudicial and unjust.

Change can only come from questioning authority.
Religion is possibly the most tangible force of oppressive authority I can think of. Patriarchy, Racism and Heterosexism all coalesce together under religion.

Yes, there are non-Patriarchal religions, there are religions that preach against Racism. Religion has been a great tool in the fight against racism... heterosexism doesn't appear to be challenged.

I also speak from a position of great material privilege.
To me that means that the distribution of wealth, health and hope in a better world here on earth is what is needed, not religious charities that do their best to convince their followers that through their suffering, through their mitvot, through their whatever the preacher says they must do, they will be rewarded in some other world or way.

God is a way of thinking the world. It is a limiting one. It stops you from seeing other things because everything is filtered through that idea.
Humanity is a part of this world.
We've grown past the need for gods and monsters to explain earthquakes, death, life and the chrysalis.
Why are we holding on so tightly still?

Yes, I'm a heretic in the eyes of many. Those are not the eyes who matter to me, nor should they matter at all.

Comments

[yvi]

I want to print this out and frame it on my wall, I agree with this so much!

[eumelia]

Too kind :)

[majoline]

You are awesome! I was more concerned that you seemed really sad about not having an awesome place to congregate that wasn't religious, and the fact that you seemed melancholy over being disinclined to have strong beliefs of anything? I am officially rambling.

Anyway, this quote: We've grown past the need for gods and monsters to explain earthquakes, death, life and the chrysalis. makes you awesome.

[eumelia]

I think there was a melancholy tone because it is a bit sad making being a bit outside the community you grew up, with live among and are a bit off, ya know?

Dawwww, thank you so much for the compliment.
I'm not awesome, those would be earthquakes, death, life and the butterfly :)

[majoline]

earthquakes, death, life and the butterfly :)

That would make the best title ever.

Thank you for sharing!

[classicarete.blogspot.com]

What's your response to:

1. One of the three basic tenants of Judaism is charity - for the living, not for the afterlife.
http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Israel/Resources/TikunOlam/Pirkei_Avot/tikun-060813-shimon.htm

2. Pascal's Wager
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager

:)

[eumelia]

I take a tonne of my values from being Jewish, I've written about it before and I'll gladly acknowledge that my want for change comes from being Jewish in Israel and seeing the injustice done in Judaism's name - Tikkun Olam is social change, Shabbat is any day we get to rest (there should be more, people work too hard for a great deal of not much), easting Kosher is to eat Ethically not what says בד"ץ on it, etc, etc.

Pascal's Wager is irrelevant to me.

Thanks any way :)

[yvi]

Pascal's Wager is irrelevant to me.

I am surprised people actually still use it.

[classicarete.blogspot.com]

Why?

[yvi]

I haven't yet seen any argument for deities that is easier to disprove or at least ignore.

a) based on Pascal's Wager, why should I believe in [deity you believe in]? What is it's Thor, who would probably be more pleased by me being an atheist then believing in a different deity. What if it's completely diffent from any belief held by anyone on Earth?

b) what kind of deity wants me to believe out of fear of retribution? Do I really want to believe in that deity? Maybe [deity] actually values me not blindly believing despite evidence.

c) since when can you force belief anyway? "Oh, I'll just start believing now, then I won't go to hell". Seriously?

d) Pascal's Wager assumes there is nothing to lose by "choosing" to belief. I disagree. I "believe" that I only have thise one life. If I force my belief, if I spend time and energy on worshipping, then I am losing something.

And those are just the ones I can come up with when I am on a maximum dose of painkillers.

Also, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheist%27s_Wager

[amethystfirefly]

Personally, I believe that religion and science work hand in hand. Religion is just for the stuff science hasn't figured out yet. Maybe religion will die out if/when we get to the point where science has it figured out.

I do agree that religion, on a large scale, does a lot more harm than good. But on a personal scale, it does sometimes help people. There's nothing wrong with that.
I know that my personal religion has helped me a lot. And as long as you're happy with atheism, I say good for you! You're not going to hear me trying to convince you to convert to any religion, since I'm just not that type of person. Just don't look at me as mentally challenged because I follow a religion. :)

(Not saying you would, but it's a fear that I do have since I've had it happen to me before.)

And, to be honest, the assholes who are religious would still be assholes if you were to remove religion from their life. Being an asshole can, unfortunately, show up on all sides of the debate and isn't as easy to cure as getting rid of religion. The people who start religious wars would just find another reason to start a war. It's a very sad and depressing part of human nature that I hope we eventually evolve out of.

[eumelia]

As I said, I don't mind of care that people have a religion, believe in stuff and all that, I'm more bothered by the power religion holds over culture.

Hey, I'd gladly discuss, debate, or just chat about why we chose or how we came to the conclusions we came to - there is an underlying assumption, not a personal one, a general one, that religion comes from a stronger positions because one can't prove or disprove the existence of god, when god is a way of thinking the world, it's not the way the world is, if you catch my drift.

It's true that people would be assholes regardless, but religious assholes tend to do more damage and have a "rationalising" excuse for their assholery.

[amethystfirefly]

Yeah. I definitely do find the influence religion has on the world. To me, religion is feeling-based, and you shouldn't be making important decisions based on it. Decisions need to be made based on facts, period. Feelings and religion may be something to take into consideration, but that's it.

It's true that people would be assholes regardless, but religious assholes tend to do more damage and have a "rationalising" excuse for their assholery.

Completely agree with that.

[ironed_orchid]

fist jab of mortal souless solidarity!

[eumelia]

*fist jab*

[silveradept]

My guess would be that we hold on tightly because religion helps to order the world, even as it restricts the possibilities in bad ways. We're past earthquakes and the chrysalis, but I think death and life have not made it there, yet. And while the journey out is very rewarding, to many it is also very scary, with the idea of death without rebirth at the end.