That's the point. It does harm someone, maybe everyone. Religion (particularly the monotheistic religions) find non-believers very threatening. When you tell them you don't believe they see it as proof their faith is not self-evident, that logical and intelligent people won't fall into it inevitably and uncritically. And that plants the seed of doubt in their mind they find so terrifying. BTW, that way of thinking is not limited to religious fanatics, it is a property of all fanatics.
The average Buddhist or Taoist, Animist or Pantheist could care less if you don't share his faith. Monotheists, particularly Christians and Muslims (Jews not so much anymore), often tend to be intolerant and they are intent on proselytizing and eliminating all opposition. At some periods in history, they have not been shy about using violence and genocide to ensure the psychological security they so desperately seek.
I really don't know whether or not there is a god, I have no way of knowing that and I don't have any right to criticize those who believe there is. But if there is a god the way the monotheists envision him, then he has no right to punish me for being skeptical about the flimsy evidence of his existence he has provided me with. A jealous god is not worthy of worship, he's just another bully, a thug, and very often his believers adopt the same behavior.
Off Topic » in reply to Sorry, didn't mean to go off topic.
"If it harms no one,"
The whole thread (40 posts)
- Science and religion (originally from Mysteries of the Multiverse)
- Questions
- Until I was about 12 I believed in god.
- Curiosity killed the cat, religion kills curiosity....
- That is a pretty narrow purpose for religion, that you and your friend agreed to!
- My friend Barbara observes:
- There's no solace in science for me.
- For me, science satisfies my awe more than religion does.