We are rationally thinking creatures. We use rational thought every day. Just take some time and ponder it. Do you stop at the stop light when it's red? Do you swim in scalding hot water? Do you put your cup on the table, or just let it go? Stop and ask yourself: Why? Why don't you just let go of your cup? Do you think it's going to fall?
Of course you do. You believe it will fall because it has been proven to youtime and again through your own reason. You have a plethora of reliable human experience (both your own and throughout the entire history of mankind) telling you that it will fall if you let it go. You're not hoping it won't, and you don't have faith in gravity. You know because you have a reasonable expectation.
Try going through one day - even one hour - without using your rationale. I hope you're still around to read my next article!
You can see now that human beings all think rationally (some more-so). So isn't it strange that some people will use their rationale to begin believing in something, and then try to discredit the very ability that got them there? One example many Christians... (by the way...I'm not necessarily targeting Christians here; anyone with an unfounded belief will do. I just happen to live in America, and I'm surrounded by a majority of Christians.)
One example many Christians believe is that God/Jesus will protect them in his mighty hands. I honestly do not see why a person with such a belief wouldn't want to test it by, say, walking across a busy ten-lane freeway, or actually getting into a pit of lions.
(Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible if someone dies trying to prove their own irrational god belief.)
In actuality, I do know why people don't do that: it is irrational. They understand the danger -- even though they *know* that Jebus will save them -- and for a second, their rational, self-preservation bits win out over their illogical mind.
Theists just want to have faith because they like the idea and take comfort in knowing that nothing will ever hurt them. Faith is merely the permission they give themselves to believe things they otherwise wouldn't. And believing in something *because* there is no reason to is somehow supposed to be a highly-valued and better way to deal with reality than dealing with reality directly?!
It's logical, rational thinking that leads some atheists to their position (or rather, away from the other position). Throughout my posts (and on my blog) I'll show you why I think that belief in god -- and the supernatural, for that matter -- is irrational and even dangerous.
(modified from thesmalltownatheist.blogspot.com)
-STA
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Comments: 6
You're right on point, Tristan. Religion isn't about rational thought. They proudly state that they disregard scientific proof and physical evidence that contradicts their beliefs.
Disregard scientific proof and physical evidence because it contradicts religious text. Sacrifice rational thought at the altar of faith. Not someone I'd want influencing our government science policies.
Mike Huckabee was one of three Republican contenders who all say they don't believe in evolution. And, yet, he's won the Iowa primary. It boggles the mind.
I would only add that it seems increasingly irrational for thinking folk to turn away from a friendly confrontation with so-called believers when they are assaulted with pompous piety and faith-based politics. You, sir, seem to be putting your ideas out there in a reasonable manner and in an appropriate forum. In other settings, whether they be the exercise track of the city park or the ordering line at Wendy's, I seem perplexed by the religious blather I encounter.
I believe we owe it to the human race to push back and confront this mental health hazard. It behooves us to give no one the benefit of the blind doubt. Only by consistent confrontation can we do our part to mitigate the stranglehold that delusional faith heads have on our zeitgeist.
In this I've become a militant in my middle-aged life.
It's on my profile on Gather. I touch very lightly on this subject. What "Christians" and "scientists" don't see is so obvious my children understood it when they were very small.
Magic underwear are like the ready-to-wear Jesus for the body. They believe that magic underwear protect the body and base the belief in it on this account:
A mormon man was caught in a house fire (or something.. rest assured, there was fire) And he was wearing the magic underwear. And all of his extremities (forearms, hands, lower legs, feet, etc) were burned by the fire and the area that was covered by the magic underwear was left unharmed.
But here's the thing...that story, that account, is the ONLY basis for their belief that magic underwear saves them physically. AND that story isn't even certifiable, there's no proof that it even happened!
I don't mean to pick on any ONE individually but come on...magic underwear?!
Anyways, thats my response to this.
Love this line: "So isn't it strange that some people will use their rationale to begin believing in something, and then try to discredit the very ability that got them there?"
-Brett