Ooo, I am furious. There I was, just quietly going about my own business, reading up on the science news - Hawkins new documentary - and I come across some comments like these:
maria b wrote: "I was very disappointed to see that [Hawkins] does not yet acknowledge and seems to be unwilling to, that God exists, is omnipotent and omniscient, as the Creator of this vast Universe and of us...it is beneath the human intellect to act and think so egoistically, as if somehow humankind is superior and will always know everything there is to know about everything in due time while in this earthly body and living on earth... that humans can eat of the tree of knowledge and life and know all , as if they were equal to God. It is a very old lie and one that humankind must overcome."
I responded in kind: "Curiosity is not a crime. And ignorance is not humility. I hope one day you will learn the difference between the two."
You'll notice I've cut out parts of Maria's speech; please be assured that I am not trying to change what she said. The full comments can be read here.
This whole 'religion versus science' thing pisses me off ROYALLY. It's like watching a teapot fight with a banana. It's all gotten a bit ridiculous. Still, I guess the fighting makes sense. Science tells you to live life one way, religion another. They're fighting over the same territory. And I'm getting all riled up about it so there must be some merit in the argument.
It's hard for me to express my views on this, because I know so many people in my life who I respect and admire who also happen to be Christian. I don't think theism makes people bad. It is one way of trying to be good. But I resent it when others disapprove of me because I don't believe in God, that this somehow makes me a cause for concern, and they place some barrier between myself and them. I am certain that a few of my friends, reading this blog post, will distance themselves from me because of my views. It has happened before and will most likely happen again. At least I will be better informed about my friends.
I love the idea of acceptance. I hope I am an accepting person, even if I don't agree with another person's point of view. But, ultimately, both science and religion want to shape how the world is run, and because of this, there will always be fighting.
I don't think fighting, in itself, is such a bad idea; debate is one of the strongest tools for shaping thought; but it shouldn't beyond words and policy. Of course, it has done. Do atheists seek wars?
I'd hope not. I'd like to believe that most atheists are also humanitarians. Indeed, I'd like to believe most humans are humanitarians.
Humanitarianism, roughly, states:
1. All human beings should be treated with respect.
2. Helping people who suffer must not based on race, religion, nationality or political point of view - it should only be based on how much they need help.
3. Human suffering should be prevented or stopped whenever possible, whilst ensuring individual wishes are respected.
Don't we all agree with this? I'd hope that most would believe these things. People who don't follow these ideas come by many names; racists, extremists, nationalists, murderers, paedophiles, terrorists. Theists or atheists, such people are shunned by society for their behaviour. Being bad is not defined by being religous or not. There is so much common ground between theists and atheists.
Part of me wants to collapse and just say 'Can't we all just get along?'. I wish we could. I find it so hard to see the world from a Christian point of view, despite having being one for many years. The thought processes that have gotten me here have taken me so far from where I used to be. But I remember what it feels like to believe. How comforting it can be, when times are hard. How wonderful it is to have a community of like-minded individuals who you 'know' have the same beliefs as you. Atheism doesn't have this social structure. Yet. It can be a very lonely world, for an atheist. There's no book and no father figure to tell you what you should do.
But the fight is already here. And I know which side I'm on. We have to work on a future that is rational, not emotional; one that is based on information, not belief. If we can't do that as a species I fear we will certainly fail.
I haven't said anywhere near as much as there is to be said, nor more than an ounce of what I want to say, but the topic is too big for one blog post.
So, I shall leave you with this.
I responded in kind: "Curiosity is not a crime. And ignorance is not humility. I hope one day you will learn the difference between the two."
You'll notice I've cut out parts of Maria's speech; please be assured that I am not trying to change what she said. The full comments can be read here.
This whole 'religion versus science' thing pisses me off ROYALLY. It's like watching a teapot fight with a banana. It's all gotten a bit ridiculous. Still, I guess the fighting makes sense. Science tells you to live life one way, religion another. They're fighting over the same territory. And I'm getting all riled up about it so there must be some merit in the argument.
It's hard for me to express my views on this, because I know so many people in my life who I respect and admire who also happen to be Christian. I don't think theism makes people bad. It is one way of trying to be good. But I resent it when others disapprove of me because I don't believe in God, that this somehow makes me a cause for concern, and they place some barrier between myself and them. I am certain that a few of my friends, reading this blog post, will distance themselves from me because of my views. It has happened before and will most likely happen again. At least I will be better informed about my friends.
I love the idea of acceptance. I hope I am an accepting person, even if I don't agree with another person's point of view. But, ultimately, both science and religion want to shape how the world is run, and because of this, there will always be fighting.
I don't think fighting, in itself, is such a bad idea; debate is one of the strongest tools for shaping thought; but it shouldn't beyond words and policy. Of course, it has done. Do atheists seek wars?
I'd hope not. I'd like to believe that most atheists are also humanitarians. Indeed, I'd like to believe most humans are humanitarians.
Humanitarianism, roughly, states:
1. All human beings should be treated with respect.
2. Helping people who suffer must not based on race, religion, nationality or political point of view - it should only be based on how much they need help.
3. Human suffering should be prevented or stopped whenever possible, whilst ensuring individual wishes are respected.
Don't we all agree with this? I'd hope that most would believe these things. People who don't follow these ideas come by many names; racists, extremists, nationalists, murderers, paedophiles, terrorists. Theists or atheists, such people are shunned by society for their behaviour. Being bad is not defined by being religous or not. There is so much common ground between theists and atheists.
Part of me wants to collapse and just say 'Can't we all just get along?'. I wish we could. I find it so hard to see the world from a Christian point of view, despite having being one for many years. The thought processes that have gotten me here have taken me so far from where I used to be. But I remember what it feels like to believe. How comforting it can be, when times are hard. How wonderful it is to have a community of like-minded individuals who you 'know' have the same beliefs as you. Atheism doesn't have this social structure. Yet. It can be a very lonely world, for an atheist. There's no book and no father figure to tell you what you should do.
But the fight is already here. And I know which side I'm on. We have to work on a future that is rational, not emotional; one that is based on information, not belief. If we can't do that as a species I fear we will certainly fail.
I haven't said anywhere near as much as there is to be said, nor more than an ounce of what I want to say, but the topic is too big for one blog post.
So, I shall leave you with this.
It doesn't need to be a fight between religion and science though. Science should not try to tell you how to live your life, and religion should not try to tell you how the world works.
ReplyDeleteSo many scientific discoveries have been made over the course of history by religious people eagerly trying to comprehend the wonder of their god's creation. If more religious people had this perspective now I think the world would be a better place.
I think I can agree with that :) if only more of us could.
ReplyDelete