Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Religion: Faith & Obedience

Let's talk about faith and obedience.

According to the dictionary, faith is defined as: belief that is not based on proof.

So religion expects me to believe something just because they say so? Just because the Bible says so? I don't think so!

As Richard Dawkins points out, religion makes faith out to be something noble. You believe in spite of no evidence. Wow! What a great person you are. God will surely bless you for believing in him even though you can't see him.

The problem with belief, according to religious fanatics, is that if you don't believe exactly as they do, then you're going to hell anyway. So if you believe, but hold even one incorrect belief, then god will shove you into hell with all the other unworthy heathens.

That god is nothing but an asshole!

So on top of your belief, which better damn well be the right one, you must give unquestioning obedience to this god that you believe in with no proof. This invisible god requires you to suffer before you will get anything. Life is a test and in order to pass, you must prove your belief by obedience and sacrifice.

This is getting way bizarre! First I have to believe with no proof. Then I have to prove my belief by being miserable. God has set up a million commandments that all must be followed in order to pass this test. They are designed, on purpose, to be difficult and miserable so that god can reward those who are strong enough to prove themselves.

What? I have to prove myself to a god who gives no proof to me? If that doesn't arouse your suspicion, it should!

Basically, god is like a lottery ticket, nothing but a gamble. You put all this effort into something that might be true (and probably isn't) and just hope for the best. What if all this faith and obedience turns out to be a lie? That means you just wasted your entire life for nothing.

Oh, it isn't nothing! You lined the pocket and gave free labor to some business man wearing a prophets costume. He will be happy to praise you for all your faith and obedience. But where is god? God only exists in the Bible, in the mouth of a con-man, and in your mind.

Take my advice. Don't take things on faith, especially things that have life-long consequences. Religion is just a business, a legal con, and you are it's unsuspecting victim. The problem is that you have to wait until you die to cash in on the reward. Well, once you're dead, you can't come back and demand a refund of your life or your money if it turns out to be a lie.

Don't waste your life following a lie.

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