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nabasa ko lang at gusto ko lang i-share sa inyo
medyo gusto ko ang paliwanag nya.....
credit goes to Mr. Gary
I just don't like the last part.....
medyo gusto ko ang paliwanag nya.....
Here is my position (short version).
All religions and all gods are human creations. As a human tool that is a major contributor to organizing societies, we need to hold the various humans who are using it responsible for the actions they take under religion’s mantle. Religion, any religion, can be a positive contributor, such as the story of JHWH stopping Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac at a time when child sacrifice was a fairly common act (and often a matter of “birth control”). This religious myth did much to end this practice. It can be also be a cause of extremely negative actions such as when JHWH evolved in the thinking of a group of Bedouins and escaped Egyptian slaves as justifying their invasion of Canaan by killing off the previous inhabitants, who worshipped Baal.
I am using these examples because they are two of the oldest stories in Western Civilization and therefore easily recognizable to those of us in Western society. (In itself this shows how religion is a human tool.)
This is the view that is the main reason I am an atheist. Any belief that is not based in observable fact and reality has at its base a weakness that will be rightfully exploited by those opposing its actions and manipulated by those who use it for their own purposes.
I do understand that all societies require myth to exist due to the fact that no one individual can master the entire body of knowledge that exists. IMO the myths that allow modern society to function are the belief that humans are rational; freedom of the individual to make their own choices and live their own life in a dignified manner; and the competing myths of have equality of opportunity; or all humans having the right to a secure existence both physically and economically. (This list may not be all inclusive; I’m keeping my options open. grin ) Now as with all myths, whether they are regarded as religious or secular, these are ideals to be achieved, standards to be measured against, they are not necessarily the facts on the ground.
These ideals also have their own weakness as they underestimate the value of community to the welfare of humans. Humans evolved as a cooperative species and today’s often overwhelming individualism seems to me contrary at times to the best interest of our species. What kind of people are we becoming when we send our children out of the family to “preschool” when they are two to three years old, then to school until they are in their mid-twenties constantly moving them from one place to another as we pursue our jobs and “economic intrests and advancement” all over the world as individuals, this and the constant coupling and separation of adults ensures that few of us establish long term friendships and relationships. This continues on until we reach an age where we are no longer are able to care for ourselves and the children we have “raised” and are now following their own carrers as independent adults and who really don’t know us, warehouse us in “retirement communities” with strangers who like us are waiting only for death.
I do worry at times we atheists are giving up the use of a tool that can be extremely useful to society even if like most tools it can be used for evil and well as good purposes.
credit goes to Mr. Gary
I just don't like the last part.....
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