This morning’s Sociology class revealed to me just how cynical some people can be. The topic of today’s class was Religion. Everything ran smoothly until a video clip was shown. It was a documentary on Atheists. While the professor warned us that the particular Atheist depicted in the video was an extremist, this did not serve to lessen the offensiveness. The man said that Religion is an institution for promoting belief in superstition, and that everyone who claims to belong to a religious sect is an idiot. Religion has no good points, and does not serve to better the lives of anyone participating. Religion’s only goal is to promote fear, so that they may control the behavior of the participants.
“Wow“, I thought to myself, “that was mildly offensive.”
Now, I don’t claim to be a devoutly religious person, but even I raised my hand after the video and said “Yeah, I’m certain that all of my Atheist friends would have found that video horribly offensive.”
And it’s true! I know many people who don’t have a religion, but even they can see the good in a person who does.
After the video, the professor asks “Is Atheism a social problem?”
What? Of course not! Just because a person is an Atheist does not mean they are radical extremists who are plotting to blow up churches across the country.
I read in a book recently, a professor talking to his students:
“On the day of the sun god Ra, I bow before an ancient torture device and consume representations of blood and flesh while reciting incantations in a forgotten language. And if you would like to become a part of my cult, you can join me in Mass next Sunday.”
Any religion seems odd when you take it out of context. It is not difficult to see why many people think that religion is nothing but superstition. But to say that religion does no good for people? I have to disagree.
If you find truth in one of the world’s many religious factions, I say pursue it. I do not believe that there is only one way to Heaven. If a person pursues his truth, and leads a moral life, then he will be rewarded in the afterlife according to his beliefs.
That must be all for now, I have to get to class. Time moves far too quickly when one is blogging…
The Librarian
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1 comment:
See this is why we're friends, you are brilliant :-)
I fully agree with your statement. If believing in a religion, or the idea of a religion gives you a purpose than what's wrong with that. I think that if more people felt that the belief in something greater than themselves was ok, that they wouldn't be judged than the world just might be a better place.
God, Ra, Allah, Gaia, Zeus, whatever; the name shouldn't matter. What matters is holding onto one's faith. The faith that through all the pain there is a purpose for us all.
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