One reader has suggested that I may be passionately exposing the delusion of God. Yes, I think that the very notion of an all powerful supernatural being is a delusion, but I can’t prove that there isn’t one, so I’m not very passionate about exposing that delusion. Let’s look at the ones that I am actually passionate about:
I am passionate about exposing the delusion that leads to the acceptance of obviously ludicrous ancient myths that should not be taken any more seriously than the myth that Romulus and Remus were nursed a wolf.
I am passionate about exposing delusions that deny well established science. The kind that leads people to making ignorant claims based on half truths and outright lies and distorting or ignoring the evidence, especially when its based on the same ludicrous myths I already addressed above.
I am passionate about exposing the delusion that denies students being given the facts of science in all accredited schools. I think that even in private schools students should learn about evolution and not just arguments against it. I sure wish I would have been given the opportunity.
I am passionate about exposing delusions that lead people to restrict the civil liberties of others, such as with the GLBT community.
I am passionate about exposing the delusion that our nation was founded on the principles of a delusion, a position that is supported by quote mining and outright lies and popularized in part by people who don’t know how to check the validity of an email before they hit the “forward” button.
I am passionate about exposing the delusion that promotes faith over reason, doctrine over knowledge, and belief over thought.
I think a better question than if I am too passionate would be could I be too passionate about critical reasoning, intellectual and academic integrity, historical accuracy, and civil liberties.
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Historical and religious inaccuracies aside, why is it delusional for someone to not agree with your belief system and what you hold to be the truth? Has religion become such a ludicrous belief system to you that any reasonable, critically thinking, intellectual, academic can't possibly come to determine that there is a God?
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There are plenty of critically thinking, intellectual academics who believe there is a god, but that doesn't diminish it's delusional nature. There is no proof that there is a god, no way of testing for that, and what little evidence there is to support such a belief ultimately boils down to events that can be seen in/by people from all faiths which would seem to negate which god they correspond with.
The existence of a god can no more be proven than the existence of Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny or the validity of astrology or homeopathy, all of which any reasonable person would consider delusional. Why should god be any different?
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I agree that it is not possible to academically prove the existence of God, therefore, leaving evolution as the only creation theory that can be supported with evidence in an academic setting. But this is where faith comes in. Part of one person's relationship with God is their having faith in Him and that he exists. I can say for myself, that I have seen things happen in my life that show to me that God exists, and there isn't anything that can change that for me.
I realize that as an atheist and academic, this is not valid for you. But you are the one who has brought up the discussion of God. Here I am not trying to prove that he exists, but merely offer an explanation as to how someone can believe in God despite the lack of academic evidence.
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I fully understand how someone can believe in God and have a million unverifiable personal supports for that faith. I've been there before. As long as I was a rational, critical thinking, academic who didn't take the reason, critical thinking, and study too deep or into the wrong areas, I was able to believe. Eventually the circular arguments and disconnect from reality became too strong. The hardest thing was accepting that my very strong and direct sense of calling to the ministry was a delusion created in my own mind, especially considering how much it cost me.
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I think the person who commented said enough with this leading question: "Who is the authority upon which this Gospel will win over others?"
Petitio principii with something like that is rarely a sign of open, rational thought.
-Dan Thering
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I think the person who commented said enough with this leading question: "Who is the authority upon which this Gospel will win over others?"
Petitio principii with something like that is rarely a sign of open, rational thought.
-Dan Thering