The Harm in Belief
I don't worry about the fact that some other people believe in a supreme being who created this universe and that a man executed 2000 or so years ago came back to life.
I don't worry if they believe holy water can cure cancer even if it can't restore an amputated limb. That's quite OK. Its OK if they pray to this god and to various dead people declared to be saints.
As long as they confine themselves to these beliefs and prayers they are harmless enough.
The problem arises when they inflict on the rest of us their views about family planning, sexual behaviour, use of condoms for disease prevention and a list of other things designed to interfere with normal human life and its improvement. If it wasn't for the fact that they invoke their supposed god to authorize themselves to interfere with the law making process, the schools, the taxation system etc, they need not be of concern to us.
It is because they do all of these things that Humanists and others who value normal human morality, secular law and education need to oppose them. We can't afford the luxury of leaving the field to them. If we ignore the need to enter a contest of values we risk further erosion of basic freedoms.
International Humanist and Ethical Union
British Humanist Society News
- Parliamentary human rights report finds concessions for religion in Equality Bill are too great
- BHA proud to support POWER2010 action on Bishops in the Lords
- Humanists urge MPs to call for law reform on assisted dying
- Christian registrar case refused by Supreme Court
- BHA publishes its manifestos for local and general elections
I would be in raptures if the
I would be in raptures if the belief in tomorrow was true.
This exactly expresses my own
This exactly expresses my own feelings about religion and why I take the time to seek out other considered, balanced atheistic opinions. I wish all the raving, fire-and-brimstone religious aficionadoes (of whom we seem to have at least one paid-up member frequenting these pages) could try to understand that this is what bothers us about their dubious morality.
They don't have to be paid up
They don't have to be paid up to be members of this website trulyfree. Anyone can join the website. Its just the Society itself that costs a membership fee. I think its about $40.00, less for pensioners, students etc.
I think you mean Mary.
Maybe she thinks she will be able to overwhelm Atheism with her logic. Maybe she is just that deluded.
I think many religious people
I think many religious people hold on to their beliefs because they give them a means of controlling others, their kids, their wives, other people they deal with.
Not too many of them could hold their own in a proper argument about the existence of God.
I'm sorry but I feel the need
I'm sorry but I feel the need to disagree with you.
Regardless of religion, would you have a world where no one questioned or opposed the things that you believe should be sanctioned by society with no questions asked? If that is what you believe then after all public debate, questioning and opposition has been nullified, why not then do away with the opposition parties in parliament also. What a lovely world that would be?
Are not the opinions of all people, no matter their motivation, just as valid as you think your opinions are?
To misquote a line from a "Yes Minister" program, "Just because you've picked up a virus must you infect everyone else with it"?
Post new comment