Every morning, I surf certain blogs. It's a routine and I nearly always find something that resonates with me. This morning was no different.
I found my resonation for today on Pharygula, in its "Why I Am An Atheist" section. Here's the quote:
"My final thought is one that I presented to religious friend. If God appeared and there was sufficient evidence (of whatever kind we might want) that he/she/it was God I would not worship him. I would not obey him. I would not seek his forgiveness. I would demand his apology for famine. His apology for war. His apology for every single rape. Every single murder. Arguments about free will do not alter his ability to step in and prevent child rape or starvation or his ability to answer the cries of a lonely and desperate child. Until every apology has been made god would have my utter contempt. I meet good people every day who are disabled by a supernatural superstition that prevents them from learning and living and often loving who they want to. It must stop and I’ll continue to do my small part to help.
Paul Williams
United Kingdom"
This simple statement cuts through all the apologetic nonsense and gets right to the core as to why believing in the common conception of "god" is such an exercise in intellectual futility and nonsense. It's like an adult desperately clinging to the myth of Santa Claus as he or she surreptitiously places the presents under the Christmas tree and fills the hanging stockings with toys and goodies so they can enjoy the superstitious gullibility of their children in the morning.
Do I sometimes get nostalgic about the innocence of the past and my old superstitious certainties?
Not anymore.
I get far more mental and psychological comfort by accepting reality. It makes me appreciate the little bit of life I still have left before me even more. It makes even more urgent those few things I can still do to make this world a little better and a little more sane. History proves no "god" is going to intervene and do it for me -- or you. We're on our own. It's up to us!
I've matured enough to not need the psychological "fluff fluff" of the old fairy tales.
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Keep it coming, Al. We have to continue saying it even though few are reading our words. The deeper strengths of humanity may ultimately rescue the species, but it needs those of us now who can see through the fog.
ReplyDeleteThanks also for the hard and straight talk about Republican lies. Obviously I share some of your fear of their possible success.