After a repetition of first part of Paula Zahn's segment on atheism from last week came her interview with Richard Dawkins. There was no red meat, but I believe Dawkin's message was the right one...
Unfortunately most people cannot disentangle their psyche from societally driven mystical ideologiesjingoism, patriotism, paternalism, moralism, from rationalism, logic and ethics. Most of us are indoctrinated into religion from childhood before the ability to reason. Our schools, our polititions browbeat everyone into a defacto existance of a deity and that anyone who does not recognise this truth of "God" is either ignorant of biblical teaching, or is doing the bidding of an evil supernatural being. This constant cultural support from seemingly rational teachers, leaders, parents and other role models squelches any debate in those who don't want to be disenfranchised or marginalized by rejecting a populist belief in the supernatural. I am reminded of a "Dick Van Dyke Show" episode in which Rob takes a duck to the veterinarian's office. The other pet owners are treating their pets as if they were human except for Rob and a woman with a cat. After a very embarassing display between a dog and his master, the woman confides to Rob about how ridiculous all these other people are, saying: "after all, a dog is a DOG, a duck...is a DUCK, and a cat... is a PERSON!" Rob stares uncomfortably into space after realizing she's not as reasonable as she seemed. This seems to be how believers dismiss other religions by recognising incongruencies and irrationalities but are totally blind to the irrationality of their own specific religion. However, they will support and claim to aknowledge most other religions if they are being debated (read attacked) by non-theists. Perhaps there is a genetically based need to believe in some irrational mythos in order for most people to navigate and endure life. Perhaps some of us lack that need and can't delude ourselves into playing a theistic version of "the emporor's new clothes." This may explain why there are some very brilliant and mostly rational people who still are vested in "faith".
Unfortunately most people cannot disentangle their psyche from societally driven mystical ideologiesjingoism, patriotism, paternalism, moralism, from rationalism, logic and ethics.
ReplyDeleteMost of us are indoctrinated into religion from childhood before the ability to reason. Our schools, our polititions browbeat everyone into a defacto existance of a deity and that anyone who does not recognise this truth of "God" is either ignorant of biblical teaching, or is doing the bidding of an evil supernatural being. This constant cultural support from seemingly rational teachers, leaders, parents and other role models squelches any debate in those who don't want to be disenfranchised or marginalized by rejecting a populist belief in the supernatural.
I am reminded of a "Dick Van Dyke Show" episode in which Rob takes a duck to the veterinarian's office. The other pet owners are treating their pets as if they were human except for Rob and a woman with a cat. After a very embarassing display between a dog and his master, the woman confides to Rob about how ridiculous all these other people are, saying: "after all, a dog is a DOG, a duck...is a DUCK, and a cat... is a PERSON!" Rob stares uncomfortably into space after realizing she's not as reasonable as she seemed.
This seems to be how believers dismiss other religions by recognising incongruencies and irrationalities but are totally blind to the irrationality of their own specific religion. However, they will support and claim to aknowledge most other religions if they are being debated (read attacked) by non-theists.
Perhaps there is a genetically based need to believe in some irrational mythos in order for most people to navigate and endure life. Perhaps some of us lack that need and can't delude ourselves into playing a theistic version of "the emporor's new clothes." This may explain why there are some very brilliant and mostly rational people who still are vested in "faith".