"Atheists" or on useful religions ( to Max_Normal)

Submitted by Ianus (Poland), Jan 18, 2006 at 13:03

Dear Max_Normal ,

Let me make a few comments on what you have written. I myself don't have anything against atheism . On the contrary , I find it a quite sober and well-grounded world-view but still I think that despite that some consequences that are drawn from it are questionable if not false.

First of all, you seem to imply that all religions resemble each other, are equally false and harmful. I find this statement -if I understand you correctly- quite perplexing and doubtful. What is so false about buddhism (with no god) ? What is so harmful about the ancient Roman religion that gave rise to the Roman law and organization which modern Europe has only recently surpassed? The Romans were the most tolerant people the world has ever seen...After winning a war they at once incorporated the defeated god(s) into their pantheon... Well, they were lucky enough not to encounter any Moslems at that time...

You wrote also that religion was created

(d) To gain a self perceived superiority and power over people from other beliefs/non beliefs.

Tell me whether you think the Greek religion gave the Hellenes only "self perceived" superiority whereas they were not better than the barbarians surrounding them or not ?

You also tell us much about modern science and thinking. Have you ever heard where and under what cicrumstances this science and rational thinking were born ? They came to this world not by chance dropped together with a Quran or a Torah or another infallible manual on slavation. Why did those things start and gain momentum in one place only - just among the Greek people worshipping so many strange gods and goddesses and not among e.g. Jews or Moslems?

Science and rational thinking owe much to religion. I mean the right beneficial religion allowed and helped both science and philosophy to be born.They have much to do with it although finally they turned out to fight against religion... So I find it realy a misguided statement that "We see that ALL religion is extremely damaging"...I see on the contrary that many religions are quite useful and positive although I agree with you that they may be constructed on false metaphysical premises.

I wonder what sort of stand you are going to take in the oncoming inevitable war against Islam if you admit despite the above that "Unfortunately Islam fullfills all of this from (a) through to (e) very nicely"? Will you be so passive as not to help the side you find "living a lie" , propagating "simple-minded beliefs" , not to support "dangerous fundamentalists from the same religion as themselves" ? Won't you resemble those Byzantine monks that quarrelled over the essence and truth of metaphysical entities ( hesychiasts) around the mid-14th c. A.D. while the Turks were plundering the environs of Constantinople and enslaving Greek population and preparing the conquest of Europe ?

Jan

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