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To: Wheatland
Sent: 13 September 2001 23:20
Subject: Re: question for Steve
Hello ...
Sorry for the delay in writing, but like everybody I guess, I've been glued
to the TV.
To recap - you asked:
<< Being atheistic, your objection, by
definition, would be against all religious groups, would it not? Your
discussions, from my reading, seem to be centered around your objections with
Christianity, >>
I think the answer would be the same for pretty much anybody, whether
an atheist or a believer in one particular religion. Do Christians, Muslims,
Hindu's, followers of Rev Moon and Hare Krishna by definition object to all
religions other than their own? A Christian or a Muslim, Jew etc. disbelieves in
thousands of other gods and if they felt so urged could point a critical eye at
beliefs other than their own, as has obviously happened down the ages and
continues today. Even within a religion such as Christianity, believers will
accuse others of not being "true Christians" etc. due to a perceived moral or
doctrinal deficiency. Atheists believe in one less god than a monotheistic
theist so I don't think we are that different when it comes to disagreeing with
the beliefs of more than one religious group.
So, I think we're pretty much in the same boat on this one. There is an
exception though. I doubt atheists feel spiritually divided from other people in
the same way that some religious people do from those outside their flock.
Nobody in an atheist's eyes is being influenced by Satan or is in a
wrong relationship with a deity. Neither do I feel anybody deserves to be
tortured for ever. Unfortunately there are plenty of religious people who do
feel that way.
As I explained to Ashley Coogan http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~slocks/feedback/ashley_coogan.html
my site is geared towards being a meta resource for testimonies and reflections
of those who left Christianity. I concentrate on Christianity as it is in my
past and it is what I feel qualified to talk about. I have read a few stories
from ex-Hindu's and ex-Muslims and although interesting there was a lot of
detail about those religions that I do not feel qualified to discuss. However,
if I was an ex-Hindu or ex-Muslim then I would probably talk about leaving those
religions instead of Christianity and only give Christianity the occasional
glance.
Anyway, there is far more to the story than my views. I held a poll a while
ago which showed that whilst 80% of ex-Christians become atheists or
agnostics and a further 8% go on to a non theistic religion, 9% go on
to a non-Christian theism. Just today I received a long email from a new
ex-Christian who remains a theist.
To take your example of Judaism, my objections would include questions on
the coherence and goodness of a deity and the bloody and immoral nature of the
Hebrew bible. That is one reason I find supernatural Judaism incoherent and
impossible to believe. Christianity includes this and adds the enormous problems
with the doctrine of the atonement http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~slocks/asym/jordan.html#phil and
other related moral and religious problems of its own. Ancient Norse
religions, Christian Science, the Moonies etc. all have some
individual problems of their own too. I would not however have any problem with
somebody being Jewish or Christian or whatever as long as they did not try to
put (e.g.) cruel biblical principles into practice like Christian
Reconstructionists would like to do for instance. On the other hand religion can
cause misguided action even when the majority believe them to be doing good,
such as Mother Theresa http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/links.html#TERESA
So in summary, do I object to all religious groups?
Not really. Although I find I don't believe in deities any more,
religious groups are very broad and unless they appear dangerous or interfere
with people's freedom to live and think then I live and let live too. Also some
religions are atheistic or very agnostic (e.g. Buddhists, Taoists) but are even
so still not to my taste. Although I could deal out some criticisms of
non-Christian religions, just like Christians themselves do, since I am an
ex-Christian I choose to have a website about that which I know best
on the religion front.
I hope that helps.
Regards,
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